Rays send down Mason Englert after rough start

Englert was a late addition to the rotation today, with the Rays pushing back Ian Seymour. The Rays didn’t care much about results from him, but they would have liked some additional length. He wound up surrendering four homers, bringing his career total to 33 allowed in 161 2/3 innings as a major leaguer with Detroit and Tampa Bay. That’s just not going to cut it, so he’ll probably wind up on the waiver wire in the offseason.

The Rays made the decision to give Seymour an extra day of rest after clinching the AL East division title earlier this week. It’ll be Mason Englert starting Wednesday’s contest at Yankee Stadium.

Englert will start on Wednesday instead of Ian Seymour. It remains to be seen what the plan is for Seymour, but the Rays clinched the AL East and a bye in the postseason on Tuesday, so they probably just want to give Seymour some time off. Englert has a 4.25 ERA in 82 2/3 innings in Triple-A, but he is not a recommended streamer against the Yankees.

The Red Sox got after Englert in the first inning, tallying three straight extra-base hits, which included back-to-back homers by Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras to put the Red Sox up 3-2. Abreu would get the best of Englert again in the third inning, when he blasted his second homer of the game, a solo shot, into the stands to put the Sox up 4-3 after the Rays had tied it in the top of the frame. He would allow two more runs before being pulled to start the sixth inning, but it goes without saying that this was a rough outing for Englert, who was making just his third start of the season. He’s now started back-to-back games for the Rays, but today’s start was likely due to the Rays playing the second game of a doubleheader. If he is to make another start when this spot in the rotation comes around, it would come on Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Englert is being called up as the 27th man on Friday. He could be used in a bulk role, but Englert threw 5 2/3 innings in his last outing so he will be used for length, regardless of whether or not he makes a traditional start.

The Rays are expected to go with Mason Englert, either as a traditional starter or behind an opener for the second game of Friday’s doubleheader. Ian Seymour will then get the ball on Saturday and Shane McClanahan will start in Friday’s series finale.

Englert pitched well on Sunday, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out nine in a loss to the Astros. The Rays will bring up some extra bullpen help in the meantime and then figure out a fifth starter if they need one over the weekend.

Englert was just recalled from Triple-A Durham to start Sunday’s game, and while he picked up the loss, it went well. The only damage was a pair of solo homers, and outside of that, he had the Houston hitters off-balance while throwing 65-of-101 pitches for strikes. The Rays don’t have a starter scheduled for Friday against the Mariners, and it seems pretty likely that Englert will get the nod for that contest. If he doesn’t, it won’t be based on the results from Sunday.

The 26-year-old right-hander will start in Sunday’s series finale against the Astros in Houston. It’s unclear if the plan is for him to work as a traditional starter or if he’ll just work a couple of innings as an opener in what will turn into a full bullpen game for the Rays. Englert holds a 3.96 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 19/6 K/BB ratio over 25 frames in 12 appearances with the Rays this season.

Englert gets swapped out after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings out of the pen on Friday. He has a 7.59 ERA in three appearances for the Rays this season.