Seymour states case for Rays' ALDS roster with time left to set up rotation

NEW YORK -- The Rays haven’t made any decisions regarding their starting rotation for the upcoming American League Division Series, manager Kevin Cash said Thursday afternoon.

They have time, with more than a week to go before Game 1 on Oct. 3, and they have options.

Whether he makes a start or finds himself in the bullpen come October, left-hander Ian Seymour continued to make a case for himself as a potentially valuable contributor by allowing just one hit over five scoreless innings in the Rays’ 6-4 loss to the Yankees on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.

“That was outstanding. Really impressive work,” Cash said. “Couldn’t ask for much more.”

Seymour struck out three without walking a batter, Yandy Díaz picked up two hits and Junior Caminero recorded his 98th and 99th RBIs of the season, third most in the AL. But three Rays relievers combined to allow six runs as Tampa Bay fell to 96-63 before hitting the road to Philadelphia for its final regular-season series of the year.

Due to the number of off-days built into the ALDS schedule, the Rays should need only three starters during that series. Their most likely options are Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez and Freddy Peralta, in some order.

Cash previously said it’s unlikely that rehabbing left-hander Shane McClanahan will be ready for the first round. But the Rays could still find roles for Seymour and Griffin Jax, both starters who began the season in Tampa Bay’s bullpen.

“It does help. I mean, we haven’t decided which way we’re going on anything right now. We’ve had very preliminary conversations,” Cash said. “Even behind an opener, coming out of the bullpen, they’ve done that before. So I’d like to think that helps them.”

Seymour said Tuesday he would be “pretty comfortable in just about any position that they could put me in.” He has pitched well in a starting/bulk-inning role since moving out of the bullpen in early June, putting together a 3.91 ERA with 125 strikeouts and 21 walks in 101 1/3 innings over 20 appearances.

The uptick in strikeouts, and the experience he has gained pitching in a variety of roles this year, could make the left-hander an intriguing option out of the bullpen in the playoffs, if needed. It could also keep him in the mix for a starting assignment in a later series, if the Rays advance.

“I could sit here and talk all night about the things I've learned this year, whether it's an approach or a routine, a new pitch or two, or just how to attack hitters,” Seymour said after Thursday’s 58-pitch outing. “But [there’s] a lot of baseball still left to play, and I'm really looking forward to my first experience of that, too.”

Jax, who is slated to make his final regular-season start on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, offered a similar outlook when asked about his potential postseason role last week. The right-hander has a longer track record coming out of the bullpen, of course, but he has also been excellent as a starter since making that transition at the end of April.

Over 22 starts, Jax has posted a 3.23 ERA with 105 strikeouts and 28 walks in 100 1/3 innings. And he has been especially sharp lately, allowing just one run over his last 15 innings.

“Regardless if I’m starting the game or coming in sometime in the middle or the end of the game, like I have some experience doing, I’d be glad and willing to do it,” Jax said recently.

If the Rays go with Rasmussen, Martinez and Peralta to start a short series, it could be interesting to see how they are lined up.

Rasmussen, who completed his regular season with a brilliant outing in the Rays’ division-clinching win on Tuesday night, seems worthy of a Game 1 start after going 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 172 innings over 30 starts. Pitching first would allow him to return on regular rest for a potential ALDS Game 4.

Martinez, who is slated to start Game 162 on Sunday, is 15-5 with a 2.94 ERA in 177 1/3 innings over 30 starts. Tampa Bay is 22-8 behind him this season, and the combination of his veteran poise and success on the road this season (a 2.05 ERA away from Tropicana Field, compared to a 3.90 ERA at home) might be best suited for the often pivotal Game 3 assignment.

And Peralta, who will start Friday’s series opener in Philadelphia, is 4-0 with a 0.94 ERA in 28 2/3 innings over his past five starts. Could he start Game 2 at the Trop then be in line to take the ball for a potential Game 5?

The Rays have decisions to make. But they have quality options -- and plenty of time.