The Tampa Bay Rays‘ pitching staff has been an area of strength for the last few seasons, and this season should be no different.
Starting Rotation
The Rays’ starting rotation is loaded.
Zack Littell, Ryan Pepiot, Shane McClanahan, Shane Baz, Drew Rasmussen, and Taj Bradley are candidates for a spot in the rotation. However, only five spots are available, meaning someone will start the season in the bullpen.
Early in spring training, there was some speculation that the Rays would use a six-man rotation, but Rays manager Kevin Cash quickly shot down that idea.
McClanahan is the staff’s ace and will start opening day against the Colorado Rockies (Mar. 28). The former USF star is a two-time all-star and was sidelined last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has pitched well in spring training. When healthy, he is one of the best-starting pitchers in the game.
Bradley was almost unhittable in June and July, posting a 0.82 ERA in nine starts. Bradley ended the season 8-11 with 154 strikeouts in 138 innings.
The last spot in the rotation could be decided by a battle between Littell and Rasmussen. Littell finished last season 8-10 with a 3.63 ERA in his first season in a starting role. The 29-year-old was a reliever before moving to the rotation, and with Rasmussen coming off elbow surgery, the bullpen may be a good place for him to begin the season. Rasmussen was 0-2 with a 2.83 ERA last season. He also had 35 strikeouts in 28 innings.
Baz has struggled this spring. The 25-year-old has given up 10 runs in nine innings of work and has a 9.64 ERA. He was 4-3 last season with a 3.06 ERA.
Pepiot is coming off his first season in the majors, during which he went 8-8 with a 3.60 ERA.
The Rays also have some options at AAA Durham should there be an injury. Joe Boyle, Alex Faedo, Joe Rock, and Jacob Waguespack could all see some time in Tampa this season.
Faedo has had an awful spring. He is 1-1 with a 14.73 ERA, five walks, and one strikeout in just over three innings. The former number one pick of the Detroit Tigers will no doubt begin the season at Durham.
Bullpen
The Rays’ bullpen has been one of the stronger position groups the past few seasons, and last year was no exception. The bullpen posted a 3.08 ERA from July 1 to the end of the season, ranking third in the majors.
Pete Fairbanks, Edwin Uceta, Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger, Manuel Rodriguez, and Mason Montgomery are all locks to start the season in Tampa. It will be tough for anyone to make this bullpen, barring an injury.
The Rays also have Hunter Bigge, and one of the starters (Rasmussen or Littell) to take a spot in the bullpen.
Although Fairbanks had his strikeout ratio drop, and his ERA ballooned to a hefty 3.57, he will still open the season as the Rays closer. Uceta surprised everyone with his performance last season. He had a 1.71 ERA and a 35.8 percent strikeout ratio. Fairbanks could also be traded mid-season if the Rays are confident that Uceta or Montgomery are ready for the closer role. Montgomery has an electric fastball with a slider and struck out 17 of the 37 batters he faced last season.
Cole Sulser, Mike Vasil, and Eric Orze are also in the mix.