Saturday, 3 a.m. When they pitch, they compete. For the Tampa Bay Rays, it is as simple as that. On the nights their bullpen is weak, or their starting pitching does’t clock, they can be had. Ah, but when they pitch, the Rays are a pretty good baseball team. The Rays played their eighth straight […]

Thursday, 3 a.m. Maybe it was the rain delay. Maybe it was the dreary day in Cleveland. Either way, the bats of the Tampa Bay Rays came out water-logged on Wednesday. The Rays managed just six hits and one unearned run in a 3-1 loss to Cleveland at Progressive Field. It was another well-pitched game […]

Tuesday, 4 a.m. Bryan Baker was in a world of hurt. The Tampa Bay Rays, too. Extra innings was on third base. Defeat was on second. There was only one out. The homestanding crowd could smell victory. And Baker was bigger than the moment. Baker struck out George Valera on a full-count pitch. He then […]

Monday, 3 a.m. Perhaps it’s time to make Jesse Scholtens a full-time starter. Scholtens, who has inherited the Bulk role when the Rays go their Opener strategy, was sharp again Sunday as the Rays completed a sweep of Minnesota with a 4-2 victory at Tropicana Field. Scholtens pitched 4 1/3 innings Sunday and allowed just […]