For the series finale and last game before the All-Star Break, the Rays and Red Sox will have a battle of the Aces, as Chris Archer faces off against his mentor David Price.
In what promises to be an exciting game, Tampa Bay closes the weekend series out by sending their current Ace up against their former Ace, as Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95) takes on David Price (4-2, 4.02).
The Price Is Right
Price, who started his career with Tampa Bay and is the teams only Cy Young winner, is making his ninth start since returning from the disabled list at the end of May. With 45 strikeouts in his first eight starts, Price has shown he has recovered from the elbow issue that kept him from pitching the first part of the season.
That is bad news for the Rays, as Price has held them scoreless in his last 19.1 innings. But, on the flip side, his career high for earned runs allowed was against the Rays. He allowed eight on April 21st of 2016.
In the history books of Tampa Bay, Price is in the top-2 of a majority of the pitching categories. Either him or James Shields occupy the top spot. But who is usually found sitting right there in the three spot? None other than Chris Archer.
Archer Takes The Reigns
Joining the team in 2012, Archer was lucky enough to learn from arguably the two best pitchers in team history. As he said earlier this week, “Shields is grandpa, Price is the dad. Although he’s getting older now. He might be getting into that grandpa range.” Well, the son has definitely proven himself to his elders.
You always like your chances when a gold medal All-Star takes the mound. pic.twitter.com/ZueDkERhh9
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 9, 2017
Archer, coming off an impressive game in Chicago where he picked up his first major league hit, has taken the place of his mentors since their departure. Closing in on the top spot in team history with each passing season, Archer goes into Sunday posting 139 strikeouts so far, with an ERA just shy of four.
Named to the All-Star team Friday as a replacement, Archer joins Price and Scott Kazmir as the only Rays pitchers to make multiple appearances in the midsummer classic. He will join Corey Dickerson, voted starter by the fans, and manager Kevin Cash who will be the American League bench coach.
Making his 19th start of 2017, Archer is 3-2 at home this season, with a 3.66 ERA. Having made nine starts both at home and on the road, Archer has allowed just four home runs on his home turf, opposed to seven elsewhere. The more important number though, is his 79 strikeouts at home versus only 60 on the road. That said, his opponent Price has 27 of his 45 punch-outs on the road.
What does that mean? Both sides could see double-digit strikeouts with very few runs scoring on either side. Making every opportunity count, just as it did yesterday when the Rays held onto a 1-0 win to guarantee at least a split of the series.
Keeping The Winning Trend Going
With the win Saturday, Tampa Bay continues its streak of positive series. Since heading onto the road for Mother’s Day weekend in May, the Rays have only lost two total series. This explains how the Rays are holding onto the 3rd spot in the division, a couple of games above .500.
Hopefully that continues when the Rays return against the Angels and A’s on a six-game west coast road trip. With four days rest, fresh legs are something Tampa Bay needs to push for the postseason.
But before the break, Tampa Bay has one more contest to get through. Here’s the line-ups for the series finale against the Boston Red Sox…
Today’s line ups for #Rays vs #RedSox highlighted by a battle of the Aces as Archer takes on Price. First pitch at 1:10 PM pic.twitter.com/S94ysPgYl6
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) July 9, 2017
