RAYS POSTCAST: The Tampa Bay Rays WIN BIG vs the Atlanta Braves

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by the Dell XPS. I'm Wes Goldberg from Lockdown NBA Daily and Lockdown Heat. So what does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core? With a premium design that's thin and light, it feels smooth. With a responsive touch screen, it feels fast and precise. And with long lasting battery life, it feels like non-stop energy with a laptop that can keep up. Built for those who want better, the Dell XPS. Built for you. Welcome back to the NBA Race Post.

1:01It's your spot for instant race reaction after every single game. My name is Jonathan Shields and a big time win for the race in Atlanta versus Atlanta. I'm sorry if I should have said that wasn't a big lead to in-tact. I focus heavily on the Principal who will be your wardier in the past 10 seconds.

2:02We'll have a fight. for the third straight game was in the salt and ready for the third game. And Freddie for the third straight game struggled in the first inning. So it was just that up and down factor for Freddie. And I'll say it again, I'll set it before I'll say it again. Freddie Prauta is a ceiling razor for this race team. If he pitches like this on playoffs, the race will be incredibly difficult to beat. Because now that he gives you three, three and a half, depending on McClan and his health, starters that you can really trust in the playoffs. Freddie for that reason and many others in this game is our play. This is the lock down player of the game. If you still get a stat line, it's not going to impress you. You know, six endings, which is very impressive. Five is one or two walks. Two strikeouts on a walk, I should say. But for Freddie, it was the soft contact to save the generate. I mean, John D'Luca must have caught like five balls in the half field. Maybe like seven balls in the half field tonight. He got the ball into the outfield.

3:04He got the ball in the air, got it in the outfield. And the race had really good outfielders. They tracked down and, you know, made set a great catch on the ninth inning. But Freddie is just in the zone, not walking guys, making guys hit him. And after that chaotic first inning, he really settled in. I mean, he's retired, what, 13 out of 14 at one point might even have been 14 out of 15. And he's looking like the guy that was the NL leader and wins two years ago. And so the guy or last year instead of the guy that was on the meds earlier this year. And again, he just completely changes the dynamic of this race team. He really does. And that first inning was scary. I mean, he had a ton of pitches and he was like, man, I mean, the race started to get the bullpen moving a little bit. And then after that, just completely locked down and gave the race six endings, which they need it. You know, the bullpen was in a good spot, which is why we saw some A level bullpen guys throw today, because they need some action. But, man, it can't say enough good things about Freddie, who once again just continues to be incredibly solid for this race team since coming over. And, you know, since he came over, this is the third straight game. He's a lot one run or less.

4:04And, you know, he struggled a little bit. Obviously, he can skyrocket out of the first game and against Baltimore, which I really think he pitched better than that. That's not an indicator. But now you're going three straight games where he's had quality starts and not just quality starts, where there's been points where he's looked dominant, which again, it just he's becoming quickly a difference maker for this team. But so shout out again, I thought Freddie was awesome. So shout out Freddie for sure for another great outing. But, you know, with that being said, let's not throw any shade against the offense, who was the story of the night. And with that being said, let's get to our turning point. Time to reveal where the game was one or most. It's the turning point. And I think the turning point of the game came in the third inning. So, after the breaks tied the game after just the monster, Junior Hummer on the run, we're going to talk about Junior more in a second. It was the third inning that got us started. Liam Hicks, who again just get so much length to this line of people. You gave us man. I mean, I remember the days, Cedric Mulles, Richard Placios, whoever was hitting fourth.

5:05And now we've a real cleanup hitter that compliments the big three. So, well, that's probably the reason why the race has been able to lead in the American League throughout. In August and September, not to mention he has control. He'll be here next year, which is a huge, huge plus. But Liam Hicks, a two run shot making a three to one victory. Mesa, who brought him to the set of that a game, just heck of a ball player. He'll really good baseball player. And that's sure every day right, filled it right now. It is, and the playoffs is going to be playing almost every day, you know why? Because he hits lefties, too. Just an underrated part of this race core right now, who really came out of nowhere this year. I mean, I didn't know who Victor Mesa was. Victor Mesa was in March. Maybe that makes me casual. But he has been fantastic for the race to say the very least. And then, just kept rolling in the third inning, which was a turning point. Obviously, he had the RBI single. And then the race scored in many different ways. You had the ground out from, from junior. And then obviously they beat the Braves today with the home run ball, which isn't what they're known for. But the race also had like four infield singles, which set a lot of this up. They also set up how awesome the race had been with two outs,

