Tampa Bay Rays series preview vs Colorado Rockies

The Tampa Bay Rays will look to continue their winning ways against the Colorado Rockies.

The Tampa Bay Rays will welcome in the Colorado Rockies to the Trop on Monday for a quick three game set against one of the National League West’s bests teams.

After the Tampa Bay Rays took three out of four from the Houston Astros, they hope to use that momentum to roll into their series against the Colorado Rockies.

For this series, do not forget to follow us on Twitter @RaysColoGlasses as we not only tweet out our articles so you never miss one but also live tweet our thoughts during every Tampa Bay Rays game.

The Series will start on Monday at the Trop with first pitch set for 7:10 EST with Chad Bettis toeing the rubber against Ryne Stanek. For the first time, we will see the Tampa Bay Rays use an opener in 2019. Will it work with the same success as it did in 2018 lifting the Tampa Bay Rays to a 90 win season? That is a big question looming over the Rays season.

Ryan Yarbrough will get the “bulk” innings on Monday following Stanek.

In game two it will be Kyle Freeland for the Rockies and no official starter named for Tuesday yet, but I would venture to guess it will be Blake Snell. Game two is set for Tuesday at 7:10 EST.

In game three, the Colorado Rockies will toss German Marquez, the prospect who got away as told by Marc Topkin in the Tampa Bay Times.

Again, not starter is officially pegged for Wednesday for game three of the three game series with first pitch slated for 1:10 EST for the Tampa Bay Rays side of things, but I would guess Kevin Cash will turn to Charlie Morton.

This will be the first series of inner league play for the Tampa Bay Rays, as they host the NL West contending Colorado Rockies.

The Rays will have to do so without Joey Wendle. The breakout star from last year is heading to the ten-day injured list and Christian Arroyo gets recalled in his place.

Keys to the series:

1. Starting pitching. The Miami Marlins were able to hold them to three runs in the third game of the four game set and pitch a shut out on Sunday. The Rockies scoring outburst came when they lit up Jose Urena, the following day the Rockies offense jumped all over Sergio Romo. The Rays have a much better pitching staff than Miami, though the Marlins pitchers are underrated, and you have to capitalize on that.
2. Jump all over the Colorado Rockies pitching staff. Again, we all know the Miami Marlins are not a good team. Even so, they scored three, seven, and three runs but did get held to one run on Friday. This Rays lineup has to take advantage of the shakey Rockies hurlers.

Series predictions: The Rays take the series two games to one and head to San Fran on an all time high.

Do not forget to check back tonight for a recap of game one of the three game series.