Taj Bradley staying in Rays’ rotation, Calvin Faucher stepping in
CINCINNATI — With a second straight strong start, rookie Taj Bradley earned the right to stay with the Rays and is slated to face the Astros on Monday at Tropicana Field.
To fill another spot in their injury-plagued rotation, the Rays are going to try stretching out reliever Calvin Faucher, sending him to the mound Friday against the White Sox with a goal of getting him to four innings.
Further, the Rays are confident Zach Eflin will be ready to start Sunday after a minimum 15-day injured list stay due to back tightness. He threw 30 pitches of live batting practice at the extended spring camp in Sarasota on Wednesday with no issues, manager Kevin Cash said.
Both Bradley and Faucher said they appreciated the opportunity.
Bradley, 22, was sent back to the minors after his April 12 debut, then recalled to start Tuesday after Jeffrey Springs sustained an elbow injury expected to lead to Tommy John surgery.
“Last time was a quick turnaround,” Bradley said. “(Wednesday) it’s a different feeling. (Tuesday) night I was pretty unsure about what was going to happen coming into (Wednesday), but I’m glad to know I’ll be sticking around making my start next Monday.”
Bradley, by the way, became the first pitcher in American League history, and fourth overall in the modern era, to win his first two starts and strike out at least eight in each. (Also to do so, per baseball-reference.com: Karl Spooner, 1954 Dodgers; Stephen Strasburg, 2010 Nats; Dinelson Lamet, 2017 Padres.)
Faucher has worked as an opener, but hasn’t been a true starter since his 2014 freshman year at Southwestern State Community College, nor has he pitched more than four innings in a game as a pro. But, noting how the Rays have converted relievers Drew Rasmussen and Springs to starters, is willing to give it a try.
“Just be ready for what they need, I guess, and try to do my best to help,” he said.
Red-faced
Reds manager David Bell got quite worked up when Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, who hadn’t pitched since April 12, had control issues in the ninth inning, most flagrantly a 97-mph 2-0 pitch near Stuart Fairchild’s head. So one out from the end of a second straight blowout loss, Bell charged onto the field, got livid with umpire Erich Bacchus and eventually was ejected.
“I don’t know the Rays well, but I give them more credit than they’re going to try to throw at our guys’ heads or anything like that. I would never accuse them of that,” Bell said.
“At the same time, I need our players to be protected, especially when guys are throwing that hard up by (their head) a few times. I saw it a couple of times and then finally we had enough. We can’t allow that. We have to make sure we’re protected. That’s all that was about.”
A TV mic, however, picked up Bell using more colorful words, saying that if Fairbanks “can’t control his pitches” the umps should get him out of the game.
Fairbanks, in not allowing a run despite allowing a hit and two walks, ran his scoreless streak to 27 innings (going back to July 5), just shy of J.P. Howell’s team record 27 1/3 set in 2012.
Miscellany
Centerfielder Jose Siri, out since April 8 with a right hamstring strain, continues to progress and pending how he does in planned rehab games this weekend with Triple-A Durham, could be back for next week’s series against his former Astros teammates. ... Shortstop Wander Franco was feeling increasingly better after undergoing a root canal Tuesday, but still got his first game off of the season Wednesday. Cash said it was pre-planned, with the idea that Franco would get the benefit of extra rest with Thursday’s team day off. “He’s played hard, obviously,” Cash said. “Just felt like, with the day game, getting back (home) and with an off-day, maybe double up with two days off, get him off his legs.” ... The Rays went 10-3 playing 13 consecutive days.
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