I LOVE this teams pitching. They have 3 guys who would be #1 starters for most other MLB teams. James Shields was the Rays #2 last year and had a 3.85 ERA to go along with 12 wins. Matt Garza, who came to the Rays from the Twins in the Delmon Young deal looked really good in his stint with the Twins, compiling a 3.69 ERA. Scott Kazmir(shown left) is the team ace. He led the AL in strikeouts while throwing just over 200 innings to go along with his 13-9 record and 3.48 ERA.
All 3 should improve over last season and get 12-15 wins while keeping their ERA's under 3.50 for the year. Kazmir will start the season on the DL, but should be back by mid-April.Then throw in last years First Round pick, David Price, who should be playing with the Rays by the All-Star break, and you've got 4 pitchers who will keep you in the game ever time out there. The question mark for the Rays is the bullpen. Closer Troy Percival should pitch well, but injuries are a concern for the aging right-hander who missed the entire 2006 season with injuries and will turn 39 in June. Besides Percival, the Rays bullpen is VERY shaky and so the Rays will need to pick someone up to help out their bullpen, or pray the the big 3 starters can pitch VERY LATE into every game. A good setup man can turn the bullpen around.
Tune in tomorrow for my thoughts on a preview of the Rays offense and defense.
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