Lineups: Rays vs. Nats in West Palm Beach

Lineups: Rays vs. Nats in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg gets his first start of Grapefruit League play this afternoon, and you'll be able to watch the right-hander battle the Rays on MASN at 1 p.m. Given that it's about a three-hour trek from the Rays' spring home in Port Charlotte on the state's west coast, there will only be a few major leaguers in the lineup facing Strasburg. So the first couple of innings will be the best chance to gauge Strasburg's effectiveness against actual major league...
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Answers to questions about early surprise squads

Answers to questions about early surprise squads
The answers to questions regarding the top five surprising teams in the early going on the season: Q: What is fueling the Tigers' first-place run in the American League Central? A: Pitching and defense. "This is about throwing the ball over the plate and catching it,'' Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said to the Detroit Free Press. "But we can't get too high on this stuff. There's a long way to go.'' The Tigers get a big test starting tonight when they play Cleveland in a series they'll...
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Red Sox the favorites in the American League East

Red Sox the favorites in the American League East
After going 11-3 in the postseason en route to winning the 2018 World Series, the Red Sox are taking aim at becoming the first repeat World Series winner since the Yankees won their third consecutive in 2000. History says the Red Sox have an uphill climb. Since 2000, only the 2001 Yankees and 2009 Phillies returned to the World Series after winning it the previous season. Nine of the World Series champions didn't make the postseason. The Yankees and Red Sox are the favorites in the American...
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For openers, Rays expect bullpenning strategy is here to stay

For openers, Rays expect bullpenning strategy is here to stay
LAS VEGAS - The Rays redefined their pitching strategy last season, and they are getting ready to use the same philosophy in 2019. That is, they will continue to do their bullpenning. "We're going to see it happen," Rays manager Kevin Cash said during a press conference Monday at the Winter Meetings at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. "We're going to do it." Why not? It worked. The Rays finished third in the American League East with 90 victories. Most teams would panic if they lose...
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For openers, Rays expect bullpenning is here to stay

For openers, Rays expect bullpenning is here to stay
LAS VEGAS - The Rays redefined their pitching strategy last season, and they are getting ready to use the same philosophy in 2019. That is, they will continue to do their bullpenning. "We're going to see it happen," Rays manager Kevin Cash said during a press conference Monday at the Winter Meetings at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. "We're going to do it." Why not? It worked. The Rays finished third in the American League East with 90 victories. Most teams would panic if they lose...
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Opposite dugout: Winning season for Rays lost in top-heavy AL East

Opposite dugout: Winning season for Rays lost in top-heavy AL East
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 75-64 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 2B Joey Wendle (.297/.346/.425), 3B Matt Duffy (.296/.354/.371), RF Mallex Smith (.302/.373/.424, SB), DH/1B C.J. Cron (26 HR, 61RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (2.02 ERA), RHP Sergio Romo (19 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 8-8 Pitching probables: Sept. 7: RHP Dylan Bundy (7-13) vs. LHP Blake Snell (17-5), 7:10 p.m., MASN2Sept. 8: RHP David Hess (3-9) vs. TBD, 6:10 p.m., MASN2Sept. 9: RHP Alex Cobb (5-15) vs. TBD, 1:10...
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Opposite dugout: For openers, Rays' pitching a patchwork affair

Opposite dugout: For openers, Rays' pitching a patchwork affair
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 56-56 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: DH C.J. Cron (22 HR), 2B Joey Wendle (.292/.345/.416), 3B Matt Duffy (.301/.353/.383), RF Mallex Smith (23 SB, eight 3B), RHP Tyler Glasnow (4.27 ERA), RHP Sergio Romo (13 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 6-7 Pitching probables: Aug. 7: RHP Alex Cobb (3-14) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-2), 7:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 8: RHP Andrew Cashner (3-10) vs. TBA, 7:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 9: RHP David Hess (2-6) vs. TBA, 7:10 p.m.,...
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Opposite Dugout: Rays dealing assets with the trade deadline nearing

Opposite Dugout: Rays dealing assets with the trade deadline nearing
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 52-50 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B C.J. Cron (20 HR, 51 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (9 HR, 31 RBIs), RF Carlos Gomez (8 HR, 23 RBsI), Mallex Smith (.284, 17 SB), Matt Duffy (.305), RHP Sergio Romo (12 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 5-4 Pitching probables: July 26: RHP Alex Cobb (2-13) vs. RHP Hunter Wood (0-0); 7:05 p.m., MASN2July 27: RHP Andrew Cashner (2-9) vs. RHP Chris Archer (3-4); 7:05 p.m., MASN2July 28: RHP Kevin Gausman (4-8)...
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Nats offense continues to struggle in 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay

Nats offense continues to struggle in 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Even facing two pitchers that were on target, it would be hard to ignore the Nationals struggles on offense against the Rays. The Nats fell 1-0 Tuesday afternoon, just 17 hours after an 11-0 shutout. The offense mustered five hits in the two-game series. Sure Blake Snell was good, and so was Nathan Eovaldi, but the Nats went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and struck out a whopping 23 times in the series. They went three-up and three-down 11 times in 18...
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Martinez will speak to Zimmerman about rehab games

Martinez will speak to Zimmerman about rehab games
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is not on this trip but he is closer to a return from his right oblique strain that has kept him sidelined since May 10. He has now missed 39 games. Manager Davey Martinez said he will speak to Zimmerman about rehab games possibly for next week, even though the veteran may not be too excited about warming up in the minor leagues. "As soon as he's ready to play, I'll have to sit down and talk to him," Martinez said. "I'd like...
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Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Rays

Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Nationals look to rebound after a very difficult 11-0 loss to open their series against the Rays. The game was dominated by Tampa Bay. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez struggled in facing only 11 batters, allowing six runs. The offense did not fare any better against left-hander Blake Snell, getting only one hit in the seventh inning. So, the club turns to their ace again, right-hander Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.09 ERA), who is seeking his 11th win of the season. His last victory...
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Gonzalez failed to make adjustments in shortest outing of season

Gonzalez failed to make adjustments in shortest outing of season
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez has made starts where he was off a bit. But Monday night at Tropicana Field, Gonzalez was unable to get into any kind of a rhythm. It got so bad for the southpaw that he faced seven batters in the second inning without recording an out. After walking one batter in the first, he still was able to get out of the frame by inducing flyout and getting former teammate Wilson Ramos on a called third strike. But in the second, the Rays C.J. Cron started...
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Gonzalez unable to find the plate, allows grand slam (Nats fall 11-0)

Gonzalez unable to find the plate, allows grand slam (Nats fall 11-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got through the first inning allowing only a walk. In the second inning, his night fell apart. Gonzalez could not find the plate, issuing four walks, including three walks in a row to the bottom of the Rays order. A wild pitch scored C.J. Cron. A walk to Willy Adames scored Jake Bauers. Then the biggest hit of the game came off the bat of Kevin Kiermaier, who crushed a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for a grand slam. It was his first homer...
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Kintzler returns, Rodriguez optioned, Hellickson on track

Kintzler returns, Rodriguez optioned, Hellickson on track
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Nationals reinstated right-hander Brandon Kintzler from the 10-day disabled list this afternoon and optioned-hander Jefry Rodriguez to Triple-A Syracuse. Kintzler had been on the DL since June 10 with a right forearm flexor strain and pitched an inning in a minor league rehabilitation assignment for Single-A Potomac on Sunday. "Yeah, he's ready to go," said manager Davey Martinez. "He did well. But the biggest thing is the arm felt good. So we get him back...
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Opposite dugout: Rays throwing starters, not "openers," at Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rays throwing starters, not "openers," at Nationals
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 37-40 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 3B Matt Duffy (.318 with 23 RBIs), C Wilson Ramos (.289 with 9 HR, 36 RBIs), 2B Joey Wendel (.262), 1B C.J. Cron (16 HR, 38 RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (9-4, 2.48 ERA), Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 25: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-4) vs. LHP Blake Snell (9-4), 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June 26 RHP Max Scherzer (10-3) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-3), 12:10 p.m., MASN Inside the Rays: The...
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Opposite Dugout: Skidding Rays hoping to get back to .500

Opposite Dugout: Skidding Rays hoping to get back to .500
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 28-30 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B C.J. Cron (12 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Daniel Robertson (.272), C Wilson Ramos (.301 with 7 HR, 29 RBIs), 3B Matt Duffy (.308), RHP Sergio Romo (5.96 ERA), RHP Ryne Stanek (3.97 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 5: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (9-1), 7:05 p.m., MASN2June 6: TBA vs. RHP Tanner Roark (2-6), 1:05 p.m., MASN2 Inside the Rays: The Rays...
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Opposite dugout: Rays starting relievers in all three games vs. Orioles

Opposite dugout: Rays starting relievers in all three games vs. Orioles
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 23-25Last 10 games: 7-3Who to watch: C Wilson Ramos (.301 with 6 HR, 24 RBIs), CF Mallex Smith (.293, 11 SB), OF Johnny Field (.280 with 4 HR, 8 RBIs), RHP Sergio Romo (1-0, 4.34 ERA), RHP Alex Colomé (11 saves)Season series vs. Orioles: 3-3 Pitching probables: May 25: RHP David Hess (1-1) vs. RHP Sergio Romo (1-0), 7:10 p.m., MASNMay 26: RHP Andrew Cashner (2-5) vs. RHP Ryne Stanek (0-0), 4:10 p.m., MASNMay 27: RHP Kevin Gausman (3-3) vs. RHP Sergio...
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Andrew Stetka: Could O's learn from Rays' new pitching strategy?

Andrew Stetka: Could O's learn from Rays' new pitching strategy?
The long-running baseball standard of seeing starting pitchers go deep into games is falling by the wayside. This is not news, as it's been happening for years. Starting pitchers are throwing fewer innings. It used to be that starters would pitch complete games regularly. In fact, the last three full seasons have seen the lowest number of complete games in major league history. There were 104 thrown in 2015, 83 in 2016 and just 59 times did a pitcher go the distance last season. Long gone are...
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Opposite dugout: Rays challenged to be little more than a pesky foe

Opposite dugout: Rays challenged to be little more than a pesky foe
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th year) Record: 15-19 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Mallex Smith (.326/.407/.421 with 8 SB), C Wilson Ramos (.313 with 4 HR, 18 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (.289), 1B C.J. Cron (7 HR, 20 RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (4-2, 2.40 ERA), RHP Alex Colomé (6 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-2 Pitching probables: May 11: RHP Jake Faria (3-1) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN May 12: RHP Chris Archer (2-2) vs. TBA , 3:05 p.m., MASN2 May 12: TBA vs. RHP Alex Cobb...
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Opposite Dugout: Rays are in midst of a rebuild

Opposite Dugout: Rays are in midst of a rebuild
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 8-13 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Mallex Smith (.344/.412/.871) 1B C.J. Cron (5 HR, 13 RBIs), OF Denard Span (17 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (.318), RHP Blake Snell (3-1, 2.54 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (11-8 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 24: RHP Jake Faria (1-1) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (0-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 25: RHP Chris Archer (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 26: RHP Blake Snell (3-1) vs. Chris...
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