Right-handed starting pitchers will be the focus of both the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night as they square off in the middle game of a three-game series. In Monday’s first game of the series in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Rays won 4-3 thanks to a three-run eighth inning. To score the go-ahead and tying runs, Yandy Diaz, who was on a roll, chopped a two-run single to right field.
Mitch Garver and Cal Raleigh both hit a home run for the Mariners, while the Rays outhit Seattle 11–3. Tampa Bay has nevertheless outperformed Seattle in its last 16 matchups, going 11-5 in those contests and 16-7 overall this year in one-run games. Currently batting.Diaz’s hitting streak reached a record-tying 17 games in the American League as of 273. Jose Caballero loading the bases ahead of him with a two-out walk, according to Diaz, was essential to the rally.
Diaz stated, “That was the game’s at-bat,” via a translator. Scott Servais of Seattle will resort to three-time All-Star Luis Castillo in the middle game of the series, despite Castillo’s lackluster play that has prevented him from being considered for the Midsummer Classic. Castillo (6-8, 3.63 ERA) has struggled in his last three outings, recording a 1-2 record and an inflated 6.75 ERA. He gave up 18 hits during that time, including three home runs, and 12 runs in 16 innings.
Castillo gave up a two-run home run to Andres Gimenez and a single homer to Will Brennan on Thursday in Cleveland against the American League Central-leading Guardians. Castillo pitched five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. After the Guardians game, Mariners manager Scott Servais stated, “When they’re hitting like that — in their ballpark — it’s going to be tough to beat them.” Each inning represents a fight. They are persistent and full of grit.” With three career starts versus Tampa Bay, Castillo—a master of the changeup—has a great record of 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA. In 19 innings pitched, the 31-year-old has given up 15 hits and five earned runs. He has five walks and 22 strikeouts.
Zack Littell, a right-hander for the Rays (2-5, 4.20 ERA), has not had a good month despite his recent best start. After just 19 innings, he has given up 31 hits, including five home runs, and 15 runs (14 earned) with a 6.63 ERA in four starts this month. He pitched for his first major league team, the Minnesota Twins, on Thursday, and his performance against them was encouraging. At Minneapolis, where the Rays eventually prevailed 7-6 after 10 innings, Littell, 28, threw five innings and gave up two runs and five hits.
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The Burlington, N.C., native has a history with the Mariners. Seattle selected him in the 11th round of the 2013 draft out of a North Carolina high school, but after signing and playing within the organization’s farm system, he was traded to the New York Yankees after the 2016 season. In one start and one relief appearance against the Mariners, Littell is 0-1 with a 1.00 ERA. In nine innings of five-hit ball, he has registered six strikeouts and one walk.
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