When Michael Wacha takes the mound for the Rays on Friday at Safeco Field, he will do so in a role that he’s entirely familiar with yet, for part of the ‘21 season, had moved away from.

In the absence of right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who was moved to the 60-day IL with a right elbow sprain, Wacha will assume the fifth-starter role in the rotation, making his eighth start of the season.

“I'm feeling good,” Wacha said. “ [I’m] looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow. But, overall, I feel like pitch count is not built up as much as I’d like it to be.”

Wacha opened the season as a starter before moving into the bullpen in a long-relief role. His last two starts have come as an opener, and the last time he pitched past the third inning was on April 27.

“We're going to go into it and I’m going to be honest with how I'm feeling and everything,” Wacha added. “I don't think we're going to be pushing it too far, but just working on getting that pitch count back up.”

While a move to the bullpen as a starter can be deflating, Wacha handled things the best way he knows how: by competing.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Wacha said. “I just look forward to any opportunity that I can get, whether it's in the rotation or whether it's in the bullpen. I feel in myself that whenever they call me to go out there and pitch, I just want to go out there and compete the best I can, like I've always done.”

Wacha owns a 4.54 ERA across 11 games and 39 2/3 innings with 30 strikeouts. Friday’s game offers Wacha a chance to cement himself into the rotation in a more permanent role, complete with the consistency of a starter's routine.

Homecoming

Right-handed reliever Ryan Thompson knows T-Mobile Park, formerly known as Safeco Field, very well. Thompson grew up in Turner, Ore., just four hours away from the home of the Mariners, and this weekend’s series offers a sort of homecoming for the 28-year-old.

Thompson says that 20-30 family members planned to attend the series, some of whom have not had the chance to see Thompson pitch professionally due to the restrictions in place during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020.

“I have so many memories in this city,” Thompson said. “It was something I always looked forward to. I was 10 years old, watching games, being like, ‘Man, one day I'm going to play at Safeco Field.’ So just being here is really cool.”

Thompson made annual trips with his dad to see the Mariners during the summer, staying at a local hotel and trying his best to get autographs from visiting players.

The series offers a full-circle moment for Thompson and his family.

“When you're playing and you're kind of tunnel-visioned on doing your job, sometimes it's hard to realize how special it is to be in the position that we're in,” Thompson added. “So there's certain moments like, for me, Game 4 of the World Series last year, it was something where it was just kind of hit me emotionally. It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so amazing.’

“And I think today is one of those moments, too, where it kind of overwhelms you or it's like, ‘Man, this was the dream.’ Obviously, it was MLB, but I was in the stands, wanting to be a part of this stadium in one aspect or another. So pretty cool.”

Thompson appeared in Thursday’s 6-5 walk-off loss, coming in to relieve starter Rich Hill, who had surrendered a two-run home run before issuing a walk to Tom Murphy with nobody out.

Thompson quickly struck out Dylan Moore on three pitches before inducing an inning-ending, ground-ball double play.

“Anytime a player comes back close to home or he's connected with the city, it should be a special moment,” manager Kevin Cash said postgame. “He didn't get to experience that last year given the schedule, so happy for him. And he came in at a big, big part of the game and helped us keep a lead at that point.”

New face in the team

Ahead of Thursday’s series opener, the Rays made a rare trade with their AL East division rival Yankees, acquiring first baseman Mike Ford for cash considerations and a player to be named. Ford will report to Triple-A Durham.

“Look, I think what we're trying to accomplish, and we say this with our guys that are here, and we say it with the guys that we acquire, trade or our claim, whatever, we're trying to be as good as we possibly can,” Cash said. “And to do that we need as much depth as possible.”

It’s just the fourth trade in history between the teams, and the third in the last five years. In Ford, the Rays are acquiring a left-handed power hitter, who had a breakout season in 2019, slugging 12 homers and driving in 25 runs across 50 games.

“Mike Ford, specifically, is a guy who, from afar, we have appreciated for the last two, three seasons,” Cash added. “He came on in '19 and really put together a strong season with an opportunity.”

In the years following, Ford saw his playing time diminish and struggled to put up the same offensive output. Across 22 games in 2021, Ford has slashed .133/.278/,283 with three home runs and five RBIs in 60 at-bats.

The struggles due to inconsistent playing time are something that Cash recognizes, but he doesn't believe that takes away from the player Ford can be.

“But that doesn't take away from what he's capable of doing with a bat in his hand,” Cash said. “He's a guy that walks, he hits the ball very hard. So I thought it was a good addition and [we’ll] see if he can help us at some point.”