Taj train keeps on rolling with dominant outing vs. Guardians

ST. PETERSBURG -- The only thing that can stop Taj Bradley right now is the All-Star break.

The Rays’ talented young right-hander continued a dominant stretch and capped an extremely encouraging first half by working seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in Tampa Bay’s 2-0 win over Cleveland on Friday night at Tropicana Field.

What was so impressive about Bradley this time out?

“Everything. Another special performance,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I mean, he's really doing it right now. … He’s been on just a really impressive run. He should feel really good about himself going into the All-Star break.”

Bradley has put together a 1.07 ERA over his last seven starts, the lowest mark in the Majors since June 8. (Yes, even lower than the 1.14 mark that National League All-Star starting pitcher Paul Skenes recorded during that stretch.) Bradley has racked up 53 strikeouts while allowing only 28 hits and 15 walks in 42 innings during this run, and the Rays have won five of his outings.

The 23-year-old said he took the mound with “a calmness” in the series opener. He can attribute that feeling to the trust he has in his ability, a mature mentality that locked into place after an ugly start in Baltimore on June 1 and a deep, devastating arsenal that was on full display against the American League-leading Guardians.

“You've got all that stuff, you don't have to worry about anything, pretty much,” Bradley said.

Bradley was in full command of his electric four-pitch mix as he put together the longest scoreless start of his young career, the longest by a Rays pitcher since Zach Eflin also went seven scoreless against the Orioles on July 21, 2023.

He induced 15 swinging strikes and finished at least one strikeout on each of his four pitches: three on his splitter, three on his cutter, one on his curveball and the final out of the seventh on a 98 mph fastball to All-Star David Fry. He’s tough enough to hit when leaning mostly on a vertical attack featuring fastballs and splitters, so adding the horizontal movement of his cutter made him especially tough.

“I kind of sound like a broken record, but it's just so impressive,” catcher Alex Jackson said. “I mean, all the pitches that he has, the command he has. He's attacking with everything. He's not afraid to throw pitches in any count. When he gets out there on the mound, he's competing with everything, and it's a lot of fun.”

Bradley credited Jackson for the way he “preps” for him. Jackson digests scouting reports and guides Bradley through his outings, allowing him to focus on executing his pitches.

“Early on in the season, I wanted to get more into the scouting reports, stuff like that, and it just wasn't working for me,” Bradley said. “He's like, 'No, I do that. You just throw this ball, and then we'll make it work like that.' So that's our battery dynamic.”

Having won three of their last four games and 13 of 21 contests, the Rays moved back to .500 (47-47) for the 20th time this year with their fourth shutout victory. They must sweep the series to reach the break with a winning record for the seventh consecutive season.

Meanwhile, Bradley will head into the All-Star break with a 2.90 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings over 12 starts. Take away the fluky nine-run, 10-out clunker in Baltimore, and Bradley would own a 1.80 ERA at the break.

“Unbelievable. Taj has been lights-out,” said Jason Adam, who struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fourth save and another All-Star endorsement from Cash. “He's so young, but he's so mature on the mound. He's going to have an unbelievable career, but I'm just appreciating it now.”

Bradley didn’t need much run support, but Jackson -- batting just .062 with a .248 OPS entering the series opener -- doubled twice and played a part in both Rays rallies.

Jackson reached on an error to lead off the third inning, advanced to third on a single by Yandy Díaz and scored on Brandon Lowe’s double-play grounder. In the fifth, Jackson ripped a double to center field, snapping an 0-for-26 skid, and scored when Díaz rolled a double down the right-field line.

“Honestly, it feels really good. I mean, there's no secret about that,” Jackson said after his first career game with multiple extra-base hits. “Obviously it gets to a point where things keep going and you're searching and you're searching, and it's like, 'Man, just give me something.'

“So it definitely felt really good to be able to get the barrel to a ball, put balls in play hard and make things happen.”