Today’s game will be number 18 on the season and number five versus the Angels. The Rays will face the Angels a total of seven times, all of them in the month of April. At this point, the Rays have 2-2 when playing the Angels. As a member of the American League West division, the Angels do not play the Rays often. This season the Rays and Angels will play a home and home series. Last week, the Rays traveled to California and played a three-game series against the Angels. The Rays were victorious in two of the three games. This week, the Angels are visiting Florida and tonight’s game is game two of a four-game series. The Rays lost game one, 3-7.
The Rays franchise has a record of 101-108 against the Angels franchise (48 win %, DIFF -32). The Rays have an all-time winning record versus six American League franchises. The division that gives the Rays the most difficulty is the American League West. Only the Houston Astros have a losing record against the Rays.
In the four games these two teams played, the Angels outscored the Rays 20 to 14. The determining factor is Mike Trout. Trout drove in six RBIs against the Rays. The three-time MVP has owned the Rays this season. His .470 (8-17) batting average is writing the narrative. In 2022, when facing the Rays, Trout had nine hits and smashed five homers producing nine RBIs. The Rays did not play the Angels in 2023. Trout’s offense abilities victimize many teams in the league.
Right hander Aaron Civale will take his outstanding 0.94 WHIP to the mound. In his last start, Civale faced 21 Angel batters in five innings. He allowed four hits which generated three runs (2 earned) with four strikes and one home run. Who the hit the homer? You guessed it, Mike Trout.
Trout is 1-for-3 versus Civale. Four other batters in the Angels’ lineup are hitless against Civale: Adell, Rendon, Rengifo, and Ward.
Shortstop Jose Caballero has cooled off. A 0-for-8 mini-slump lowered his batting average by 55 points and OPS by 62 points. He had a seven-game hitting streak prior to the slump that ended on Saturday. Caballero enjoys Angels’ pitching. In the series played in California, Caballero went 5-for-10 with a double and a home run.
Amed Rosario’s bat has been heating up. He has been playing outfield but with Brandan Lowe’s injury (right oblique strain), Rosario will see an increase in playing time at second base. In the past five games, Rosario batted 8-for-21 (.381) with a double and a home run, adding 55 points to his batting average and an amazing 149 points to his OPS.
Another player showing improvement at the plate is DH Harold Ramirez. His stretch of 6-for-20 (.300) in the last five games has bolstered his batting average by 24 points. He also drove in all three runs with a home run during the 3-7 loss on Monday.
Coming up next is a weekend series in New York against the Yankees. The Rays are 194-256 against the pinstripers.
