There was a lot that went into turnaround of Rays’ Taj Bradley

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After three rough starts, Taj Bradley knew he had to throw more strikes.

And after starting Tuesday’s game by throwing two straight balls, he showed he understood the assignment.

Bradley got ahead of hitters and got out of innings quickly, retiring the first 16 Royals and allowing only two hits and a walk over six-plus innings in a dazzling outing as the Rays won 5-1.

And his night ended much better than the previous three, surrounded by teammates giving him high-fives and slaps on the back as he walked off the mound with two outs in the seventh.

“(He) set a tone early on with the strike-throwing, got in a good rhythm and really built off that,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We were all pretty pumped for Taj. I know it’s been a grind for him the last couple of starts, but he was able to rebound and really give us a good start (Tuesday).”

Whatever concerns and outside noise his three prior outings had created, Bradley, 24, said the confidence he got from his bosses going into Tuesday’s start was all he needed.

“It’s easier to get the hard outings out of the way when you know that they trust you enough to go out for the next game and do your job and help contribute to the team,” Bradley said.

“So when you see them in the clubhouse the next day and they’re smiling at you, high-fiving you, just not even bringing up the outing, you know how to flush it.”

Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley and catcher Danny Jansen (19) meet on the mound during the sixth inning. Bradley did not allow a baserunner over the first five innings. [ CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP ]

Cash said their confidence was based on both the pitcher and the person Bradley is.

“His stuff is really electric, like it was (Tuesday),” Cash said “The person, he cares a lot. He wants to go out there when he competes. He wants to do well. And we appreciate that.”

Catcher Danny Jansen, whose two-run homer in the second put the Rays ahead, said Bradley’s aggressiveness was key.

“Attacking the zone,” Jansen said. “Obviously, it’s tough to pitch in this league when you’re behind in the count and pretty predictable what you’ve got to deliver.”

Instead, Bradley mixed his four-seam fastball, his new sinker and his cutter to get ahead, then used what Jansen calls “his wipe-out pitches,” such as his curve and splitter, to put batters away.

“Getting ahead, we were able to do that and get some weak contacts, some soft ground balls and stuff,” Jansen said. “So, it was awesome outing.”

Yandy Diaz, who didn’t have anyone to talk to at first base until Bradley walked John Rave with one out in the sixth, also was impressed.

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“I’ve always said that if he focused on his pitches it’s going to be very hard to hit him,” Diaz said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “When he mixes his pitches good, everything will be different, and he did that (Tuesday).”

Rays catcher Danny Jansen celebrates in the dugout after hitting a sacrifice fly to drive home a run during the fourth inning. He had three RBIs in the game. [ CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP ]

Bradley also had some help.

Bullpen coach Jorge Moncada did some video work after Bradley’s brutal last outing, when he allowed six earned runs and got only four outs, and noticed that his delivery was off.

Pitching coach Kyle Snyder broke that down further, addressing the position of Bradley’s hands in relation to the timing of his delivery, showing him video and then while playing catch on Friday. By Sunday, Bradley had back “the rhythm and timing thing” that worked for him in the past.

“Kind of lost one hitch to where I wasn’t working my legs or hands the way I was supposed to,” Bradley said. “(Snyder) showed me videos from last year, and within two days he had it all back together. … It was a quick fix.”

The next challenge is to keep it going and avoid the inconsistency that has plagued Bradley during his brief career. But Tuesday was a good night.

“It’s encouraging,” Cash said. “But you also kind of expect that guys need to be able to bounce back, and happy that he did.”

There was plenty to be happy about, as the Rays boosted their majors-best record since May 9 to 28-14 and since May 20 to 23-9, improved to 44-35 overall and moved within one game of the American League East-leading Yankees.

Jansen hit his eighth homer. Diaz extended his hitting streak to 14 games and said he’s feeling like he did during his 2023 AL batting championship season. All-Star candidate Jonathan Aranda also had three hits to boost his average to .332.

Bradley’s struggles raised some questions among fans and media about whether he should be sent back to the minors, especially with a potential replacement, Joe Boyle, pitching well — and happening to be starting in the Durham rotation on the same day that Bradley pitches.

Bradley said he paid no attention,

“Hell, no, that’s the last thing I’m thinking about,” he said. “Everybody’s trying to be GM when they ain’t. I didn’t even know about (that talk) until you just said it. So that’s not in my focus. I don’t even look at social media.

“I just go and play my game. I know that the guys in this clubhouse have trust in me just like I have trust in them. Snydes, Cash and everybody, they all have trust. So come in here, knowing every day just to come here to get better at your job.”

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