The Tampa Bay Rays are not off to a great start to their road trip. The team has now lost its first two games out west to the Los Angeles Angels after getting blanked on Saturday, 8-0.
The middle of the bullpen struggled and quickly let this one get out of hand. Here is what you need to know from the contest.
The starting pitching wasn’t a problem on Saturday, which comes as a relief after Shane McClanahan struggled in Friday’s series opener. Griffin Jax pitched 5 great innings, only allowing 1 unearned run off five hits. He recorded 5 strikeouts and no walks during his time on the mound.
The issue was the bullpen for the Rays, especially a known culprit to this team’s past struggles over the past few weeks, the early relievers. The first guys out of the pen, not named Kevin Kelly or Bryan Baker, have continued to be inconsistent for Tampa Bay over the past month.
It was no different on Saturday.
Garrett Cleavinger was the first out for Kevin Cash after he removed Jax, and he struggled in a big way. The leash was short, but damage was done as the 32 year old gave up two earned runs on just ten pitches. He was removed before finishing the inning.
Craig Kimbrel made his second appearance for the Rays and first since returning from the injured list, and also allowed some runs for the Angels. However, Cole Sulser let this one get out of hand. His ERA is now 6.49 after his dreadful outing from the pen, as he only went 0.2 innings and allowed 4 earned runs off five hits.
Griffin Jax tonight? Fantastic.
5 innings of 1-run baseball on the bumppic.twitter.com/vfazo9MueW
— Rays The Roof (@RaysTheRoofTB) June 14, 2026
When the Rays offense is still looking for an identity with some of their pieces inside the batting order, 8 runs allowed is hardly going to result in a win for the team currently constructed, especially when you struggle the way the Rays did at the plate Saturday.
Tampa Bay picked up only 5 hits in the contest, compared to 15 for the Angels. Out of those 5 hits, only 3 players in the middle of the order found success. Cedric Mullins picked up two hits, and Junior Caminero, as well as Chandler Simpson, each found one.
The team was 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and left 8 batters on base.
As much as the Rays need to figure things out, something that was thought to be corrected after their recent series sweep against the Red Sox, they might just be catching the losing record Angels at the wrong time. The win on Saturday marks the 4th straight victory for the Halos.
The Rays now move to 40-27 on the season, and 16-18 on the road. If they are going to continue to push toward one of the top playoff spots inside the American League, bullpen depth is a must add for Eric Neander and the front office before the MLB Trade Deadline.
They will look to avoid the series sweep on Sunday as they take on the Angels in a late afternoon game in Anaheim. Rays reliever Casey Legumina will open tomorrow against the Angels. The rest of the pitching plans are yet to be announced. As for Los Angeles, they will go with Grayson Rodriguez (2-2, 8.10 ERA) for their starter. First pitch is scheduled for 4:07 PM EST.
