Rays rotation leading MLB in consistency
Surprise!
We are not that many years removed from the moment the Tampa Bay Rays ruined baseball.
After several starting pitchers were felled by injury, the Rays were forced to rush Yonny Chirinos and Ryan Yarbrough to the majors, and in order to protect their young guns, tried one new trick people hated. The Opener.
For many not paying attention, they might think the analytically minded Rays might still on that concept, but those quick to judge the Rays never had eyes to understand the why’s the Rays did it in the first place.
And for those still not paying attention to the Rays, they’d probably be surprised to learn it’s the very team that was so widely judged that now leads the majors in SP consistency.
As noted by the excellent podcast “The Rundown” by Sam Miller and Grant Brisbee, its Tampa Bay who leads the majors in starts of 6.0 innings. The Rays starters are carrying a heavy load.
Indeed, as of this morning, only 2.0 innings pitched on the season separated the Rays (396.2 IP) from MLB’s leader Pirates (398.2 IP) among total inning by a starter, per the filter on FanGraphs, and between them are the Royals (397.2 IP).
The Rays are also tied for 2nd in Quality Starts with the Royals (34), behind only the Phillies (38), and — just because it’s fun — the Rays have the fastest velocity on fastballs among starters (95.4 IP).
This afternoon will mark Shane Baz’s 14th start on the season, making it 14 starts for every member of the rotation:
- Drew Rasmussen
- Shane Baz
- Ryan Pepiot
- Zack Littell
- Taj Bradley
The only other pitcher to contribute is a spot start from Joe Boyle, who is rocking the Triple-A Independent League and gave the Rays a solid 5.0 innings with 0 earned runs.
The folks who were mad about The Opener had a point. It’s fun watching the Rays starter put up six innings almost every night. You get to watch the battle play out, you watch good pitchers adjust to carve their way through the lineup, and the viewer gets to develop better connections with the players on the mound.
That feeling of authentic excitement you get to feel seeing Zack Littell take the mound? That’s earned, and important when you consider the entertainment aspect of the game we all love.
Put respect on the Rays rotation.
Darby Robinson contributed to this article.