The Rays’ Bullpen Dominates in 4-3 Win Over Orioles
BALTIMORE – The Tampa Bay Rays’ bullpen continues to prove itself as one of the best in the league. In the first game of a crucial four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Rays’ bullpen shut down the Orioles’ offense, securing a 4-3 road victory.
The postgame analysis from the Rays’ players themselves speaks volumes about the dominance of their bullpen. Left-hander Jake Diekman turned to his teammates to sum up their performances: Colin Poche had a “twenty-inch carry on his heater,” Shawn Armstrong boasts “nine different pitches,” Robert Stephenson can hit 97 mph “whenever he wants,” and Pete Fairbanks is described as “a psycho who throws 100.”
The Rays’ bullpen was stellar, retiring all twelve batters they faced and striking out seven. This victory was perhaps the biggest win of the season for the Rays, who are currently battling the Orioles for the top spot in the American League East.
The Orioles still maintain a one-game lead in the division, and only need one win in the remaining games to secure a tiebreaker. However, the Rays’ bullpen gives them an edge over not only the Orioles but every other American League contender as well. With a streak of 34 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, the Rays’ bullpen is firing on all cylinders.
Even without All-Star closer Felix Bautista, who is likely out for the season with a partially torn UCL, the Orioles’ bullpen remains a force to be reckoned with. They rank second in the majors in bullpen ERA, with an impressive 3.13 mark since Bautista’s injury on August 25. However, the Rays’ bullpen is showing no signs of slowing down as they haven’t allowed an earned run in 11 days.
Rays manager Kevin Cash expressed concern before the game about the workload on his bullpen in their previous game against the Minnesota Twins. However, his relievers assured him that they were ready to go. Poche, Armstrong, and Stephenson each pitched with precision, setting up the stage for Fairbanks to close out the game with three strikeouts and secure his 24th save of the season.
It may come as a surprise to some that relievers like Poche, with his 12th win of the season, now have as many wins as Clayton Kershaw and Aaron Nola. However, it is a testament to the Rays’ strategy of playing close games and relying on their bullpen to secure wins. This unique statistic has become a source of amusement for both Poche’s manager and teammates.
The addition of Stephenson to the Rays’ bullpen has proved to be a masterstroke. Since joining the team, he has thrown 12 consecutive scoreless innings, striking out an impressive 22 batters. His whiff rate is currently the best in the majors over that span.
Diekman, who was released by the White Sox in May and signed by the Rays shortly after, has also experienced a resurgence. His ERA since joining the Rays is a solid 2.50 in 39 2/3 innings, a significant improvement from his time with the White Sox.
The dominance of the Rays’ bullpen is a combination of their talented arms and their ability to attack the strike zone. This allows them to dictate the game and execute their pitches with precision.
The Rays’ bullpen will face more challenges in the remaining games against the Orioles. Manager Kevin Cash will need to manage his relievers carefully, especially with the absence of Jason Adam due to injury. The Rays will also benefit from deeper starts from their starting pitchers to alleviate the workload on the bullpen.
For now, the Rays’ relievers are reveling in their current domination, albeit with a lack of focus during the majority of the game, according to Fairbanks. With their bullpen in top form, the Rays’ opponents have no answers.