Tampa Bay Rays Shut Down Drew Smyly
Aug 27, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Drew Smyly(33) pitches during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Tampa Bay Rays defeated Baltimore Orioles 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Drew Smyly’s season is officially over.
The Tampa Bay Rays will reportedly sit Smyly for the rest of the regular season it was revealed before tonights 4-3 win against the New York Yankees.
Tampa Bay have done this in the past as part of a protocol to prevent injuries to young players. They often try to limit pitchers to no more than a 20 per cent increase in innings per year. Smyly was schedule to make three more starts this season.
In a corresponding move, Nate Karns will start in Smyly’s place Friday in Toronto.
Smyly was of course acquired by the Rays in the David Price trade with the Detroit Tigers.
Since then, Smyly has been lights out. He’s gone 3-1 in seven starts with a 1.70 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched.
For the season, Smyly is 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA in 153 innings pitched.
The decision to shut down Smyly isn’t surprising. The Rays are out of playoff contention so there’s no need to risk Smyly’s long-term health by making him pitch every five days with nothing on the line.
Joe Maddon also noted that he’s going to watch Brad Boxberger’s innings. Between the Rays and Triple-A Durham, he’s thrown a career high 69.1 innings.
No other Rays pitchers will be shut down.