6:05which we're going to talk about more in a second. But the guy I want to highlight, who was a big X factor of the race today, was Junior Combin. It's time to reveal who made the biggest under the radar impact with today's X factor. He's just, he's different. Yeah, he's different. Another two for three. I mean, anytime you get an intentionally walked in the fourth inning, you're doing something right. There's probably five people on baseball that are going to want to actually walk in the fourth inning of a three run game. But that's what Junior Combin is because that's how good Junior has been. And with another moonshot, I mean, one turn off the bat, 455 in the first inning. Ridiculous. He's ridiculous. He's a special player. And the thing out of the ball, Junior, he wants to play every day. He loves baseball. He loves the team. He loves the city. He wants to do great for the team. And it's refreshing to say and not to mention, he's ours. Like, you know, we, he's homegrown. I mean, not completely homegrown. We got him from Cleveland. But he's just a special player. And I'm incredibly glad that he's wearing a race uniform.

7:05I hope he raises the boys a race uniform throughout his entire career. Because he's going to command a ton, a ton of money. And he deserves a man. What a special player. 39th Homer, again, this year or this year, he's going to have back to back 40 Homer and seasons never happened before for a race player. Just an incredible, an incredibly special player in junior commoneroids. And again, he is just, I don't know. I'm not speechless watching him. But it's just a how lucky we are to have him. Because he's what he's the best hitter in the American League. Outside of Jordan, I have worse, I should say. He's the best right handed bit hitter in baseball right now. And one of his last times the race ever able to say that I play about a player. And if you think I'm wrong, I'm just like the stats. And again, it's don't take this for granted. Don't take junior for granted. Because he was fantastic once again tonight. But still a lot more breakdown. We're going to talk about why this really was a really nice bounce back one for the race. And we're going to talk about how the race have just been awesome with two outs. Not only tonight, but all season as well.

8:05All that and more after this. This episode was brought to you by Amazon. A big thanks to our friends at Amazon for this limited ad break. This back school season spend less on your kids with Amazon. Well, I know how crazy the back school shopping experience can be. It's charged with a few items on the list. And suddenly you're shopping for supplies, clothes, lunch, gear, tech, and about 10 other things you didn't see coming. It adds up fast. When you buy clothes for back to school, then suddenly your kid has a growth spread two weeks later. And you're right back to where you started. Sometimes it generally feels like they're going faster than your project can keep up. When we start shopping for a few items, and it will you think are essential or a few back school essential items and realize how quickly the list grows. Supplies, clothes, lunch, gear, tech, headphones, it just keeps going. That's why I find in low prices on all things that you need to make it. It's like makes such a big difference this time of year. So remember with Amazon's low back school prices, just spend less on your kids. Because every dollar you don't spend is all you haven't spent. Shop back to Amazon and spend less on your kids.

9:06If you guys are in the live, please make sure to leave a like and comment. And let's talk about this race offense. Because all year they've been fantastic with two outs. And it was evident once again today. Even that eighth inning when it felt like things were and nothing was happening. And boom, all of a sudden, Yondi homebers and you have the basis of love. Junior's home were in the first game with two outs. Macy's RBI came with two outs. They were just relentless. We're relentless for relentless for relentless. More relentless than any race team I can remember. And a lot of that has to do with production that get with two outs. A lot of times, we'll say first and third and you get that second out. Pictures send to Exo. I know sometimes when Freddie got that second out in the first inning when it was first and third, I exoed a little bit. It's just human nature. But the race again, to use that word relentless, they just come right back at you with two outs. And it's special. It's probably the reason why the race have the best record in the American League by a good margin is because of things like that. And it's not something that is normal.

