In a baseball stadium not so far, far away…the Tampa Bay Rays play host to the Dark Side. AKA, the Baltimore Orioles, for game two of the weekend series.
It is Star Wars Night at Tropicana Field. There’s Jedi, Rebels, Sith Lords and Stormtroopers. But none of that can overshadow the buzz around the clubhouse.
Jacob Faria could make history tonight.
The Force Is Strong With This One
With three starts under his belt, Faria is 3-0. He has gone 6.0+ innings, and allowed 1 earned run or fewer in all three starts. He is just the fifth pitcher since Baseball Reference data is available, going back to 1913, to go 6.0+, allow 1ER or fewer, and get the win in the first three career starts. He joined Alex Main (DET, 1914), Stu Miller (STL, 1952), Wayne Simpson (CIN, 1970), and Andy Rincon (STL, 1980).
But…none of those four went on to post the same stats in their fourth start.
That means, the 23-year-old Californian, who was a 10th round draft pick in 2011, has a shot at history when he takes the mound this afternoon against the Orioles.
Oh, and to add to this historic start of a career, Faria is also the fourth player in the modern era (since 1900) to win his first three career starts and strike out at least 20 while walking less than five. The last man to do that was the Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela…21 years before Faria was even born.
The one difference for Faria tonight…a new face behind the plate.
Return Of The Buffalo
Kevin Cash pregame on Wilson Ramos call-up pic.twitter.com/bH5TK44pqR
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) June 24, 2017
Being activated tonight, Wilson “The Buffalo” Ramos will get the start and bat in the six spot. Signed on December 12th, 2016 as a free agent after six seasons with the Washington Nationals, Ramos adds a veteran presence to a relatively young Rays team. A career .269 hitter, Ramos fills the shoes left by Derek Norris, who was designated for assignment earlier today.
Cash on the Norris DFA and the Rays catching situation with Ramos and Sucre pic.twitter.com/RdlsU6tG2U
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) June 24, 2017
The Battle Ensues
Ramos will call the pitches for Faria this afternoon, as the Orioles send Dylan Bundy (7-6, 3.72) to the mound to try and stifle the Rays bats after last nights season-high 15 run game.
Bundy and the Orioles have their own history in the front of their brains, but not the good kind. Last night, Baltimore tied a 93-year-old record by allowing five or more runs in 20 consecutive games. If their pitching staff falters as it did last night, they could own the record by themselves by the end of the day.
Here is the rest of tonight’s starting line-ups.
Today’s starting line-ups. Sith on the left, Jedi on the right. First pitch is at 4:10 pic.twitter.com/17qfPC6eOK
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) June 24, 2017
For all the latest on Rays injury news and the upcoming return of Brad Boxberger, check out this article.
