Off The Trop

Tampa Bay Rays News and Analysis #RaysUp #MLB

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Kevin Kiermaier appreciation post 🔥

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@OPS_BASEBALL @SSS_1912 Need this demon in AAA

[Running From The OPS @OPS_BASEBALL]

Jonathan Aranda led all players in Avg (.375) and OBP (.454) entering today

His 143 wRC+ is the 10th highest mark in baseball since the start of 2025 (min. 500 PA) and is higher than these players:

Cal Raleigh
Byron Buxton
Ketel Marte
Will Smith
James Wood
Max Muncy
Matt Olson

[Off The Trop @OffTheTrop]

Nick Martinez’s changeup has always been a + pitch, but his location this season has taken it to another level.

Entering tonight’s game, opponents had a .115 BA against the pitch with only 1 XBH. The left picture is his 2026 CH location and the right is from 2025.

#RaysUp #MLB

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@ECloskyWTSP Love it

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@OPS_BASEBALL Love this

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Kimbrel’s sweeper is still an elite pitch and has been great against righties.

He’s struggled a lot against lefties this season, and I think it would make sense for the Rays to develop a changeup for his arsenal, as they’ve done successfully with several other arms this season.

[Jake @TBRaysCentral]

Craig Kimbrel’s pitch usage this season is interesting:

74.7% Fastball
15.9% Sweeper
9% Knuckle Curve

The sweeper has been his best pitch, with a 36.4% whiff rate on it. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Rays had him increase the usage of that. Fastball 3/4 of the time when the velocity had dipped over the years doesn’t seem optimal.

[Jake @TBRaysCentral]

Mullins had a lot of hard contact yesterday

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Cedric Mullins in May:

60 PA
113 wRC+
.302/.362/.377 | .739 OPS
13.3% K% | 89.6% Z-Contact%
4 SB | 8 R | 6 RBI

The swing decisions and batted ball profile have been fairly similar to what we’ve seen from him in previous years, so positive regression was bound to happen.

The Rays are going to need Mullins to continue producing, especially with the recent injuries to Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca.

#RaysUp #MLB

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Even more stats from @OPS_BASEBALL

[Running From The OPS @OPS_BASEBALL]

With the Rays not playing today, here are some notables over their 22-4 run. The first time since 2013 that they have done this.

2.37 Team ERA (1st)
1.93 SP ERA (1st)
6.6% BB% (T-1st)
86.7 MPH Avg EV allowed (1st)

Offense:

Highest Con% + Z-Con%
Lowest K%
109 wRC+ (4th)

[Off The Trop @OffTheTrop]

The Rays are on their best 26-game stretch in franchise history at 22-4. During this time frame they rank:

Hitting:
• 109 wRC+ (4th)
• .267 AVG (1st)
• .339 OBP (2nd)
• .402 SLG (9th)
• 18.5% K% (1st)

Pitching:
• 2.37 ERA (1st)
• 3.24 xERA (2nd)
• 3.38 FIP (2nd)
• 1.08 WHIP (t-2nd)

#RaysUp #MLB

[Running From The OPS @OPS_BASEBALL]

Yandy Díaz among qualified hitters since 2022:

AVG: .302 (4th)
Hard-Hits: 994 (6th)
OBP: .380 (7th)
xBA: .287 (7th)
wRC+: 141 (8th)
Hits: 701 (9th)

His wRC+ is higher than Kyle Tucker, Bryce Harper, Corey Seager, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kyle Schwarber, and Matt Olson.

[Off The Trop @OffTheTrop]

@TayVictoria8 Happy birthday! 🙌

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@TayVictoria8 Ball knower

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Junior Caminero this season:

210 PA
141 wRC+ | .378 wOBA
.268/.357/.508 | .865 OPS
12.4% BB% | 16.2% K%
13 HR | 31 R | 27 RBI

After hitting 45 HR last season, he has seen the fewest pitches in the strike zone in MLB this year (34.9% Zone%).

He’s chasing ~4% less than last year and has improved his BB% by ~6%. The adjustments have been really impressive, especially for someone who is still only 22 years old.

#RaysUp #MLB

[Rays Metrics @RaysMetrics]

Rays first 23 games:
12-11 record
-17 run differential
127 runs allowed (5.5 RA/G)
110 runs scored (4.8 RS/G)

Rays past 24 games:
20-4 record
+55 run differential
62 runs allowed (2.6 RA/G)
117 runs scored (4.9 RS/G)