Game of the Week: July 25: TB @ PHI

[Commissioner Erick]

Tampa Bay Rays (56-38) @ Philadelphia Phillies (58-36)


TB: Sixto Sanchez (8-4, 3.15)
PHI: Thomas Eshelman (5-4, 4.44)


The Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies made a huge trade last offseason that put each club on a World Series trajectory. This matchup between the two clubs may be a preview of that World Series. Sixto Sanchez take the hill for a Rays team looking to show his old club that he's better than the star they traded for. If the Phillies end up with a late lead, Dan Altavilla will look to show Tampa Bay that he could have been their late-inning reliever that could take them over the top. Two great teams with a lot of players that used to play for the other club will square off in a fantastic Game of the Week.


Players to Watch:


Rays:


SP—Sixto Sanchez:

One of the headliners coming to Tampa in the Madison Bumgarner trade, the former Philly has looked like a star this year. He developed his changeup in the offseason, giving him the third pitch that eluded him once teams figured out his fastball/curveball combination last year. Now he's in the top 10 in ERA, FIP, WHIP, and Wins. Outside of last season, he's always kept the ball in the park, a facet of his game that makes him exceptional in this high-offense environment. His power heater is also electric, and has set up 109 strikeouts in 105.2 innings. This will be a revenge game for Sixto, and it may also be a coming-out party.


C—Buster Posey:

Posey's defense has picked up over the last month, even as his offense has struggled. He has an OBP under .300 in July, but he's at least clubbed six doubles and has only struck out six times. The ability to make contact is one of Posey's calling cards at this point in his career. Only three catchers in history have a strikeout rate lower than his, meaning he can bring home runners from third base, play hit and run, and put pressure on defenses. The Rays don't steal a lot of bases, but let's see if Posey's contact ability can bring in a runner from third or lead to an error.


CF—Jesus B. Sanchez:

In his third year, Sanchez has turned into a powerful hitter, capable of slugging 20-something home runs, with a high walk rate, a low strikeout total, and a good batting average. He's a versatile, complete hitter, and worthy of the All-Star nod he received this season in his second full year in the majors. Importantly for Tampa, he's also held his own defensively. His zone rating is -2.3, bad, but not terrible for a player who had barely played center in the majors. His defense will likely be a key, considering how dangerous Philadelphia's hitter are.


Phillies:


CL—Dan Altavilla:

Altavilla was a middling reliever for most of his early career, until he had a pretty decent season for the Giants back in 2019. Tampa Bay traded for him in a deal for Justin Marsden, and he had a decent 2020. Altavilla was named closer in 2021, where he had his best season, locking down 31 saves and recording 2.0 WAR. Philadelphia acquired him in the Madison Bumgarner trade, and he's turned into the best closer in the national league. He has a 1.80 ERA, 20 saves in 21 attempts, a gives the Phillies a level of comfort they didn't have when Edubray Ramos, Tony Watson, or Vince Velasquez were closing games. Should the Phillies carried a late advantage, they can be confident Altavilla will be able to get the job done against his old team.


CF—Mickey Moniak:

Moniak hasn't hit quite as well as he did last year, but his batting eye has improved. As a result, his average and slugging are down 20 points, his OPS is up 20 points, and his OPS is roughly the same. The on-base improvement makes him more dangerous atop Philadelphia's lineup, considering how deep the Philadelphia lineup is. He's not stealing bases too efficiently, but he's still top-10 in baserunning in the NL, as he's a maniac going from first to third and scoring from second. He's on pace to be an easy Gold Glover winner, and just a spectacular fit for the team. Buster Posey is better at throwing out runners, but Tampa is one of the worst defensive teams in the American League, making this a juicy matchup for Moniak, as a hitter and a baserunner.


1B—Yordan Alvarez:

After a tremendous start to the season sandwiching a back injury, Alvarez has fallen off hard in July. The competition has picked up, which is one reason for the struggles, and he's ended up going against a few more lefties. Even within a down July, Alvarez has hit for an even .800 OPS in July against right-handers. He's certified himself as a surefire rock to produce over a long sample against right-handed pitchers. Sixto Sanchez has had a tremendous year, making Alvarez' at bats against Sanchez, fun ones to watch.


TRIVIA: Which player is first All-Time in WAR for the Rays?

[Commissioner Erick]

Rays 8 - Phillies 2


WP: S. Sanchez (9-4)
LP: T. Eshelman (5-5)
SV: J. Medina (3)


Tampa Bay showed how dangerous they are, using a former Philly in Sixto Sanchez, to stymie the best offense in the National League. With Sanchez showing that he's developed into one of the best pitchers in the league, Jesus B. Sanchez paced the offense with a Rays record five hits. Eugenio Suarez, Josh Bell, and Patrick Leonard, three players with a combined four at bats for Tampa Bay last season, each drove in two runs. The Rays have completely changed their team from last year, but they're just as dangerous as ever.


