MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
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TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
CRUISING TO A SERIES WIN — Tampa Bay concluded its seven-game road trip with a 4-3 record following a 4-1 victory over Boston at Fenway Park on Monday afternoon…the Rays broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when CF Manuel Margot (1-for-4, RBI, R) and C Francisco Mejía (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R) produced run-scoring singles before RF Josh Lowe (0-for-5, RBI) staked out a 3-0 lead with an RBI-groundout…the Red Sox got on the board with a solo homer by 1B Justin Turner (1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BB) in the sixth, but 3B Taylor Walls (0-for-4, RBI, BB) drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh for a 4-1 Rays advantage. Ê LHP Shane McClanahan (6.0IP, 5H, ER, 2BB, 5SO) became the first nine-game winner in the majors after tossing his ninth quality start, tied for second most in the AL behind HOU Framber Valdez (10).
RHP Jason Adam (1.0IP, 2SO) picked up his ninth save with a scoreless ninth frame, surpassing his career-high eight saves in 2022.
HOME COOKING — Tampa Bay’s 26-6 record at Tropicana Field marks MLB’s best start at home since the 2008 Boston Red Sox (also 26-6)…the Rays are one of 13 teams since 1901 to win at least 26 of their first 32 home games in a season…have won four of five, eight of 11, and 12 of their last 16 home games overall.
The Rays are 10-0 in series openers at home, the longest such winning streak to open a season since the 2013 Detroit Tigers (13-0), according to Elias…the club is 15-4 overall in series openers this season.
Tampa Bay hitters rank among MLB leaders at home in several categories, including stolen bases (1st, 43), extra-base hits (2nd, 123), homers (2nd, 53), runs per game (2nd, 5.94), OPS (2nd, .839), SLG (2nd, .492) and OBP (3rd, .347).
BETTER AGAINST THE BEST — The Rays have posted a 25-15 (.625) record against teams that currently have a record of .500 or better, the best mark in the league, ahead of Houston (19-13, .594)…since 5/2, nine of Tampa Bay’s last 10 series have been against clubs that are currently .500 or better; the Rays are 20-13 in that span, including 6-4 in series play.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE — Tampa Bay is 9-1 against the AL Central this season, outscoring opponents, 75-36 (+39)…the Rays opened the year with a nine-game winning streak against the division before a 12-9 loss to Chicago-AL on 4/30…it tied their longest winning streak against the AL Central in club history (also: 6/29-7/11)…dating back to 8/20/22, Tampa Bay has won eight straight home games over AL Central opponents, tied
for the second-longest such streak in franchise history (longest: 10G, 6/29/13 – 4/22/14).
The Rays lead the AL in runs per game (7.50), SLG (.554), OPS (.910) and run differential (+39) the AL Central this season.
RIGHTING THE SHIP — After pitching to a 9.58 ERA (10.1IP, 11ER) from 5/27-28, Rays starters recorded a 2.25 ERA (36.0IP, 9ER) during the club’s seven-game road trip through Chicago-NL and Boston, holding opponents to a .223 average (29-for-130) while allowing only two homers (0.50 HR/9.0IP)…among AL clubs, only Kansas City’s rotation (1.52) has a lower ERA in that span (since 5/29).
On the season, Rays starters pace the majors in ERA (3.05), opp. average (.225), opp. SLG (.366) and opp. OPS (.650)…the Rays are 21-1 when their starting pitcher tosses 6.0+ innings, including nine straight wins; the lone loss came on 5/9 at Baltimore.
Tampa Bay’s bullpen has allowed one earned run in its last 11.2 innings since yielding six runs in the bottom of the sixth frame on 6/3 (G1) at Boston. SLOW IT DOWN—The Rays are batting .256 and slugging .446 against breaking/offspeed pitches; both marks are second highest in the majors behind Texas (.281/.465)…Tampa Bay’s 43 homers against breaking/offspeed pitches are tied with Atlanta for most in MLB, all while having the fifth-lowest strikeout rate in the AL (26.1%) in plate appearances that end with those pitches.
BAG BANDITS — The Rays have stolen 30 consecutive bases without being caught dating back to 5/22, the longest streak in club history…they had achieved the previous mark of 21 straight steals on two separate occasions (6/3-27, 2007 & 7/1-23, 2010)…according to Elias, the last major league club to steal 30 straight bases was Cleveland (36SB) from 8/11-9/17, 2021…the Rays have been successful on 44 of their last 46 stolen base attempts (95.6%) overall since 5/14 after opening the season 38-for-52 (73.1%).
Tampa Bay’s 82 stolen bases are the most by any major league club through 62 games since the 2009 Rays (96SB).
On the season, Tampa Bay leads the majors in both steals (82) and stolen base attempts (98) while ranking fourth in stolen base pct. (83.7%).
OFF THE RALES — Luke Raley has reached base safely in a career-high 12 straight games since 5/21, slashing .276/.432/.621 (8-for-29) with four extra-base hits, 5 RBI, 11 runs scored, five walks, 4 SB and 3 HBP…since the streak began on 5/21, his 1.053 OPS ranks fourth in the AL (min. 35PA).
WANDER STRUCK — Wander Franco has hit safely in a season-best nine straight games, tied for the third-longest streak of his career and his longest since a career-best 13-game streak from 9/14-27, 2022…is batting .486 (17-for-35) with three doubles, one triple, 6 RBI, seven steals and six walks against five strikeouts during the streak.
