TAMPA, Fla. — On Friday night, Tampa Bay Rays lefty Ian Seymour is set to start at home for the first time in his MLB career.
Seymour will face the Cleveland Guardians for the second game of Tampa Bay’s four-game home set. After dominating the Guardians in an eight-strikeout, one hit shutout effort in his first major league start, it is a fitting moment for Seymour to have another shot at their lineup in front of the crowd at Steinbrenner Field.
For the 26-year-old, the approach remains the same.
“Like I’ve been telling you guys since my first start, it’s just commanding the zone and being aggressive,” Seymour said on Thursday. “Getting ahead of guys and giving yourself as many opportunities to put guys away and leverage counts.”
Each time Seymour takes the mound, he is gaining knowledge to take into his next outing.
“You learn something every time you pitch, no matter what.”
“Really, it comes down to commanding counts; throwing your leverage pitches in the spots where they’re most believable and get it to generate a swing decision. Just using and utilizing all the tools that you have, get ahead of guys, and put them away when you get that chance.”
Seymour has lived up to his maxim, going 2-0 in his first two starts while striking out 16 batters and allowing just five hits, two walks and one earned run. As a rematch against the Guardians looms, he is intentional in his approach and ready to adjust.
“You sort of read the situations, the approaches and the things that the game is telling you when you’re out there,” Seymour said. “The game plan for me is always pretty consistent in terms of just getting ahead with all my pitches, and I’m trying to generate a swing with two strikes.”
“It also just gives you a better idea of what their approach is. If they’re overly aggressive and swinging early, you adjust based on that. It’s just a constant adjustment to what’s happening in the game and hopefully that works out for us.”
The next three days weigh heavily on the future of the season for both clubs. The Rays (71-69) hold a 1.5 game lead over Cleveland (69-70) in the American League wild card standings as both teams jockey for a place in the postseason. The Rays won the first game of the series on Thursday, 4-2.
Seymour understands the implications but remains steadfast in his process.
“For me personally, my process never changes given the circumstances,” Seymour said. “I’m trying to throw my pitches in locations where the best outcomes happen.”
Remaining focused on the process is a sentiment expressed by Seymour and his teammates alike, and it is a mindset that has helped Tampa Bay return to winning ways after a difficult stretch through July and August.
“I just try to keep my focus entirely based on that, and the more often that you’re able to do that, I’d say the results happen more positively.”
Seymour (3-0, 2.97 ERA) will face Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams (9-5, 3.26 ERA) when the Rays play the Guardians on Saturday at 7:35 p.m. ET.
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