Jeff Niemann

MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The Rays knew it was next to impossible for closer Fernando Rodney to have the same kind of success this season as he did in a record-breaking 2012. But they were hoping he would pitch more consistently...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Having ace lefty David Price on the disabled list is obviously bad, but the Rays felt pretty good about their options to replace him. They chose Jake Odorizzi from a group that also...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Left hander Matt Moore has been pretty good this season, and he was on his game again Sunday, becoming the first major-leaguer to get to eight wins. But Moore hasn't been necessarily...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The Rays' short-term move in replacing injured David Price was calling up lefty Alex Torres from Triple-A to work as the long man in the bullpen that had to cover 6 2/3 innings on...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH If there can be a positive vibe after having your Cy Young Award-winning ace walk off the mound in the midst of seeking his second win in his ninth start and end up in an MRI tube and...

Lefty David Price has had his problems on the mound. But it may be something in the Rays' laundry room that had been part of his problem. Price, who allowed four runs on five hits in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the Red Sox before leaving in the third inning...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Left-hander Matt Moore keeps talking about how his success is a team effort. But he didn't get to be an American League best 7-0 by being lucky and standing on the mound on the right...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Manager Joe Maddon came close to blowing his top when the Rays nearly blew another big lead on Saturday night. Though Evan Longoria, the MLB Player of the Week for the period ending...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Six weeks into the season, the Rays feel they are finally looking -- and playing -- like they are supposed to. Sunday's 4-2 win over the Padres was their season-high fifth straight, and...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH The Rays are meeting the Padres this weekend, which gives right-handed reliever Brandon Gomes a chance to reflect on how far he's come since being acquired by Tampa Bay in the December...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH Besides the walk-off win over the Blue Jays, the Rays were most pleased Thursday with the encouraging performance of ace David Price. Having struggled for much of this season, Price...

The Sports Xchange MLB Team Report - Tampa Bay Rays - INSIDE PITCH First baseman James Loney doesn't say much around the Rays clubhouse. But his batting average has been saying plenty. Loney has been the Rays, and one of the American League's...