Three Up, Three Down: Week Five
The Rays moving into first place, getting unexpected pitching performances, and two hitless players make the list in this week’s Three Up, Three Down.
Three Up
1. Start Me Up
With Charlie Morton still on the injured list and Yonny Chirinos joining him (see Three Down), Aaron Slegers and Josh Fleming made their first starts for the Rays over the weekend, with Fleming’s being his Major League debut. Slegers was a Brandon Lowe error away from four perfect innings, and Fleming recorded his first career victory by allowing two runs on four hits over five innings, striking out three Toronto Blue Jays.
2. First Things First
By defeating the New York Yankees on Thursday, August 20th, Tampa Bay moved into first place in the American League East, a half-game ahead of the Bronx Bombers. They ended the week a full game up, thanks in part to the New York Mets having a positive COVID case and postponing their weekend series with the Yankees.
3. Extra Hot Corner
The Rays got great production from the two men who split most of the at-bats at third base last week, ignoring an 0-4 from Yoshi Tsutsugo on Tuesday (more on him in Three Down). Yandy Diaz and Joey Wendle (who got a few other at-bats from other positions during the week) combined to bat .359 with two home runs, seven RBIs, and seven runs scored.
Three Down
1. Achy Breaky Arms
The injury bug continues to buzz around the Tampa Bay pitching staff as they added four more relief arms to the injury list last week and ended the season for one who never even saw the field. Yonny Chirinos (who they activated from the list at the beginning of the week), Chaz Roe, Jose Alvarado, and Nick Anderson joined Charlie Morton, Oliver Drake, Andrew Kittredge, and Colin Poche as relievers who the Rays have lost to the IL since the season began. LH Brendan McKay underwent shoulder surgery last Wednesday that will keep him out of the 2020 season.
2. Oh Yoshi Better Don’t
Japanese import Yoshi Tsutsugo has had a tougher time than expected adjusting to Major League pitching. This was evident as everybody’s favorite video game dinosaur put up a giant goose egg last week. Tsutsugo (not to be confused with Sussudio) went 0-14 over four games, including four strikeouts.
3. Hunter Has Become The Hunted
Joining Yoshi in Tampa Bay’s hall of futility for the week is Hunter Renfroe. The part-time outfielder made the least his 10 at-bats, going hitless with three Ks of his own.
All stats provided by FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.
