Before he departed, Cobb went 4.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, striking out 3 while walking 3. The much-maligned Rays bullpen had to find a way to hold the Royals down for the remaining 4.1 frames. How would they do that? Well, the easy part was going to be handing the ball to Alex Torres. The rookie left-hander just continues to befuddle whoever he faces, striking out 4 of the 5 batters he faced in this one on his way to 1.2 perfect innings. Torres has a 0.00 ERA, just 3 hits allowed, and a 23-3 strikeout to walk ratio in 16 innings pitched. He rightfully earned the win in his game for the efforts. Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and Fernando Rodney allowed just 1 run combined in tossing the final 3 innings to seal the Rays’ win.

In an ironic twist, Luke Scott sure seemed like a dead duck. The 35 year old designated hitter entered Saturday’s contest having gone just 10 for his last 60 (.167) to lower his average to .228 on the season, and with top prospect Wil Myers mashing in Triple-A as he waits for a big league opportunity, it seemed everything like Scott would be the player who would be released to get Myers his chance. Apparently Scott didn’t get the memo. He went 2 for 2 on Thursday before successfully pinch-hitting on Friday, and then on Saturday he staked the Rays to the lead with a 2-run home run, his first since May 19th, in the 3rd inning. Scott went 2 for 3 with a walk in the game as his turnaround may be just getting started. Matthew Joyce also homered in the 5th inning before Evan Longoria went deep in the 6th to give the Rays 4 of their 5 runs on their way to a pretty smooth win all things considered. Cobb will remain a concern, but at least they nailed down a win and have a chance to earn a split with the Royals with a win in the series finale on Sunday. Roberto Hernandez, the Rays’ most dependable pitcher of late, takes the ball against former Ray Wade Davis at 1:40 PM EST.

Hellickson pitched great for the first 5 innings, allowing just 2 hits. But Hellickson’s problem all season has been finishing his outings, and against the Royals, that flaw was as exposed as ever. The 6th inning began with an Elliot Johnson single on a misplaced fastball, and then an Alcides Escobar double past 3rd gave the Royals a couple runners on. Then Alex Gordon singled up the middle to make it 1-0 Royals and a wild pitch made it 2-0 with still nobody out. By that point, it was clear that Hellickson made a few bad pitches, but the damage was done and you had to hope he could move on. Hellickson proceeded to get Eric Hosmer to fly out and you had to hope he had regained his composure. He had not.

Salvador Perez grounded a single up the middle to make it 3-0 then Billy Butler grounded another single to give the Royals 1st and 3rd. You listen to all these hits and most of them were not hit very hard–Hellickson was getting unlucky. But it didn’t matter how the hits happened and the only thing on Hellickson’s mind had to be getting out of the inning. Alcides srtruck out for the second out and Hellickson was so close to escaping the inning having allowed only three runs. But the Royals weren’t done. David Lough lined a single to make it 4-0 and then Hellickson allowed his second groundball double of the inning off the bat of Miguel Tejada and it was 5-0 Kansas City. And then up came Johnson again and drilled a fastball left up for Hellickson’s only real mistake of the inning, a 3-run homer to make it 8-0. Hellickson never got out of the inning as Jake Odorizzi replaced him for the final out.

We have made such a big deal of Jeremy Hellickson’s luck on batting average on balls in play. One of the reasons he has been so successful has been that he commands his pitches so well that he allows weaker contact. But if Hellickson was truly a great pitcher, he was going to have to find a way to survive even when his luck ran out. This year, Hellickson has completely failed to do that. Hellickson had so many chances to escape the inning and simply could not. With better luck, Hellickson could have allowed just 1 run or 3 or 5. But fortune was not on his side and he was unable to persevere beyond that.

It was a terrible night as well for the Rays offense, who managed just one unearned run the entire game. But amidst all the darkness, there was some light, and that came in the form of Luke Scott. Scott entered the game having gone just 7 for his 55 (.127) but entered the game for James Loney as a pinch-hitter and proceeded to go 2 for 2 with line drive hits to the opposite field. Scott stopped pressing and started using the whole field, and suddenly his slump may be over. This game was a disaster. But if Scott is heating up, you never know how much of a difference that could make for the Rays offense. Matt Moore takes on Luis Mendoza as the Rays hope to get back on track on Friday night.

Before, we had speculated here as to who may find themselves on the outside once Myers finally receives that call. Each possible candidate has reasons as to why they should stay on the roster, but with each passing at bat, the player that may find themselves off the roster appears to be a bit clearer.

What Luke Scott is supposed to provide the Rays is another power bat in the lineup, someone that could potentially hit a key home run in the midst of the Rays batting order. Yet, he really has not provided the Rays with much production as of late.  After starting off the season with an injury to with a calf injury, he had a nice start to the 2013 season. Through his first 20 games, Scott put together a .291/.414/.473 batting line, with three home runs and 14 RBIs, as he appeared as though he may actually be that piece in the lineup that the Rays hoped he would be last year.

Yet, over the last fifteen games, Scott has been in the midst of a rough stretch. Since May 24th, he has only hit at a .135/.207/.192 rate, with six RBIs and two extra base hits. His plate discipline, which had been solid over his first 20 games, has deteriorated, with only four walks and 15 strikeouts over his last 58 plate appearances.

Another strike against Scott is his virtual inability to play in the field. Since 2011, he has made a total of eight appearances at a position other than designated hitter, with seven appearances at first and one in left. Of those eight, six of those appearances came last year. Essentially, Scott is on the roster to hit, and to hit only. Only problem is, he really has not done that for most of the time he has been a member of the Rays.

Despite Luke Scott having a larger contract than other potential candidates to be released once Wil Myers is called up, he makes the most sense. The countdown to Myers’ arrival may also serve as the countdown on Scott’s time as a member of the Rays.