LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
No team release available.
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
RAY REPORT — Tampa Bay continues its final homestand of the season, a six-day, six-game stint featuring matchups with Los Angeles-AL and Toronto…the Rays are 31-17 in their last 48 games, including wins in 10 of 15, following an MLB-worst 5-15 (.250) stretch from 7/1-26…the Rays are 2.5 games back of the first-place Orioles in the AL East and currently occupy the AL’s first Wild Card spot, leading Toronto by 7.5 games and Seattle/Texas by 8.5 games…they have spent a total of 114 days in first place in the division, surpassing the 2008 Rays (113) for the most in a season in club history. The Rays clinched their ninth postseason berth in club history on Sunday and became the eighth team in the Wild Card era (since 1995) to make the Postseason in five consecutive seasons at least once, joining the Braves (2x: 1995-2005; 2018-23), Yankees (2x: 1995-2007; 2017-22), Astros (2017-22), Dodgers (2013-23), Cardinals (2011-15), Guardians (1995-99) and Phillies (2007-11). If the postseason began today, the Rays would host the Blue Jays in a best-ofthree Wild Card series at Tropicana Field, with the winner advancing to play the Orioles in a best-of-five ALDS. With Tuesday’s win, Tampa Bay surpassed the 2013 Rays for the fifth-most wins in a single season in team history…the 2023 club needs to win seven of its last nine games to match the single-season record set by the 2021 team (100 wins). Last night’s 8-3 defeat marked the Rays 13th loss by 5+ runs, tied with Minnesota and Philadelphia for the second-fewest such losses in the majors behind Atlanta (12).
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT — From the beginning of the season through the end of May, Tampa Bay relievers posted an 18.6 pct. strikeout rate, the lowest mark in the majors ahead of Oakland (19.3%) and Washington (19.5%)…since June, however, Rays relievers have registered an MLB-best 27.5 pct. strikeout rate, ahead of the Braves (26.8%) and the Mariners (25.9%). Tampa Bay relievers have a 35.9 pct. strikeout rate in September, ahead of Los Angeles-NL (27.7%) and Chicago-NL (27.5%)…the 35.9 pct. mark would be the highest bullpen strikeout rate in any month by any team since 1969, ahead of Houston (35.5% – June 2018) and Milwaukee (34.2% – Sept. 2018).
SWING-AND-MISS STUFF— In nine-inning games, Tampa Bay pitching has totaled 14+ strikeouts 10 times, tied with three other teams for the third-most such contests in MLB, trailing Atlanta (13G) and Seattle (12G). The 10 such games are the second most in a single-season in team history behind the 2019 Rays, who had 16 games with 14+ strikeouts in nine-inning contests.
LET’S EFLIN GO — Zach Eflin ranks among MLB leaders in WHIP (1st, 1.01), base runners allowed per 9.0 IP (1st, 9.29), pitches per inning (1st, 14.4), BB/9.0 IP (2nd, 1.23), walk rate (2nd, 3.5%), SO/BB ratio (2nd, 7.48) and wins (T4th, 15). With his victory on 9/10 vs. Seattle, Eflin earned his 11th home win of the year, surpassing Blake Snell (10 wins in 2018) for the most home victories in a single-season in team history…his 11 home wins pace all AL pitchers and rank third in MLB behind AZ Zac Gallen and CHC Justin Steele (12 wins each).
YANDY MAN CAN — Yandy Díaz ranks among AL leaders in AVG (2nd, .322), on-base pct. (2nd, .402), OPS (3rd, .909), hits (5th, 164), slugging pct. (6th, .507) and runs (T8th, 90). His .322 batting average is the second highest through 153 games in franchise history, trailing only Aubrey Huff (.324, 2002), while his .402 OBP is also second highest behind Fred McGriff: (.406, 1999). His 18 games with 3+ hits pace all AL batters and are fourth most in the majors behind ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. (22G) and MIA Luis Arraez/LAD Freddie Freeman (both 20G). His 50 multi-hit games overall are tied with TEX Marcus Semien for second most in the AL, trailing SEA Julio Rodríguez (54G)…the 50 games are the most in a single season by a Rays batter since Corey Dickerson had 51 in 2017.
FRIENDLY CONFINES — Tampa Bays owns an MLB-best 51-26 (.662) record at home, ahead of Los Angeles-NL (50-27, .649) and Atlanta (48-27, .640)…with wins in two of their next four games, the 2023 club will take sole possession of the second-most home wins in franchise history, ahead of the 2009 and 2021 Rays (both 52-29). Tampa Bay is 13-5 in its last 18 home games since 8/11 after going 5-12 at Tropicana Field from 6/24-8/10. Since becoming the Rays in 2008, Tampa Bay is 731-512 (.588) at home, the third-best mark in the majors during that span behind Los Angeles-NL (777-465, .626) and New York-AL (767-475, .618).
RISPY BUSINESS — Over its last four games, Tampa Bay has gone 6-for-37 (.162) with runners in scoring position, including 2-for-16 in last night’s loss…despite that stretch, the Rays .280 RISP AVG this year ranks second in the majors behind the Orioles (.288).
IN A PINCH — Tampa Bay is batting an MLB-best .307 (27-for-88) in pinch-hit situations, ahead of Miami (.286) and Washington (.270). The Rays .307 pinch-hit AVG would signal the second-highest mark in a single-season in team history behind the 2005 Devil Rays (.309).
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING — The Rays 217 homers are third most in the AL behind the Angels (220HR) and Twins (218HR) while their 155 stolen bases are second in the league behind the Royals (156SB)…they are attempting to become the fifth team to lead the AL in both categories, joining New York-AL in 1931, 1933 and 1938 and Cleveland in 1995 (Elias)…the 217 homers are the most through 153 games in club history, ahead of the 2017 team (214HR), while the 155 steals are third most behind the 2009 (182SB) and 2010 Rays (166SB)…they are 11 homers shy of matching the 2017 Rays (228HR) for the club single-season record.
