Rays Looking to Help Ailing Offense

Even with the Rays winning three straight in Toronto, Tampa is just 4-5 in their last nine games. In those five losses they have averaged a paltry 1.2 runs per game. The weak run production is a product of some poor numbers from key contributors. In his last ten games, B.J. Upton is batting .154 and Evan Longoria has just two hits in his last four.

Watching the Durham Bulls trying to hold on to the lead in the International League South Division, I wondered if their roster had something to offer the Rays down the stretch. The wondering is over as it looks like the Rays will call up outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Brandon Guyer.

Ruggiano last night became the Durham Bulls all time RBI leader at the Triple A level. He played in 38 games this year with the Rays before being sidelined with knee trouble in early August. He is batting .318 since coming back August 24th in Durham and has driven in four runs in his last four games.

Brandon Guyer was one of the prospects acquired in the Matt Garza trade with the Chicago Cubs. He has a couple of games under his belt with the Rays but has spent most of the year as a fixture in the outfield in Durham. Guyer has batted .312 for the year and in his last five games has batted .333, most of the time in the two hole behind Tim Beckham.

Ruggiano has been a solid contributor for the Bulls but has never really clicked at the major league level. Guyer has shown great promise and it might good to get him some at bats and see how he handles major league pitching. Could these moves be enough to give the Rays a spark? Maybe, but I don’t see either of these players giving the Rays anything significant to end the year.