Glasnow makes great impression in Rays debut
ST. PETERSBURG -- A 97-mph four-seamer on the inside corner for strike three. That's how Tyler Glasnow's tenure with the Rays began on Wednesday night.
After dispatching David Fletcher with that K, the 24-year-old right-hander served up an 0-2 curveball that Kole Calhoun deposited into the rays tank in center field, but that was all the Angels would get off Glasnow, who showed a big fastball and electric stuff in his three innings of work.
"Fastball, curveball, slider today, I had a good feel for things," Glasnow said following the Rays' 7-2 win. "I felt relaxed out there. Overall, the feel in this clubhouse is really good. It's relaxed, it's friendly."
He exited after allowing two hits while striking out five and walking one.
"He's got a big arm," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He made some good pitches and did what they needed him to do. He got the game to a certain point, and then they came in and did a good job. He's got a big arm, no doubt."
Tampa Bay acquired Glasnow on Tuesday in the trade that sent Chris Archer to the Pirates. He was making his first start since Sept. 13, 2017, at Milwaukee.
Prior to Wednesday night's game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said that the team plans on stretching out Glasnow to be a starter. Glasnow threw 48 pitches on Wednesday night, 34 for strikes.
"Probably not going to [throw 70 percent strikes] all of the time," Cash said. "But a great start. If he's featuring that kind of stuff at a 70 percent clip in the zone, he's going to have a special career."