Diamondbacks, Rays Clash — Yahoo Sports Breaks It Down!

What Happened in Yesterday’s Game?

The Arizona Diamondbacks just had a rough day at the office. Even though pitcher Jose Cabrera did everything he could to keep himself in the game and earn more chances to start, the team’s offense (that’s the batting side) just couldn’t get anything going.

They were up against the Tampa Bay Rays, who threw what’s called a “Bullpen Game.”

What’s a Bullpen Game? Normally, one starting pitcher throws most of the game. In a Bullpen Game, the team uses many different relief pitchers instead — kind of like throwing a bunch of different looks at the batters so they never get comfortable.

And it worked! The Rays’ bullpen:

• Allowed only 2 runs on 7 hits
• Struck out eight Diamondbacks batters
• Didn’t walk a single batter (meaning they threw strikes and didn’t give away free bases)

As a result, the Diamondbacks are now back to a .500 record — that means they’ve won exactly as many games as they’ve lost. The Rays, meanwhile, have already won the weekend series.

Today’s Matchup: Merrill Kelly Takes the Mound

Arizona now turns to Merrill Kelly to try and avoid getting swept (losing every game in the series). But here’s the thing — Kelly has been a bit of a rollercoaster lately.

Kelly’s Recent Pattern

In his last five starts, Kelly has been alternating between:

1. A quality start (a really good outing)
2. A total disaster (a really bad outing)

His last outing on the 22nd was a good one. If the pattern holds, today should be a bad one — but the Diamondbacks are really hoping Kelly can break that pattern and deliver back-to-back quality starts.

Why This Matters So Much: Arizona’s pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries. They desperately need their starting pitchers to go deep into games and give quality innings over the next few weeks. Every quality start helps take pressure off an already tired bullpen.

The Challenge Ahead: Drew Rasmussen

Things don’t get any easier for Arizona’s struggling hitters. After failing to score against the Rays’ bullpen game, they now have to face Drew Rasmussen, one of Tampa Bay’s best pitchers.

Here’s how good Rasmussen has been this season:

What does an ERA+ of 165 mean? It means Rasmussen has been 65% better than the average Major League pitcher. That’s elite level performance. Good luck, Diamondbacks batters!

Get Involved!

Want to join the conversation about the Diamondbacks and other sports? Sign up for a user account and you’ll get to:

• Comment on articles and community posts
• Receive replies to your comments
• Enjoy a new, improved notifications system so you never miss a thing!

Summary

• The Diamondbacks lost to the Rays, dropping back to .500 on the season.
• The Rays’ bullpen game completely shut down Arizona’s offense (2 runs, 7 hits, 8 strikeouts, 0 walks).
• Merrill Kelly gets the start today, hoping to break his alternating pattern of good and bad outings.
• Arizona’s pitching staff is dealing with injuries, making quality starts even more critical.
• The hitters face a tough challenge against Drew Rasmussen, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season (2.62 ERA, 165 ERA+).
• The Rays have already won the series; Arizona is just trying to avoid the sweep.

FAQ

Q: What does a .500 record mean?
A: It means the team has won the same number of games as it has lost. Think of it as being right in the middle — not doing great, but not doing terribly either.

Q: What is a “quality start”?
A: A quality start is when a starting pitcher goes at least 6 innings and allows 3 or fewer earned runs. It’s basically a benchmark for a solid, reliable performance.

Q: Why is the Diamondbacks’ offense described as “struggling”?
A: The article notes they were “flat” and “unable to break through” against the Rays’ pitching, and they now face another elite pitcher in Rasmussen. Scoring runs has been a challenge for them.

Q: What does ERA+ mean and why is 165 so good?
A: ERA+ adjusts a pitcher’s ERA for league and ballpark factors, where 100 is average. A 165 means the pitcher is 65% better than the average MLB pitcher — that puts Rasmussen among the game’s elite.

Q: What is a “series sweep”?
A: A series sweep happens when one team wins every game in a multi-game series against the same opponent. The Rays have already won this series; Arizona is trying to avoid the sweep by winning today’s game.