Blake Snell's Latest Spring Training Performance is a Big Cause for Concern for the Rays
By Sam Dunn
The Tampa Bay Rays head into the 2020 MLB season as sneaky contenders in the American League, but such a dream will remain exactly that if former Cy Young winner Blake Snell can't get himself into top form.
And based on his performance in Spring Training against the Blue Jays on Monday, it's an open question as to whether he's able to make that happen. Read it and weep: a third of an inning, four walks, four earned runs.
Shaky first inning in Dunedin for Blake Snell in his first start since elbow discomfort. 16 balls in his first 22 pitches. Walks 4 of the first 5 hitters and out he goes. Troubling development for the #Rays.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 9, 2020
That's almost impossibly bad.
After his dynamite 2018 campaign, Snell followed things up last season rather forgettably. His ERA jumped from a 1.89 to a career-worst 4.89, and he managed to throw just 107 innings due to nagging injury issues.
He clearly hasn't put all that behind him quite yet.
Blake Snell struggles with command during his second spring outing. Threw 22 pitches, only six strikes. Four walks. Two full counts. He hit 98 mph, but missed high several times.
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) March 9, 2020
Kevin Cash and the Rays proved last year that they could win plenty of games even without a Cy Young-level Snell, but if this team is going to compete for glory, their staff ace needs to look the part. Unfortunately, Monday's outing did nothing to suggest he's headed in that direction.