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Tampa Bay Rays: Top Five Players

By Kit Anderson

Jul 8, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (23) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jake Odorizzi

Jake Odorizzi is a player who is much like Stephen Strasburg was a season or two ago. A player who has been around for a little while but has yet to deliver on high expectations. Despite not being the ace that some thought he was capable of being, Jake Odorizzi is a very good pitcher and could still turn into an ace yet.

Odorizzi is quietly putting together a very solid season. He is 9-6 with a 3.81 earned run average in 172.2 innings pitched so far this season. Add in the fact that a lot of those innings are against some of the best offenses in the league in the AL East and his numbers look even better.

Don’t give up on Odorizzi turning into an ace-like starter just yet. He may not be a pitcher that is going to rack up double-digit strikeout games every time out, but he has a great ability to keep his team in games and still has the potential to keep improving as he gets older. The problem for Odorizzi is does he play into the Rays’ long term rotation plans?  He could be a player that the Rays decide to move instead of a pitcher that will be featured a bit later in this list.

Next: Number Three

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