The Tampa Bay Rays potentially have one of the best offensive lineups in MLB. Their lack of run-scoring abilities, though, is causing Rays manager Kevin Cash to look for some type of boost.
“We’ve got to find a way to score more runs,’’ Cash said on Sunday following a Tampa Bay 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
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The Rays are now through 40 games this season and it’s time to get the offense in gear.
Let’s take a look at a measurable metric. For the three-game series at George M. Steinbrenner Field against the Brewers, the Rays were 3-for-24 hitting with runners in scoring position. On Sunday, they were 1-for-8 in the RISP category.
Tampa Bay has lot of work to do at the plate
Sure, Tampa Bay ended up winning two of three in the weekend series. Those RISP numbers, though, must get better to put the Rays in position to add to their win column.
Junior Caminero put a good swing on a pitch from Orioles reliever Tyler Alexander, but he didn’t get all of it and outfielder Jake Bauers snagged the long, loud out at the left-field wall. Not having those potential homers is becoming bothersome to some Rays players.
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“I mean, [Caminero] got a good pitch, put a good swing on it, but it just didn’t happen that time,’’ Rays player Chandler Simpson said, according to MLB.com. “Obviously, everybody wants to get the runners over and get runners in. That’s the name of the game, and that’s how you score runs. That’s how you play baseball. Guys want to do that, but it’s a hard job to be calm in those situations, breathe and just being able to think small and execute.’’
It’s time for the Rays to get their offense in gear. Tampa Bay is off on Monday before a six-game road trip begins Tuesday night at the Toronto Blue Jays before ending with the Miami Marlins.