The Rays started the week off by helping the New York Yankees get started on their eight-game winning streak, and did not recover from there. It was a difficult week of divisional games, and the Rays dropped three of four to the Boston Red Sox after getting swept in New York.
Through 15 games, Steven Souza Jr. appears to be putting it together as a big-league hitter. He is hitting .321/.429/.509 with 10 walks and 15 strikeouts. Cutting down on his strikeouts is a huge deal for Souza, as he has struck out 325 times in only 266 games with the Rays. Putting together a big season could help Souza shed his label as a bust.
The Marlins are coming off an emotional week with Ichiro Suzuki making what can only be assumed to be his final visit to Safeco Field (barring some crazy turn of events that pits the Marlins against the Seattle Mariners in the World Series). In fitting fashion, he homered on Wednesday afternoon in his final at-bat.
Theyāve always said Ichiro could have hit 30 home runs a season if he wanted to, and perhaps he turned up the power in the moment.
Wei Yin Chen nearly threw a no-hitter on Tuesday night for the Marlins and is now 2-0 on the season. He left the game after seven hitless innings, but had thrown 100 pitches. Getting him out of the game in one piece after health issues last year was the right move, regardless of the stakes.