How They Played:

Rays:

SP—Sixto Sanchez: 6 IP 2 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 6 K (W)

It looked like Sanchez would be treated rudely in his return to Philadelphia when Mickey Moniak homered to lead off the game. However, Sanchez settled down and worked a gem against Philadelphia's explosive offense, allowing just one further run in 6 innings. After the homer, Sanchez didn't allow another hit until two outs in the fourth, with his best work getting out of a first-and-third, no out situation in the fifth with a pickoff, and two strikeouts to end the sixth to quell a Phillies rally. He didn't hurt himself with walks, which was key, and showcased himself as a big-game stopper who can stymie even the best offenses.

Sanchez' next outing was an affair against the Orioles, where he allowed just a run in 5 innings. Sanchez only went 80 pitches during the game, which was concerning, and he allowed seven hits, but even without his best stuff, he overwhelmed a bad offense in Baltimore's.


C—Buster Posey: 0-3, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Posey had a strange game as he got on base a couple of times, but struggled with men on base. He walked with a man on in the second, advancing Christian Yelich to second base. Yelich ended up scoring that inning. Posey then grounded out back to the mound with two on base in the third inning. In the fifth, Posey struck out with a man on third to end the inning. The seventh saw Posey face Ryan Heisey fail to get a bunt down before hitting into a double play. Finally, he walked to begin the ninth, was doubled to third, and scored on a Jesus B. Sanchez hit. The game highlighted some of Posey's inability to drive in runs as a run producer, but he was still able to be make things happen by getting on base.

Posey really struggled during the week though, going 1-16. He walked a few times, and faced excellent pitchers, but his OPS dropped to .733. Defensively, Posey threw out one of the three runners who tried to steal.


CF—Jesus B. Sanchez: 5-6, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B

Sanchez had a record setting day, tying the Tampa Bay record for hits in a game with five. The feat has been done seven times, with Willy Adames last accomplishing the feat in 2021. He started off by flying out against Thomas Eshelman to begin the game. In the third he doubled to the wall in center field, coming in to score on a Josh Bell single. In the fourth, with two outs and a man on first, he slapped a hit through the left side of the infield for a hit. With one out and the bases clear in the fifth, he again slapped a single the other way for a base hit. With one out and a man on in the eighth, he lined a hit to left field, eventually coming home on a Patrick Leonard hit. Finally, with two in scoring position in the ninth and the game out of reach, he laced another hit to left field to bring home a run. It was a special day as Sanchez used the entire field, with five hits to left or center field to drive Tampa Bay's offense. No ball was hit to center field to test Sanchez' defense, and he showed why he's special, with a wonderful game.

Sanchez was hurt on a fielder's choice the very next game, hurting his elbow. He tried to play through it, but it clearly affected him as he went 0-11 the next three games with six strikeouts. He went 2-4 on Sunday with a double, but the elbow issue may be severe enough to land Sanchez on the injured list.


Phillies:


CL—Dan Altavilla: DNP

With the Phillies getting blown out, Altavilla got the day off.

The Phillies only went 2-4, and one of their wins was a ninth-inning comeback, and the other was a blowout. As a result, Altavilla didn't play, which was disappointing for those who wanted to see him face off against his old team.


CF—Mickey Moniak: 2-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

Moniak showed off how dynamic he is in a wonderful performance. He led off the first inning with a home run off Sanchez to get the Phillies off to an early lead. He struck out in to end the third, but he singled through the hole on the right side to begin the fifth, moving to second on a grounder, and scoring from second on a Seth Beer single. Moniak walked to load the bases in the eighth, but Cole Stobbe grounded out to strand three. His line drive with two on in the ninth was caught by Magneuris Sierra to end the game. He made the plays that were in his area, though he couldn't throw out Jesus B. Sanchez on a sac fly that was hit right at him. Still, Moniak showed off power, good defense, and an ability to get on base, highlighting his complete package.

Moniak another home run that week, plus two more multi-hit games. He stole five bases in two games against the Cubs, and walked four of five days. He was simply magnificent against terrific pitching teams in Philadelphia and Chicago. With so much hitting talent behind Moniak in the lineup, he's simply perfect for what the Phillies need.


1B—Yordan Alvarez: 1-4, 1 2B

Alvarez had a pretty ordinary day. He hit a grounder up the middle in the second that was booted by Jose Altuve for an error, but Alvarez was erased on a double play one pitch later. He led off the sixth with a double down the line, advancing to third on a Max Schrock hit, but not fast enough to score from third. Travis D'Arnaud's fly ball wasn't deep enough to score Alvarez, then Schrock got himself picked off. Tristan Gray grounded out to strand Alvarez at third in a turning point in the game. Alvarez grounded out against the lefty Tony Watson in the seventh and off Jose Carlos Medina in the ninth. Alvarez still is a better bet to drive the ball against righties, as his 0-2 performance against a pair of lefties testified.

Alvarez hit only .217 for the week, continuing a down stretch for him. He did homer, he only struck out three times, and he stole two bases, all positives. However, he finished the month hitting .207 hitting behind hitters who frequently get on base. His ability to make contact still resulted in 13 RBIs in a shortened month, but he'll need to pick up the pace for Philadelphia to hold off Miami.


TRIVIA: Jesus B. Sanchez had five hits for Tampa Bay. Who is the only Rays player to have multiple games with five hits?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Kevin Kiermaier

TRIVIA 2: Brad Miller