10:07I mean, I remember two years ago when the year before we started the post-cars, when the race couldn't buy hate with our score position, couldn't get the guy home from third, whether it was zero outs, one out of two outs, whatever. And this year, they're just all over the place. They're all over the baseball. And it's the whole lineup. Like today, you have any, I'm keeping saying that anytime the race get production from the bottom part of the order, it's a real difference maker. And having Mason, the bottom part of the order is, well, it lengthens a little bit more, but Richie with the home, or Mateo with an infield hit. And look, Walls, Walls is out. So that's your middle infield for right now. And Mateo has a lot of swings in, it's swinging miss, many swings out of the zone a lot. But he's one of the best base runners in Major League Baseball. And that provides the immense amount of value to this team. But I'll tell you, man, you have, when you're line of vice-victor Mesa heading seventh, that's the depth that you need in order to go compete for a World Series. But really nice bounce back. I mean, the day off tomorrow probably helped. The race really did look energized. The braids lost a tough one to the Phillies just today.

11:10And they're in the heat of a, the vigilance race just like the race are with the Yankees. But they look refreshed and it was a really tough loss on Saturday. I mean, that a big lead similar to what they had today. And today, they shut the door. And on Sunday, they let the throw off the gas a little bit and the Rangers knock up and they bit them for it. But today, the race were able to keep their foot on the gas and really control the entire gain. Against a really good team in the Braves. I mean, the Braves have our tie with it now that the third best record in Baseball were up around the Braves. I mean, this is a team where the Braves get 100% play in the World Series. And you can see there's lineup. I mean, you just keep going down the names like, wow, you don't get a break in this lineup. And even Murphy, who's just coming off the injured list, hitting ninth now, I mean, who's an all-star two or three years ago. They're just relentless and the race controlled this game. It was, they just put on a clinic. And we haven't seen a race team dominate good teams like this consistently. What? Since 2021. So again, guys, don't take this for granted. This is a special, special team. But let's look ahead to the game tomorrow because with the Yankees playing the Rockies, the race are going to need every single one of these games.

12:11With that being said, it's going to be Ronaldo Lopez versus Griffin. Jacks, Lopez is making his first start since the end of July. His last time I went five and two-thirds scoreless against the Warriors. But then he missed all of August with an injury. And he's been around for a while. You guys might have remembered him with the white socks back in the day, more in the relief role. But he's getting his chance to be a starter for the same straight year with the Braves in last year as a starter. I mean, he was discussed and hit a 1.99 ERA and 26 starts. And this year his ERA is up a little bit, 364. In 2024, I mean, he had that ERA. He missed all of 25 basically. And then this year he's back with the 364 ERA. So, you know, he's a veteran pitcher. It's going to be definitely a pitching upgrade over with the race all today. But, you know, they'll have Griffin Jacks, the counter. Jacks, who his first start back off the IA was a little bit rough. Not a little bit. It was rough for him. But I think he's going to be locked in. I mean, he was three-year on over two-and-two-thirds.

13:12This is six runs in total. Only once strike out the two walks. I do think he's going to be doubted. And I do think he's going to give a better performance after that. But, you know, the race need to kind of find that. He's going to be the fourth fifth guy in the playoffs. And Griffin Jacks is auditioning for this role. You know, more than he's right in there auditioning for this role with all those other guys. So, you know, I'm anticipating a really good Griffin Jack start. And then the race give a little blessing from the baseball gods. This Chris sale will not pitch against him. Thursday, he got bumped one day because they want him to face the Phillies. I'm pretty sure that Braves play the Phillies again this weekend. In that land up, I'm not mistaken, they do. So, they pushed Chris sale to face them. So, I mean, that gives the race a little bit of a break. And then the race still, I'm not an asset starter for that. I wonder what they'll do with that. Because that's supposedly McClanahan's day. But obviously, he is injured. But we'll get to the comments here and make sure you guys do like and comment. Subscribe. Don't stay hamptons. Has a funny one here. He says, And instead of fastball Friday, can we call him first ending Friday and me,

