☀️ Rays Up

[supahotfire]

Rays Up
Tampa Bay Rays Baseball
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Apr 17, 2026 Game Preview
Tampa Bay (2-16) at Pittsburgh (9-10) -- The Rays roll into Pittsburgh looking to spark an offense that’s been inconsistent behind a struggling Nick Martinez, who enters at 0–2 with a 6.75 ERA. Tampa Bay’s lineup has power in the middle with Aranda, Caminero, and Fraley, who have combined for 11 homers, but they’re also carrying several cold bats, especially in the bottom third. If Martinez can’t settle in early, the Rays may need that top half to do the heavy lifting.

The Pirates counter with José Urquidy, who’s been sharp to start the year (1–0, 2.51 ERA) and has done a good job limiting damage. He’ll get support from one of the hottest hitters in baseball: Marcell Ozuna, who’s tearing through April with a .390 average and 8 homers. Add in Brandon Lowe’s pop and Oneil Cruz’s volatility, and Pittsburgh has a lineup that can punish mistakes even if the bottom third is lighter.

Key Matchups

• Nick Martinez vs. Ozuna/Lowe
  ...Martinez has to navigate the heart of the order without letting the game tilt early.
• Urquidy vs. Tampa Bay’s right-handed power
  ...Aranda and Caminero have been the Rays’ most consistent run producers.
• Bottom-of-the-order battle
  ...Both teams have several hitters under .200; whichever group contributes may swing the game.

Tampa Bay Rays Projected Lineup ON THE MOUND RHP Nick Martinez (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 15 K) 1. DH Yandy Diaz .338 / 4 HR / 8 RBI 2. 2B Gavin Lux .161 / 0 HR / 1 RBI 3. 1B Jonathan Aranda .292 / 4 HR / 10 RBI 4. 3B Junior Caminero .288 / 4 HR / 7 RBI 5. RF Jake Fraley .293 / 3 HR / 10 RBI 6. CF Cedric Mullins .197 / 1 HR / 6 RBI 7. SS Taylor Walls .141 / 0 HR / 2 RBI 8. LF Chandler Simpson .250 / 0 HR / 3 RBI 9. C Nick Fortes .172 / 0 HR / 3 RBI

Pittsburgh Pirates Projected Lineup ON THE MOUND RHP Jose Urquidy (1-0, 2.51 ERA, 9 K) 1. 1B Ryan O'Hearn .265 / 1 HR / 7 RBI 2. DH Marcell Ozuna .390 / 8 HR / 16 RBI 3. 2B Brandon Lowe .308 / 5 HR / 10 RBI 4. LF Spencer Horwitz .279 / 1 HR / 8 RBI 5. CF Oneil Cruz .210 / 3 HR / 9 RBI 6. RF Jake Mangum .187 / 1 HR / 4 RBI 7. SS Nick Gonzales .200 / 1 HR / 8 RBI 8. C Joey Bart .255 / 1 HR / 2 RBI 9. 3B Jared Triolo .237 / 1 HR / 5 RBI

[Captain Canada]

Ozuna and Lowe already mashing shit. If the pitching doesn't show up...

[djp73]

given the struggles thus far what are your goals for the season

[GM Rizzo]

Obviously the playoffs are not a realistic goal for this season. Who are the main trade candidates both on the Rays but targets you are looking at possibly acquiring?

[supahotfire]

Ozuna and Lowe already mashing shit. If the pitching doesn't show up...

brah ozuna is playing outta his mind. always gotta watch out for cruz too. fun roster, we'll see how it goes.

given the struggles thus far what are your goals for the season

probably mostly player-based accolades and development. as well as being active in the trade market. caminero is a stud already but id like to see him take the next leap. we also have 140+ games to go, so yes we're on a terrible run to start the year, but its going to get better at some point.

Obviously the playoffs are not a realistic goal for this season. Who are the main trade candidates both on the Rays but targets you are looking at possibly acquiring?

part of the fun for me is to work in a realistic manner. that being said, the rays dont typically acquire already-made talent, nor spend big. so working under those pretenses, i'll be looking at youth, picks, etc. i would say caminero is the only true untouchable. i think we control aranda and simpson (and a few others) so it doesnt make sense to move them. yandy diaz's contract situation makes him a pretty valuable trade asset though, although i really love having him on the team. matz, mullins, nick martinez, fraley, rasmussen, and walls also are on trade-friendly contracts.

i dont think i have specific targets yet, but any young, controllable contracts from competitive teams in win-now mode makes sense i think. maybe i should start looking tho

[djp73]

140+ games to go, so yes we're on a terrible run to start the year, but its going to get better at some point.

[supahotfire]

Rays Up
Tampa Bay Rays Baseball
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F | Apr 17, 2026

Tampa Bay	0	3	0
Pittsburgh	2	5	1

W: Gregory Soto (1-0) L: Nick Martinez (0-3) S: Dennis Santana (8)

Martinez Shines, But Rays’ Silent Bats Let Another Winnable Game Slip Away -- Tampa Bay’s search for traction in a frustrating April continued Friday night, as a strong outing from Nick Martinez went unrewarded in a 2–0 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. Martinez delivered exactly the kind of start the Rays have been desperate for with seven innings, four hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts, but the offense couldn’t cash in on its few opportunities, stranding his effort in another narrow defeat. Tampa Bay mustered just three hits against Pittsburgh’s rotating bullpen attack, and once the Pirates broke through with runs in the seventh and eighth, the Rays couldn’t mount a response. Even in a loss, Martinez’s performance offered a glimmer of stability for a club still searching for its rhythm, but the Rays will need their lineup to match that energy if they want to turn competitive nights into wins.

Scoring		TB - PIT
Bot 7th	Mangum lined to left for single. Cruz scores. Mangum advances to 2nd.	0 - 1
Bot 8th	O'Hearn grounded out to Lux (4-3). Bart scores. Triolo advances to 3rd.	0 - 2

Tampa Bay Rays (2-17) 5th AL East DH Yandy Diaz: 1 for 4 2B Gavin Lux: 1 for 4 CF Cedric Mullins: 1 for 3 RF Jake Fraley: 0 for 3, SB (4) --- SP Nick Martinez: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 SO RP Ian Seymour: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Pittsburgh Pirates (10-10) 4th NL Central 1B Ryan O'Hearn: 1 for 4, RBI (8) RF Jake Mangum: 1 for 3, RBI (5) CF Oneil Cruz: 1 for 3, 2B (5), R 3B Jared Triolo: 1 for 3, 2B (4) --- SP Jose Urquidy: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 SO RP Kyle Nicolas: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO RP Gregory Soto: 1.1 IP, 1 SO RP Dennis Santana: 1.0 IP, 1 SO

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(5-19)

[supahotfire]

took a series

[Count]

a 2-17 start is crazy. But hey, over .500 in your last 5 games

[GM Rizzo]

a 2-17 start is crazy. But hey, over .500 in your last 5 games

Lmao that is one way to sugar coat things!