2 TAMPA BAY RAYS
O/U WINS: 86.5
KEY PLAYER:
Randy Arozarena.
Despite a smallmarket payroll, the Rays brought back11oftheir top 13 in plate appearances.
Tampa Bay’s success has long been tied to run prevention.
But there is an avenue to upgrade on offense. One big item is whether
Arozarena is indeed the differencemaker he was late last season and especially in the postseason, when he had 10 homers in 20 games.
PLAYER WHO’LL NEED TO STEP UP: Chris Archer. The defending AL champs did not keep their rotation intact, as Blake Snell was traded to the Padres and Charlie Morton left via free agency to the Braves. Tampa Bay imported a veteran group, including Archer, Rich Hill, Collin McHugh and Michael Wacha, to help cover innings. Archer is returning to the team of his best success — teammates now with Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow, the return along with Shane Baz when Archer was traded to Pittsburgh.
NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Wander Franco. Generally viewed as the best prospect in the game, Franco was considered for a roster spot late last season, though he has never played above A-ball. He only turned 20 on March 1, but the switch-hitting shortstop is viewed to have such an advanced hitting approach that the clock is ticking toward his debut, probably this year. BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Who is the real Austin Meadows? He was an All-Star with a .922 OPS in 2019 and fell to .667 last year with a .137 batting average in 16 playoff games. Tampa Bay’s offense is way more imposing if his lefty bat perks up.
HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: Thesumofthe parts for Tampa Bay so often exceeds what is forecasted for the team. But there is a scenario in which the parts will soon include two daily stars in Arozarena and Franco plus Brandon Lowe. They have become a factory in maximizing arms and minimizing runs against. No one should be surprised if the Rays win the AL East again.
PROJECTED LINEUP DH Austin Meadows LF Randy Arozarena 2BBrandonLowe 3B Yandy Diaz
1B Yoshi Tsutsugo SS Willy Adames CF Kevin Kiermaier C Mike Zunino RF Manuel Margot ROTATION
RHP Tyler Glasnow LHP Ryan Yarbrough RHP Michael Wacha LHP Rich Hill RHP Chris Archer