MLB Playoffs Top Plays: Red Sox advance, Giants and Braves win on jam-packed Monday
The Red Sox advanced to the ALCS, while the Giants and Braves took 2-1 leads in their NLDS series. Check out the highlights!OCTOBER 12, 2021
Rays' remarkable season comes to sudden end at Fenway Park
The AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays saw their record-setting season come to a sudden end when they lost to the Boston Red Sox 6-5 in Game 4 of their Division Series and were elimin...OCTOBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Walk it off: Red Sox eliminate Rays 6-5 with late sac fly
Kiké Hernandez delivered Boston’s second straight walk-off win, scoring pinch-runner Danny Santana with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to send the Red Sox to the AL Championsh...OCTOBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boston looks to clinch series win with victory over Tampa Bay
The Red Sox will take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 of the ALDSOCTOBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Opening Game 4 McHugh will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher Monday against the Red Sox as part of a bullpen day in Game 4 of the ALDS, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Manager Kevin Cash hasn't appointed a primary pitcher to work behind McHugh, as the Rays will instead likely turn to a cadre of arms to fill innings out of the bullpen. As Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network notes, all of Josh Fleming, JT Chargois, Pete Fairbanks, J.P. Feyereisen, Andrew Kittredge and Matt Wisler tossed 20 pitches or fewer in Sunday's 13-inning loss, so the Tampa Bay bullpen should be relatively fresh for Monday's contest.
OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Overhauled Rays staff missing October magic in ALDS
Creative as they come at deploying their arms, the Tampa Bay Rays overhauled the pitching staff that bolstered an AL pennant winner in 2020 with their signature out-of-the-box appr...OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Charged with loss in Game 2 McHugh (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two in 1.2 innings to take the loss against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday.
Impact McHugh entered Friday's game with the Rays leading 5-3, but he gave up a pair of home runs that put him in line for the Game 2 loss. The right-hander had posted a 2.13 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 12.2 innings across his final eight appearances of the regular season, so he should still have the trust of manager Kevin Cash later in the series despite Friday's rough outing.
OCTOBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Red Sox flex muscles, power past Rays 14-6 to even ALDS 1-1
JOCTOBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
A capsule look at the Red Sox-Rays playoff series
A capsule look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay RaysOCTOBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Correa, Astros clinch AL West, open playoffs vs White Sox
Carlos Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Houston Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay RaysOCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McHugh expected to start for the Rays against Astros
The Rays will start Collin McHugh on Thursday while the Astros are expected to counter with Lance McCullers JrSEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Working as opener Thursday McHugh will start Thursday's game at Houston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact The right-hander will receive the start against his former team while serving as an opener ahead of Thursday's primary pitcher, Ryan Yarbrough. McHugh surrendered two runs his last time out Saturday but has a 2.53 ERA across 10.2 innings (six appearances) in September. The 34-year-old won't pitch deep enough to qualify for a potential victory against the Astros, but he could give the Rays multiple frames before giving way to Yarbrough.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rays clinch 2nd straight AL East title, beat Marlins 7-3
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their second straight AL East title, with Mike Zunino hitting a go-ahead homer and Brandon Lowe later adding a pair of RBI doubles to beat the Miami Mar...SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Garners fifth hold McHugh secured his fifth hold in a win over the Blue Jays on Monday, firing two perfect innings during which he recorded two strikeouts.
Impact McHugh's late-career transformation to dominant long reliever has been quite the positive development for the Rays bullpen, with the right-hander coaxing his ERA and WHIP down to 1.34 and 0.89, respectively, following his third scoreless multi-inning effort over the last four appearances. The timing and circumstances surrounding McHugh's deployment within games hasn't afforded the veteran many hold opportunities, but he's helped make up for that with six wins and a stellar 31.2 percent strikeout rate.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Strong outing as opener McHugh didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays, giving up three hits over 2.1 scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Impact The veteran hurler lasted exactly one turn through the Toronto order, and McHugh left the game in a bit of a jam with two runners on and one out in the third inning. Fortunately for him, Ryan Yarbrough didn't allow any of the inherited runners to score when he replaced McHugh. Unfortunately for the Rays, Yarbrough's night went south right afterward. McHugh will continue to handle a flexible role on the Tampa Bay staff and has worked two-plus innings in eight of 11 appearances since the All-Star break, posting a dazzling 0.90 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 20 innings with four wins, a save and a hold over that stretch.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Opening Monday's contest McHugh will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher in Monday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact McHugh has 124 career MLB starts under his belt, but the Rays aren't expected to have him pitch more than 2-to-3 innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to be available in a bulk-relief role, making him the Rays pitcher most likely to factor into any decision. Since returning from the injured list in early August, McHugh has covered 13.2 innings over eight appearances, giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits and four walks while striking out 10.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Manoah scheduled to start as Toronto hosts Tampa Bay
The Blue Jays are expected to send Alek Manoah to the mound Monday and the Rays will give Collin McHugh the startSEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tampa Bay Rays wading into uncharted pitching territory with 13 closers
The Tampa Bay Rays have set an MLB record with 13 pitchers recording saves this season. Jordan Shusterman breaks it down.SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Gets sixth win Monday McHugh (6-1) was credited with the victory in an extra-inning win over the Red Sox on Monday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out one...
Impact McHugh became the pitcher of record in the wild win when the Rays rallied for three runs over the last pair of frames. The veteran right-hander ran into a little more trouble than usual and has now allowed one run in three of his last four appearances, but he's still boasting an elite 1.46 ERA and 0.92 WHIP across 55.1 innings.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rasmussen scheduled to start for Tampa Bay against Boston
The Red Sox will send Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound Tuesday and the Rays plan to give Drew Rasmussen the startSEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Meadows, Rays rally from 6 runs down, beat Bosox 11-10 in 10
Austin Meadows hit a tying, inside-the-park homer in the ninth inning, Nelson Cruz had a go-ahead single in the 10th and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a six-run deficit to beat t...SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Duran has go-ahead single in the 9th, Red Sox beat Rays 3-2
Jarren Duran had a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth and the COVID-19 impacted Boston Red Sox stopped the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays’ nine-game winning streak with a 3-2 vict...SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Patino scheduled to start as Tampa Bay hosts Boston
The Rays will roll out Luis Patino to the mound Monday and the Red Sox will give Nick Pivetta the startAUGUST 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grabs fifth win McHugh (5-1) was credited with the win in a victory over the Phillies on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on three hits over two innings.
Impact The outing was atypical for McHugh with respect to this season in a couple of ways, as the right-hander failed to record a strikeout in an appearance for the first time since May 30 while also allowing his first earned run since May 24. The two impressive stretches speak to McHugh's dominance, which is also reflected in his 1.43 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across 28 appearances (five starts).
AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Records first career save McHugh picked up the save Saturday against the White Sox, striking out one over 1.2 innings without allowing a baserunner.
Impact In classic Rays fashion, McHugh's two appearances this week include one start and one save. He retired all six batters he faced as the opener Monday against the Orioles and retired all five he faced Saturday. He was called on to protect a three-run lead with one out in the top of the eighth, and while he did allow a run to score on a groundout, he was able to kill the White Sox's rally and remained in the game to seal the deal after the Rays stretched the lead to four in the bottom of the frame. The save was the veteran's first of his nine-year career, and while he has an excellent 1.30 ERA on the season, the Rays' creative pitcher usage means he's likely to continue serving mainly in a multi-inning role rather than in the ninth inning exclusively.
AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