On the season, Franco’s 3.7 bWAR lead the majors, ahead of TEX Marcus Semien (3.4) and ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. (3.3)…his 21 stolen bases are third most in MLB, trailing only OAK Esteury Ruiz (29SB) and ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. (26SB).
In addition to ranking second among major league shortstops in average (.308) and OPS (.870), Franco leads all shortstops in defensive runs saved (9), ahead of CHC Dansby Swanson (8), according to FanGraphs…the only infielder in baseball with more defensive runs saved is SD Ha-Seong Kim (10).
THE BAY BOMBERS — The Rays have hit a major league-best 103 home runs, tied for the eighth-most long balls through a club’s first 62 games in MLB history (since 1901)…they reached 100 homers in their 54th game of the season, becoming the fifth-fastest team to reach the milestone in MLB history (since 1901).
The Rays have 30 multi-HR games, second most in the majors behind New YorkAL (31); they are 25-5 in those contests…this includes 16 games with 3+ homers, most in the AL and trailing only Los Angeles-NL (18G) in all of MLB.
Tampa Bay has not homered in four straight games, its longest drought since 9/7- 13, 2022 (6G)…the last Ray to homer was Jose Siri on 5/31 at Chicago-NL (8th inn.).
TWINNING — The Rays and Twins open their six-game season series tonight…the two clubs will also meet from 9/11-13 in Minnesota…the all-time series is tied, 87-87, but the Twins have had the upper hand in recent years, winning five of the last seven matchups and posting a 12-7 mark since the beginning of 2019.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (7-1, 3.30)
TODAY’S START—Right-hander Zach Eflin makes his 11th start of the season, including his seventh at home…has tossed 5.0+ innings in each of his last 11 starts overall, the second-longest streak of his career (12GS:
9/18/20-5/24/21)…his 3.30 ERA is the third lowest through his first 10 games of a season in his career, behind only his 2019 campaign (2.89) and 2018 season (3.02).
LAST TIME OUT — Eflin did not factor into the decision on 5/31 at Chicago-NL after throwing 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts…despite not receiving a decision, Tampa Bay improved to 9-1 in his starts after rallying for a 4-3 win at Wrigley Field.
Eflin has now tossed 5.0+ innings in each of his first 10 starts to begin the season…it is the longest such stretch to start a season by a Rays pitcher since Chris Archer (28GS) in 2017.
TWIN CITY TALK — Eflin earned the win in his lone career appearance against Minnesota on 4/7/19…he tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one run on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
The righty is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA (33.0IP, 5ER), 0.76 WHIP, 28 strikeouts and three walks in six career appearances (5 starts) against AL Central opponents.
In three starts this season, he is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA (15.0IP, 4ER) with 14 strikeouts against three walks while holding opponents to a .211 average (12-for-57).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME — Eflin has earned the win in each of his first six home starts to open the season, producing a 2.19 ERA (37.0IP, 9ER) in those games…it matches the most consecutive home starts with a win at any point in a season in his career (also: 6/5-7/3, 2018)…it marks the longest streak in Rays history, ahead of six pitchers tied at five straight starts (last: Shane McClanahan, 5/17-6/9, 2022)…the last pitcher with a longer streak of consecutive home starts with a win to open a season was Yu Darvish (7GS) in 2012 as a member of Texas.
Eflin’s 2.19 ERA at Tropicana Field is third lowest through a pitcher’s first six home starts with the Rays in club history, behind Luis Patiño (2.15, 4/25-8/30, 2021) and Jeremy Hellickson (2.16, 8/2/10-5/29/11).
Min. 35.0 IP, Eflin ranks among AL leaders at home in walk rate (2nd, 2.2%), SO/BB ratio (2nd, 11.33), WHIP (3rd, 0.84), ERA (6th) and opp. AVG (9th, .207).
GOING DEEP — He has thrown 5.0+ innings in 11 straight starts dating back to 6/25/22, the second-longest streak of his career (12GS: 9/18/20- 5/24/21)…during the streak, Eflin is 8-1 with a 3.32 ERA (65.0IP, 24ER), 60 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Eflin has typically been at his best deep into his outings, registering a 4.50 ERA (40.0IP, 20ER) in innings 1-4 compared to a 0.90 ERA (20.0IP, 2ER) from the fifth inning on.
RARE FEAT — On 5/25 vs. Toronto, Eflin earned the win after tossing 7.0 innings, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and zero strikeouts… he became the fourth pitcher in Rays history to throw 7.0+ innings without a strikeout, including the first since Mark Hendrickson (7.1IP on 4/9/04 vs. BAL).
WINNERS WIN — Eflin is the second pitcher in Rays history to win seven of his first eight decisions with the club, joining Charlie Morton (8-0 from 3/29-6/10, 2019)…Morton is also the only pitcher in club history to win eight of his first nine decisions with Tampa Bay (8-1).
QUALITY CONTROL — Eflin’s 7.13 SO/BB ratio is second-best in the majors (min. 60.0IP) behind only SEA George Kirby (9.67)…he joins Kirby (58SO, 6BB) as the only pitchers in MLB with 50+ SO and 10 or fewer walks.
Eflin has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last 13 starts since 6/14/2022, the second-longest streak of his career (longest: 33GS, 8/29/20-6/3/22)…overall, the righty has issued two or fewer walks in 46 of his last 47 starts dating back to 8/29/2020.
This season, Eflin’s 3.4 pct. walk rate is second lowest in the majors (min. 50.0IP), trailing only Kirby (2.36%).
