Shane Baz, one of MLB’s most highly rated prospects, makes his debut on Monday for the Tampa Bay Rays against Robbie Ray and the Toronto Blue Jays in a potential playoff preview.
Ray has pitched his way into the AL’s Cy Young conversation by allowing three runs or fewer in 19 of his last 20 starts and has a 1.83 ERA in his last 13 starts. He has allowed eight home runs in those 83 ¹/₃ innings compared to 20 home runs allowed across 93 ²/₃ innings in his first 16 starts of 2021.
Baz did not have an impressive record in the minor leagues, going just 5-4. But he posted a 2.17 ERA and showed off electric stuff with great command with 12.9 strikeouts to 1.5 walks per nine innings with just 5.7 hits per nine innings allowed.
Though Baz has not been used in heavy doses, going more than five innings in just one pitching appearance this season, he is backed up by a bullpen that has the best collective ERA in the AL at 3.26.
Dating back to 2020, the Rays are 17-10 in their last 27 games against the Blue Jays between the regular season and playoffs, and with Ray having a 1.85 ERA in five starts against Tampa Bay this season and the Rays hitting just .169 off of him, both teams will get good showings from their hurlers on Monday.
The Play: Blue Jays-Rays total, Under 8.5 runs.