Major League Baseball

2015 Rays pitching breakdown

Published Apr. 4, 2015 5:00 p.m. ET

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The area was supposed to be the Tampa Bay Rays' steel wall. Instead, it looks more like Swiss cheese until regulars return.

Pitching was supposed to the Rays' strength. Instead, they'll rely on some patchwork until familiar names come back.

Sure, the Rays still have Chris Archer. Jake Odorizzi has promise. Nathan Karns, too.

But injuries ravaged Tampa Bay's rotation this spring, and it will be at least a few more weeks before the Band-Aid can be removed. The roll call of the wounded reads like a who's-who of absences.

Alex Cobb, right forearm tendinitis.

Drew Smyly, left shoulder tendinitis.

Alex Colome, pneumonia.

Matt Moore, Tommy John surgery.

So the Rays have no other choice but to tread choppy waters in April without them. The mission is to survive as much as thrive, to avoid sinking as much as trying to soar up the American League East standings. 

Here's how the Rays' pitching staff breaks down (with last year's stats in parentheses).

ROTATION

Alex Cobb, RHP (10-9, 2.87 ERA) -- Originally slotted to start Opening Day, a case of right forearm tendinitis changed those plans. Still, Cobb is expected back sometime in early May, and he should seek to take another step in his career. He has the right stuff from the mound and in his head to be the rotation's leader.

Chris Archer, RHP (10-9, 3.33 ERA) -- With David Price's trade, Archer ended last season leading the Rays with 194 2/3 innings pitched. He made large strides in 32 starts last year, after receiving his first significant taste of life in the majors with 23 starts in 2013. He should aim to exceed 200 innings this season.

Drew Smyly, LHP (9-10, 3.24 ERA) -- He made a strong first impression after he arrived from the Detroit Tigers in the Price trade. Smyly went 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA and 44 strikeouts in seven starts with the Rays before being shut down in early September. He pitched a career-high 153 innings last season, and he's expected back in late April after dealing with left shoulder tendinitis this spring.

Matt Moore, LHP (0-2, 2.70 ERA) -- He has targeted a return possibly sometime in June after undergoing Tommy John surgery following his second start last season. What will Moore look like when he comes back? The question remains open-ended, and the answer will define his summer.

Jake Odorizzi, RHP (11-13, 4.13 ERA) -- No pitcher made more strides from the season's start to its end in 2014. Odorizzi's increased comfort was obvious by the time he posted a season-best 2.40 ERA in June. He should strive to build on that momentum. Price led the Rays last year with 189 strikeouts, but Odorizzi was second with 174. 

Nathan Karns, RHP (1-1, 4.50 ERA) -- He has just five major-league starts in two seasons, including two appearances with the Rays last year. But Karns will play a larger role early because of the spring injuries to others. He posted a 2-2 record with a 3.86 ERA in 23 1/3 innings of work this spring.

Alex Colome, RHP (2-0, 2.66 ERA) -- Little has gone right for him of late. Colome was a late arrival to spring training because of visa issues in the Dominican Republic, and then shortly after reporting to camp, he was hospitalized for pneumonia. Still, the Rays expect him back by the end of April. He could be part of the rotation until Moore returns.  

Erasmo Ramirez, RHP (1-6, 5.26 ERA) -- He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for promising left-hander Mike Montgomery. Ramirez has no minor-league options left, so he figures to be a placeholder within Tampa Bay's rotation until others return. He was 7-12 with a 4.62 ERA in 47 appearances (35 starts) in parts of three seasons with the Mariners.

Matt Andriese, RHP (no major-league stats) -- He worked himself into the conversation for a rotation spot with a solid spring. Before Saturday, he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.33 ERA in 19 1/3 innings in the exhibition season. He has never pitched in a regular-season major-league game, but he should receive some work in April until some of the regulars return.

Tampa Bay Rays pitchers (from left) Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, Kevin Jepsen, Nathan Karns and Ernesto Frieri.

