Sharp opening gig could get Castillo on track
TORONTO -- Dealing with a plethora of second-half injuries, and a number of significant blows to the pitching staff, the Rays are looking for players to step up and help fill the gaps.
Out of the shadows of middle relief -- with a few saves sprinkled in -- Diego Castillo did just that in Friday’s series-opening 3-1 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, stepping into the spotlight and returning to the opener role for the first time this season. The 25-year-old right-hander opened 11 games for Tampa Bay last year and posted a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings in the role.
“I feel actually pretty good [as an opener],” Castillo said through team interpreter Manny Navarro. “I had experience with that role last year, and I feel pretty good there.”
Castillo went into Friday’s start with a 1-6 record and a 3.96 ERA over 38 appearances and 38 2/3 innings, with 43 strikeouts and seven saves in eight opportunities. He had made only 14 appearances over the past two months, allowing 13 runs over 12 1/3 innings, because of right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the injured list. Against Toronto, the Rays were hoping to see a resurgence of the best of Castillo’s repertoire.
“We thought that [being the opener] helped Diego last year harness a lot of his electric stuff,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said Friday. “Harness it in the zone, establish the fastball and those breaking balls early on. I don’t foresee this as being something we’re going to do every time, but it’s a good opportunity for Diego.
“He’s had three or four outings since he got back from the [injured list] and it’s been better, but he’s still capable of getting a lot better as far as his strike throwing. Maybe this softens the situation where he comes in, just establishes strikes, and then he’s available for us the next two games of the series.”
In his appearance on Friday, Castillo retired the side in order, using only 10 pitches to induce two flyouts sandwiched around a strikeout. The native of the Dominican Republic threw six strikes, including all three of his sliders, according to Statcast. His sinker averaged 99.5 mph and maxed out at 100.7 mph.
“We were very encouraged by the outing,” Cash said. “I know it’s easy to say [because] it was one inning, first inning, [but] sometimes guys need that. It allows them to go out there in a less pressure-filled anxiety moment of the game, just to work and get the ball in the zone. He did that. Hopefully he’ll be better for it.”
Including Friday’s perfect frame, Castillo has made 11 career appearances against the Blue Jays and is 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA over 15 2/3 innings in nine relief outings and two opening assignments. He admits he is still adjusting to his fluctuating role in the Rays’ bullpen, but his unwavering level of competitiveness has helped him along the way.
“Mentally, it’s not easy, because you don’t know exactly where you’re going to be [pitching], but you’ve just got to prepare accordingly and be ready to go,” the young righty said. “You try to do the best you can no matter where you’re at. You don’t have control over where they’re going to pitch you, but you’ve got to be able to compete in whatever role they put you in.”
Along with the three pitchers who followed him Friday, Castillo offered exactly what Tampa Bay needed just one day after it learned that its ace and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell would be out for four to six weeks to undergo a procedure to remove loose bodies from his throwing elbow.
“They’re going to have to [step up],” Cash said of his hurlers. “They need to recognize that -- they don’t need to be told that -- but it’s very encouraging. We’re going to need that group, who have been really good all season long -- starter, reliever, whatever, bulk guy, opener. They’ve been great, but they’re going to have to be that much better now going forward.”
Garcia exits with illness
Adding to the Rays’ injury woes of late, an undisclosed illness took Avisaíl García out of Saturday’s 10-9 12-inning loss to the Blue Jays in the fourth inning.
Garcia started the game in right field and went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout before being removed in the middle of the fourth. In his place, Mike Brosseau moved from second base to the outfield, while Joey Wendle came in to man second and bat fifth, Garcia’s spot in the order.
Roster move
After Saturday's game, the Rays optioned catcher Michael Perez to Triple-A Durham. A corresponding roster move was not announced.