14:13Friday, but other than that solid game, top tier comment. One of the one of the 10 best comments of the year, I think. But yeah, I mean, you know, against the Metz, he gave up the solar Homer today. It was all over the place. But veteran veteran pitching, you can tell he's a veteran pitcher. Because he just locked it down after that. He really settles in. As we go to Gary says, dominating pitching performance by dominating performance by the race at truest for Homer six solid endings from Friday. Praulta, Chandler Simpson, homecoming. I'm hoping that the race brave series, Shopee a world series preview. That would be something. The National League of Stuff, National League is definitely more top heavy than the American League. So we'll see. As we go to Jack here, he says, now that is what I call a standing game. Raise up enough said. Love it. Absolutely. Love it. As we go to max here, he says the game makes me feel confident about October. Friday, he's downed in with the pitching staff in the offense. And I was stellar. Big winning against a great team. I agree with that. Wins like this make you really comfortable when you're going into October. Because these are the type of teams you're playing. You're facing on an idly basis. I think if the race can get all that LDS man, I really do think they can make the world series. But yeah, I mean, I don't know if we're looking way ahead at that point.

15:16But I haven't played one of the American League teams. You're going to need to be the American one of the L East teams, I should say. You're going to need to be at your best in your right max. This really, this really does give me confidence against those kind of teams. In the playoffs. So as we go to Don Presley, it was great to see Baker out there looking healthy. This team's chemistry is a great hopefully. Mattel could play well until wallets is back. Yeah, you know, Ryan Bass who does great work, by the way. But he had the update on Baker. He said he lost five pounds when he was sick. He dehydrated not feeling well in Texas. So it was great to see that they were able to give him some work. His V-Lo was still down. And you know, I'm sure he wasn't pumping it up with a six run lead. But I guess it was up. There's no, no, I'm looking the wrong way. So yeah, so his average fastball is almost 96 and a half. So today he was sitting 94 and a half. So that's almost a two mile, not now power difference, which isn't great for a pitcher. But again, I'm not overly worried. It's just good that he's great. Good that he's healthy and pitching.

16:17I would let you suck it off in here. I appreciate the love. As you go to Gary, this is a very huge, the very big point here. He says all of the raised deadline acquisitions, but huge assets, takes well and paralta. Subsequently, I did a horror at Mateo. It becomes a key play with Taylor Wall's injury. Yeah, guys, I mean, everyone gets on Taylor Walls because he's not a great hitter. But man, he covers up a lot defensively. And you see the little stuff like Taylor Walls is a great buncher. And Mateo couldn't get that bunch down earlier than the game. So Walls does say it's going to be a minimum mile stint. So you know, we'll see. But the real question is, do you guys like Mateo more than Ben Williams? Which becomes the question going forward. Whenever Williams comes back because Mateo speed man, that's different. That's different kind of speed. That's a huge asset in the playoffs. So I am really looking ahead, which you can only do here. But that raised magic number is, let's see, the blue jays are winning. But I think the raised magic number now goes down to four. I saw some of the earliest, they could clinch those Thursday. Now I think it's a good chance.

17:17I would say that there's about 100% chance the raised world clinch supply off sometime during the homestand. 100% might be a little much. But anyway, you guys do the point. The raised are going to clinch the playoffs first very soon with which is just awesome. Absolutely awesome. First time in two years. And the raised will be going back at some point. Unless there's a store of blabbs. But I don't think they will be. But anyway, tomorrow, same time, 7-10, or excuse me, 7-15, first pitch tomorrow. It'll be Jack's first low pez. And we'll be alive right back right after. Hopefully talking about another raise. When I appreciate all you guys for being in here, make sure all you guys leave a like, comment, subscribe. It helps a ton when you guys like and comment. We're here every single day after every raise game. If you guys are new, we're not going anywhere through the playoffs. So make this your one-stop shop. After every single raise game, we've got a great community. And hope you guys will enjoy it. So wherever you listen, have a podcast, Spotify, wherever you may be watching. Please make sure you're like, comment, subscribe. And we will see you guys tomorrow night. Hopefully talking about another raised one.

18:29Thank you for making locked on. On your first listen, every day. For your second listen, find the all night locked on MLB game night. Every game, every night, until a World Series champion is crowned. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB game night on locked on MLB on YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.