What to watch for: Interleague play is always weird, so let’s see how the Rays respond. It can’t help the lineup to lose one of the bats every game, but the other 8 guys should be able to pick up the slack. The Rays almost never see these pitchers they are going to see, so that will definitely be something to keep an eye on, also.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Andy Sonnanstine - Sonnanstine had picked up wins in four consecutive starts prior to Sunday’s outing against the Angels, when he allowed five runs on eight hits while walking two to take a no-decision. Sonnanstine’s best pitch is the slider, but in order for him to pitch well, he needs to locate his fastball to set up the vast array of pitches he throws from all different angles. He is 3-0 with a 4.05 ERA in three road starts this season. This will be his first career start against the Cardinals.
Braden Looper - Looper skipped his side session after working 8 1/3 innings in the thin Colorado air the start before, but he said he felt physically fine when he allowed four runs in six innings against Milwaukee. He struggled keeping the ball down, and Ryan Braun took advantage by smacking two home runs in the Cardinals’ 5-3 loss. Looper only walked one and hit another batter ?- but both of those scored in the first inning to spot the Brewers an early lead.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Braden Looper.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
ST LOUIS CARDINALS |
| 2B - Akinori Iwamura | RF - Skip Schumaker |
| LF - Carl Crawford | LF - Chris Duncan |
| CF - B.J. Upton | 1B - Albert Pujols |
| 1B - Carlos Pena | CF - Rick Ankiel |
| 3B - Evan Longoria | 3B - Troy Glaus |
| RF - Eric Hinske | C - Yadier Molina |
| C - Dioner Navarro | 2B - Adam Kennedy |
| SS - Jason Bartlett | P - Braden Looper |
| P - Andy Sonnanstine | SS - Cesar Izturis |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
May 16th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Hats off to Sonny.
I can’t say enough good things about this dude. Another dazzling pitching performance. Like always, he worked efficiently, attacked the zone and baffled hitters with his off-speed pitches.
He is now 6-1 on the year. Goddamn.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
To those that said Sonny should be dropped when Kaz came back…pox on you! He does not throw smoke, but pitches smart. Excellent job…game MVP.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I watch Josh Hamilton rake and cry when I think about him never patrolling RF at Tropicana… Oh what could’ve been. As of right now we have no middle of the lineup threat, Carlos Pena’s AB’s are garbage, he needs to get his head outta his ass. I know we are winning, but to take the next step, when need a legitimate clean up hitter who can carry the load, and it just isn’t happening right now, you can only win 2-1 and 3-1 for so long…
This needs addressed id Pena continues to look this inept…