The Secrets of the Rays’ Inexplicably Successful Pitching Development Machine

Snyder has been the Rays’ pitching coach since 2018. His staff has posted a top-three ERA in the league every season, a phenomenal achievement given the Rays’ meager payroll and an injury rate of nearly 50% for all major league pitchers. This year is no different.

The Rays began this week ranked behind only Houston in AL ERA (3.79 to 3.78). Rays pitchers allow the lowest batting average in MLB (.230), the lowest slugging percentage (.382) and the lowest OPS (.678). They have done so despite deploying the fourth-lowest payroll while using 36 pitchers—tied with the Dodgers for the most in baseball—and putting 14 of them on the injured list. Only the Dodgers (16) and Padres and Reds (15) have put more pitchers on the IL.

There have been a number of articles here this season about the Rays and their work with pitchers. So… another? Me, I’m always willing to learn about what teams at the extremes may be doing particularly well (or poorly).