BULLPEN

Jake McGee, LHP (5-2, 1.89 ERA, 19/23 saves) -- Along with Brad Boxberger, McGee should be one of the strongest options the Rays own deep in the bullpen when he's healthy. McGee hopes to be back by early May after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow last December. Whether or not he's given the "closer" label, he should serve that role often this season.

Brad Boxberger, RHP (5-2, 2.37 ERA, 2/5 saves) -- He was a pleasant surprise last year and asserted himself as a pillar of the Rays' bullpen. A similar performance should be expected of Boxberger this summer. His pairing with McGee in high-leverage situations should give Tampa Bay a lethal combo in the late innings.

Grant Balfour, RHP (2-6, 4.91 ERA, 12/15 saves) -- He was disappointing as a closer last season before he was demoted in June. Balfour recovered well late in the year -- he posted a season-best 2.89 ERA in September -- and he'll look to continue that momentum in an attempt to regain trust.

Kevin Jepsen, RHP (0-2, 2.63 ERA, 2/4 saves) -- He was gained in the December trade that sent Matt Joyce to the Los Angeles Angels. Jepsen offers a veteran presence within the Rays' bullpen, and look for him to serve in key roles as he tries to build on a standout season in 2014, when he had a career-best ERA total in 74 appearances.

Jeff Beliveau, LHP (0-0, 2.63 ERA, 1/1 saves) -- A rare lefty in the Rays' bullpen, Beliveau posted his career-best ERA total in a career-high 24 innings last season. He also had six holds.

Ernesto Frieri, RHP (1-4, 7.34 ERA, 11/14 saves) -- He'll look to revive his career with the Rays after signing a one-year deal last November. Frieri went 1-4 with a 7.34 ERA in 48 appearances with the Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates last season.

Steve Geltz, RHP (0-1, 3.24 ERA, 0/1 saves) -- He showed flashes of promise late last season and throughout spring training. Geltz has just 13 appearances (10 1/3 innings) in the majors. 

Kirby Yates, RHP (0-2, 3.75 ERA, 1/2 saves) -- He fared well enough in the spring to earn an Opening Day roster spot. Yates had 37 appearances (36 innings) with the Rays last season, his first in the majors.  

BIGGEST STRENGTH

Cobb served as the Rays' de-facto ace late last season after Price was traded to the Tigers, and the right-hander should be considered the best the Rays will offer again. Tampa Bay avoided a major setback when Cobb was diagnosed with right forearm tendinitis in March and not something worse. Still, it will be worth watching him closely in the weeks following his season debut. Staying healthy should be his top priority. He has never pitched more than 166 1/3 innings in a single season since entering the majors in 2011.

BIGGEST QUESTION

Can the rotation remain in one piece? The thought of Cobb, Archer, Smyly, Moore and Odorizzi all starting together once Moore returns from Tommy John surgery sounds pleasing. Still, all the spring injuries have to give the Rays pause. As Tampa Bay has learned, a team can never have too much pitching depth. Andriese came on strong in spring training, and the Rays have faith that Ramirez can do a serviceable job until some of the regulars return. Still, it's fair to wonder how the Rays' top arms will look when they come back from various ailments.

MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF STAFF

Moore. "Most important" may be too strong of a label, but does anyone know for sure what Moore will offer after his recovery from Tommy John surgery? In this case, he's at least the most interesting. When he's good, he pitches at an All-Star-caliber level, as he showed in the first half of the 2013 season. But he can also be erratic with his control. There's no larger question mark within the Rays' rotation.

OVERALL

The rotation should be the American League East's best as long as the top names stay on the mound. The bullpen looks solid with McGee and Boxberger, Balfour and Jepsen as the most significant faces. It's the same story for the Rays: The pitching must be strong for them to have a chance to compete. The staff should have little margin of error in a season that begins with many unknowns.

You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.

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