ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — Zach Eflin is the only member of the Rays' rotation at the beginning of the ... [+]
The schedule indicated Tuesday afternoon’s game at Tropicana Field between the Rays and visiting Tigers was nothing more than a final Grapefruit League matchup before a new season gets underway Thursday.
For Ryan Pepiot, the day was far more important. After a rough couple of outings in which he yielded nine earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, he put together a strong start (5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO) in Clearwater against the Phillies last Thursday. Though Pepiot earned a spot in the Rays’ rotation, he needed another effective outing with some length ahead of his Tampa Bay debut next Monday when he starts against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers in St. Pete.
Mission accomplished. Pepiot, who the Rays acquired from the Dodgers in the January deal that sent Tyler Glasnow to L.A., blanked the Tigers on two hits in six innings. He walked only one and fanned eight while throwing 88 pitches against a Detroit club that fielded a lineup very close, if not identical, to what manager A.J. Hinch will go with Opening Day at the White Sox.
“Obviously, it was a confidence booster facing their lineup and having success going into the season,” said the 26-year-old righthander. “To go 85-plus (pitches) for the last one is pretty good and being able to go out for the sixth inning definitely helps. (I am) definitely where I want to be at this stage.”
That is a good thing because the Rays’ rotation has been through a lot when it comes to injuries. In fact, Zach Eflin is the only member of the rotation that broke camp with the club ahead of Opening Day last year. Eflin will be on the mound for Thursday’s curtain riser against the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, his first Opening Day assignment.
Eflin was part of a rotation that a year ago at this time also featured Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs and Josh Fleming. McClanahan was lost to the Rays in August and will miss this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. It is hoped that Jeffrey Springs (TJ surgery) and Drew Rasmussen (non-TJ elbow procedure), shelved in April and May, respectively, return at some point in the season’s second half.
Glasnow, who would have been in the rotation, missed the first two months of 2023 while recovering from an oblique strain sustained during spring training.
With Taj Bradley (pectoral tightness) out until perhaps May, the rotation behind Eflin features Aaron Civale, Zack Littell, Tyler Alexander and Pepiot. Civale was acquired from Cleveland at last year’s trade deadline and Littell was claimed off waivers from Boston in May. He became a valuable member of the rotation after initially working in relief.
Alexander was claimed off waivers from Detroit in November. The 29-year-old lefty appeared in 120 games in five seasons with the Tigers, starting 43. His last spring training appearance was a successful five-inning stint (1 ER, 0 BB) against the Red Sox.
The newcomers have impressed manager Kevin Cash.
“We are really excited how Pepiot has thrown and what kind of spring he has had,” said the skipper, who entering his 10th season is the longest-tenured manager in MLB. “Tyler Alexander, every outing has been super-efficient with really good command. I think he will complement our rotation as a whole.”
The Rays have a couple of other potential rotation options, though neither has pitched since 2022 and neither will be with the club Opening Day.
Shane Baz is essentially in spring training mode as he continues a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery and could be available, albeit on a limited basis, by mid-April. He last pitched in an MLB game in July 2022. Former Rays (2013-17) pitcher Jake Odorizzi signed a minor-league deal March 15 and saw his initial game action Tuesday by following Pepiot with a three-inning stint.
Though Odorizzi was missing his pitches up and walked two while allowing three runs, it was about the larger picture. After all, he last took the mound in the 2022 NLDS with the Braves against the Phillies. Traded to Texas that November, the 33-year-old righty had shoulder surgery and never pitched for the Rangers. So, Tuesday was a pretty big deal for him.
“A little rusty, obviously,” said Odorizzi, who had his first experience with a pitch clock. “I was encouraged specifically by the off-speed stuff that I worked on since I got here. I was pretty happy with today overall.”
Odorizzi said he needs at least another outing to work on his fastball and then see where he stands as far as a potentially joining the team.
