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Cam Booser Gives Kevin Cash Another Dangerous Weapon for October
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- Cam Booser Gives Kevin Cash Another Dangerous Weapon for October
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Tampa Bay Rays have plenty of big names they will rely on when the postseason begins.
Cam Booser probably isn't the first one that comes to mind.
But maybe he should be.
Booser delivered one of the biggest moments of Tampa Bay 's 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, and it might have given us a preview of exactly how Kevin Cash plans to use his bullpen in October.
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Freddy Peralta was excellent again , but he ran into trouble in the sixth inning.
Philadelphia had runners on second and third with only one out when Cash decided Peralta's night was finished.
In came Booser.
That's about as close to a postseason situation as you're going to get during Game 160.
Booser responded by getting two soft lineouts and completely eliminating the threat. Two runners in scoring position. One out. A two-run lead.
Neither runner scored. And I think it's another example of how important Booser has quietly become for this bullpen.
Nobody entered the season talking about him as one of Tampa Bay's most important relievers. But he continues to be relied on in high-leverage situations.
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Now we're days away from the postseason, and Cash trusted him once again with arguably the biggest situation of Friday's game.
His ability to face both left-handed and right-handed hitters only makes him more valuable.
It might have given us a pretty good preview of how difficult Tampa Bay's bullpen could be to navigate in October.
After Booser escaped the sixth, Kevin Kelly , Cole Sulser and Bryan Baker finished the job. And they were all flawless. Not a single reliever on Friday allowed a hit or a run following Peralta's start.
And Tampa Bay could eventually have even more options.
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Tyler Wells could potentially return. Manny Rodriguez gives Cash another arm to consider. Brody Hopkins continues making his case for a postseason roster spot, and Ian Seymour could possibly get moved to the bullpen.
The team's wild card is most likely Griffin Jax . If the Rays use Rasmussen, Peralta, and Nick Martinez as their primary starters during the ALDS, keeping Jax stretched out could give Cash another completely different weapon.
That's a lot of options. And a lot of good options at that.
There is a stronger possibility that a pitcher who deserves to be on the playoff roster doesn't make the cut because of how deep this staff is heading into the playoffs.
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But October bullpen decisions aren't always about who has the best numbers.
Sometimes it's about having the right pitcher for one massive situation. And Rays manager Kevin Cash is all about following the hot hand, using analytics when needed, and relying on the moment.
Friday, Cash needed somebody to protect a two-run lead with two runners already in scoring position.
He went to Booser.
Another weapon the Rays can rely on as they look for their first-ever World Series title
