Bullpen’s Performance Underscores Resilience Of Playoff-Bound Tampa Bay Rays

After the Rays clinched a playoff spot Friday night time in Houston, Kevin Money was requested about how his crew has confirmed nice resilience in overcoming the various accidents that affected each nook of his roster this season.

“Credit score all these guys and credit score our entrance workplace and everyone that’s concerned to permit us to have that sort of depth,” mentioned the supervisor, in what it has taken to get by means of a season that has the Rays going to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive 12 months.

Depth and resilience can actually overcome many hurdles that floor throughout the course of a 162-game season. The perfect is instance is a bullpen that headed into the ultimate three video games of the common season with the sixth finest ERA (3.27) within the majors and has a 3.13 ERA for the reason that all-star break. Such numbers have been recorded regardless of the lack of righthanders Andrew Kittredge (Tommy John surgical procedure) and J.P. Feyereisen (shoulder impingement) to season-ending accidents inside every week in June.

Kittredge landed a spot on the all-star crew in 2021 when he received 9 video games, saved eight, had a 1.88 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He had a really productive first two months this season with three wins, 5 saves and a 0.85 WHIP when he went on the injured record.

Feyereisen had not allowed an earned run and had a miniscule 0.49 WHIP in 22 appearances whereas profitable 4 video games and selecting up a save when he was shelved.

The lack of Kittredge and Feyereisen got here at a time when Pete Fairbanks (lat pressure) had but to make his season debut. It must also be famous that Nick Anderson, who missed most of 2021 with an elbow harm, was misplaced for the season two weeks earlier than opening day with recurring elbow issues.

As has been the case with Money’s crew in recent times, when alternative knocks someone normally solutions. To say Jason Adam responded to an elevated function can be a gross understatement. The 31-year-old righthander may very well be thought of the crew’s most dear participant – an award that went to Shane McClanahan – given how he stepped up after Kittredge and Feyereisen went down.

Adam, who had 79 profession appearances (all in reduction) with three groups previous to signing with the Rays for $900,000 plus incentives after the lockout resulted in March, was unscored upon in 14 of 16 appearances whereas making an increasing number of late-inning appearances after Kittredge and Feyereisen went down. He entered the ultimate collection of the season with a 0.76 WHIP and an opponent OPS of .471 that was good for second (minimal 40 innings) within the American League.

“There are a whole lot of egos in sports activities and we don’t have any of that right here,” Adam said on the finish of August, in referring to a bullpen that has resembled a revolving door with 29 completely different pitchers having been summoned from it. “We don’t care if we’re throwing within the second inning or ninth inning. We simply wish to do our jobs in order that we will win a ballgame, go within the (clubhouse) to have a good time and do it once more the following sport.”

There was loads of celebrating following lots of Fairbanks’ latest outings. The 28-year-old, acquired from Texas in mid-season 2019, returned in July and has dominated the opposition throughout an energetic string of twenty-two consecutive scoreless appearances. He and Adam are tied for the crew lead in saves with eight, and Fairbanks sports activities a WHIP of 0.66.

A bullpen that in late August misplaced the providers of Ryan Thompson (triceps, hopeful of returning for spring coaching) benefitted significantly from the return of lefties Jalen Beeks (presently on IL, may return) and Colin Poche from Tommy John surgical procedure. It has additionally had contributions from the likes of Shawn Armstrong, Garrett Cleavinger and Javy Guerra, who had been with different organizations when this season started.

Whereas something can occur in an expanded playoff subject, any success the Rays expertise within the postseason will doubtless be in very giant half to the bullpen.