Opinion
3 min read

Rays Ready to Shine Against Brewers in Milwaukee Matchup

As the Tampa Bay Rays gear up for their next challenge against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, fans are cautiously optimistic. The Rays have had a rocky start to their season, and with a recent loss on April 23 against the Detroit Tigers where they were outscored 4-2, despite having more hits than errors compared to the Tigers, it's clear that converting opportunities into runs is an area needing improvement.


May 20, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Brian Anderson (9) is congratulated by shortstop Willy Adames (27)) after hitting a 2-run home run during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The April 23 game saw the Rays' bullpen struggle with an ERA of 9.0 and a WHIP of 1.0 over three innings pitched. This was a significant factor in their defeat as they allowed three runs during this period. However, one silver lining from that game was their flawless fielding performance with no errors recorded.


Looking back at another recent game on April 21 against the New York Yankees, although they lost with a score of 5-4, there were positive takeaways for TB. Their bullpen managed to keep an impressive ERA of zero over more than three innings pitched and held onto every chance in the field without committing any errors.


May 19, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA;  Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jason Adam (47) throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eight inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The upcoming game presents an opportunity for redemption and showcases how adaptable TB can be under pressure. The team's ability to steal bases successfully (with two stolen bases on April 21) could be pivotal in creating scoring opportunities against MIL.


On offense, TB needs to capitalize on runners in scoring position better than they did on April 23 when they failed to hit with runners in scoring position (RISP). Improving clutch hitting will be crucial if they want to overcome MIL's defense.


May 19, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA;  Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) throws a pitch  against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

MIL should not be underestimated though; as hosts at American Family Field, they will look to leverage home-field advantage and exploit any weaknesses shown by TB's pitching staff or batting lineup.


For fans eager to see if TB can turn around their fortunes and shine bright against MIL’s formidable lineup, mark your calendars for April 30th. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM local time (Eastern Time Zone), so make sure you're tuned into BSSUN network where you can catch all the action live from Milwaukee!

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