CASH MONEY — According to Elias, Kevin Cash, 45, is the youngest manager in MLB history to reach the postseason in five consecutive seasons, ahead of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was 48 years old when he clinched his fifth straight postseason berth with Los Angeles-NL in 2020. Cash has guided the Rays to a 733-614 (.544) record since taking over as manager in 2015, the fifth-best team winning pct. in the majors during that span behind the Dodgers (838-508, .623), Astros (796-551, .591) Yankees (765-581, .568) and Guardians (740-605, .550).
COAST TO COAST — Tampa Bay and Los Angeles-AL conclude a three-game set this afternoon at Tropicana Field…the Rays took two of three in Los Angeles from 8/18-19, producing 33 runs on 42 hits during the three-game series…the Rays collected season highs in runs (18) and hits (19) in game two of the doubleheader on 8/19. The Rays are 28-12 (.700) against the Angels since the beginning of 2017, their best mark against any AL opponent in that span, ahead of Detroit (26-13, .667).
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (15-8, 3.44)
TODAY’S START — The right-hander makes his 30th start of the season, including his 18th at home, in today’s rubber match…leads the majors in WHIP (1.01) while ranking second in walk rate (3.5%) behind SEA George Kirby (2.4%)…has gone 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA (35.1IP, 10ER) in his last six starts after posting a 2-3 mark with a 5.10 ERA (30.0IP, 17ER) in his first six starts following the All-Star break…has earned the win in back-to-back outings for the first time since a three-start run from 5/14-25.
LAST TIME OUT — Spun 7.0 innings while allowing only a pair of baserunners via a home run and an error in a 7-1 Rays win at Camden Yards on 9/15 (7.0IP, H, ER, 8SO, HR)…opened the game with 5.0 hitless frames before Heston Kjerstad led off the sixth with his first career homer…has allowed three or fewer runs in six consecutive starts, matching the longest streak of his career (also 6/5-7/3, 2018).
ANGELS ADDENDUM — Eflin is 2-0 in two career starts opposite Los Angeles-AL, allowing only one earned run across 14.0 innings for a 0.64 ERA…it marks his lowest ERA against any opponent in his career (min. 2G), ahead of Minnesota (0.66)…has received a combined 25 runs of support in those outings (16.07 RSA)…tossed a quality start in the Rays 18-4 win at Angel Stadium in the second game of a split doubleheader on 8/19 (6.0IP, 4H, ER, BB, 4SO, HR) He is 3-1 with a 4.57 ERA (21.2IP, 11ER) in four starts against AL West opponents this season…has posted a 1.38 WHIP, his highest against any division, but he has benefitted from 11.63 runs of support per 9.0 IP in those games, which leads all MLB starters vs. the AL West (min. 2GS).
WORKHORSE — With today’s outing, Eflin will join Corey Kluber (31GS, 2022) as the only Rays pitchers to start 30+ games in a season since 2020… his 18 home starts will be tied with six other pitchers for the second most in a season in Rays history, trailing only Scott Kazmir’s 18 starts in 2007… his 167.2 innings are the most by a Tampa Bay hurler since Charlie Morton in 2019 (194.2IP). Eflin has recorded seven starts of 7.0+ innings with two or fewer runs allowed, tied for third most among AL pitchers…his five starts of 7.0+ innings with 8+ strikeouts and zero walks lead the majors and are the second most in a season in Rays history behind David Price in 2014 (6GS).
TROP TALK — Eflin has a 6.00 ERA (30.0IP, 20ER) in his last six home starts since 7/26 after entering that stretch with a 2.10 ERA (68.2IP, 16ER) in his first 11 starts at Tropicana Field…despite the recent stretch, his 3.28 ERA (98.2IP, 26ER) is still the sixth lowest through a pitcher’s first eight home starts with the Rays in franchise history…the Rays are 5-4 in his last nine home starts after winning each of his first eight.
DIVING DEEPER — Eflin has held opponents to an average exit velocity of 87.3 mph, the fourth-lowest mark in the AL behind LAA Shohei Ohtani (86.4), LAA Tyler Anderson (87.0) and MIN Pablo López (87.2)…opponents have swung at 34.1 pct. of Eflin’s pitches outside of the strike zone, the second-highest chase rate in the AL behind López (34.3%). Opponents are batting .176 (6-for-34) against him with RISP over his last eight starts since 8/1…opposing hitters batted .305 (18-for-59) vs. Eflin in scoring situations in his previous 14 starts (5/9-7/26).
QUALITY CONTROL — Eflin’s 7.48 SO/BB ratio ranks second in the majors behind SEA George Kirby (8.94)…in Rays history, the only qualified pitcher with a higher mark over a full season was David Price in 2012 (8.22)…he has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last 32 starts since 6/14/22, the longest active streak in MLB, ahead of Kirby (29GS)…Eflin has issued two or fewer walks in 65 of his last 66 starts dating back to 8/29/2020. Since the beginning of 2021, his 4.2 pct. walk rate is the lowest in the majors (min. 1,500BF), outpacing KC Zack Greinke (4.4%). Eflin has thrown 68.9 pct. of his pitches for strikes, the second-highest mark in the majors behind Kirby (70.8%)…marks the highest strike percentage of his career, ahead of his 2021 season (68.0%). Eflin’s 1.01 WHIP paces the majors — he is looking to become the first qualified pitcher in Rays history to lead the AL (or all of MLB) in WHIP over a full season…the only Tampa Bay hurlers to post lower qualified WHIPs in a season are Blake Snell (0.97 in 2018) and Shane McClanahan (0.93 in 2022).
