Tampa Bay Rays: Strong pitching leads to series win

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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – MARCH 28: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws the first pitch of the season to George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros During Opening Day at Tropicana Field on March 28, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

While the season is still very young, let’s take a look at how the Tampa Bay Rays starters fared against one of baseball’s best teams…

It is very early in season, in fact the Tampa Bay Rays haven’t even finished their first series against the Houston Astros, but they have finished their fist turn through their innovative 3 man rotation… and Yonny Chirinos. We can’t make any rash judgments based on any individual’s first start but it never hurts to take a look back and see how they fared against some of baseball’s best hitters.

Facing a lineup that includes the likes of Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, George Springer, Josh Reddick, and Carlos Correa is a tall task to open the season for any starting pitcher, even a reigning Cy Young award winner.

Not to mention, it isn’t just the hitters they have to worry about as Blake Snell, Charlie Morton, and Tyler Glasnow, and Yonny Chirinos went up against some of the best pitchers in baseball, putting even more pressure on them to be perfect.

First, lets take a look at Blake Snell’s first start: