Nick Martinez keeps giving the Rays exactly what they need, even if the box score doesn’t always tell the whole story.
On Friday night in Arlington, Martinez logged his 14th win of the season as Tampa Bay beat the Texas Rangers 7-6. The veteran worked 6.1 innings, gave up five hits and three earned runs, and threw 90 pitches. That kind of steady outing has made him one of the most dependable arms on a team chasing the AL East title.
The Rays needed that stability more than ever with Shane McClanahan back on the injured list.
Martinez has become the pitcher Kevin Cash can lean on when Tampa Bay needs length or just a calming presence on the mound. That was true again Friday, even though his final line doesn’t fully capture how the game unfolded. Martinez exited with runners on base, and then Garrett Cleavinger came in and allowed a grand slam that flipped the momentum in a hurry.
It was another reminder of how valuable Martinez has been for Tampa Bay this season - and maybe a nudge that Cash should let him work a little deeper into games.
Behind him, though, there are some concerns starting to pile up.
Cleavinger has had a rough stretch over his last few outings, and Friday was another difficult one. He entered in the seventh and couldn’t keep Texas from turning what looked like a comfortable Rays lead into a much tighter game. Tampa Bay still has time to sort that out, but it’s the kind of issue that can’t linger with October getting closer.
The encouraging piece is that Kevin Kelly has continued to steady things. Kelly pitched the eighth inning on Friday and helped calm things down after the Rangers had built some momentum. After a tough 2023, he has once again become one of the more reliable options in the bullpen.
That matters because there are real questions ahead for this pitching staff. Can McClanahan get healthy?
That was a problem in 2023, and the Rays are again heading into the stretch run with health concerns around one of their key starters. Can Cleavinger get back to the version of himself that mattered so much earlier in the year?
Tampa Bay needs that answer quickly.
If not, the Rays may have to make some roster moves and look at options such as top pitching prospect Ty Johnson for help in the postseason.
In Other News...
Rays Suddenly Have A Catching Decision That Could Matter To Miami
The Rays have put themselves in a much better spot behind the plate in a hurry, and Caden Bodine is a big reason why. The prospect has moved through four minor league levels in one season, flashing both the kind of bat and defensive skill set Tampa Bay has long needed from its catchers. For a franchise that has too often had to patch together offense at the position, that kind of rapid rise is notable on its own.
Add in the arrival of Liam Hicks in a trade, and suddenly the Rays have real depth and a decision to make as they look toward the next few seasons. It is the kind of competition that can help a club, especially one that has spent years trying to get more production from its catching group, and it also gives Tampa Bay another layer to consider as the season turns toward the stretch run and the wider implications around the division, including Miami, come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Cleavingers Slide Leaves Rays Watching One Small Detail
Garrett Cleavingers season has followed a familiar reliever arc for long stretches, but the August break in performance has been hard to miss. His ERA and FIP climbed sharply after a strong first half, even though the underlying shape of his delivery and his command metrics have stayed largely intact, leaving the Rays to sort through why the results suddenly turned south.
One answer seems to be hiding in the margins of where his fastball has lived. The pitch has drifted from its usual glove-side lane toward the arm side, and a higher BABIP has only made the damage look worse. If Tampa Bay can get the catchers setup nudged back into a better spot, theres hope Cleavinger can rediscover the fastball location that made him so effective earlier in the year. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Judges Return Creates A New Problem Rays Fans Should Watch
Aaron Judge is back on the Yankees roster after being activated from the injured list, and his return matters well beyond New York. The slugger has not been in the lineup since May 31, and the Yankees are easing him back into action rather than throwing him right into a full workload, with the club trying to balance his health against its push toward October.
For the Rays, that creates a familiar kind of problem: one of the games most dangerous bats is suddenly back in the division, but not necessarily all the way back to normal yet. Judge skipped a minor-league rehab assignment, so his timing and workload will be worth tracking right away, especially for Tampa Bay as it keeps tabs on a rival that could look a lot different once he is fully settled in. [Read more 🡒]