Ian Seymour's Biggest Weakness Is Becoming Impossible for Rays to Ignore

The Tampa Bay Rays suddenly have some questions with their pitching staff.

And the timing certainly isn't ideal.

A few weeks ago, pitching depth might have been the least of Tampa Bay's concerns.

The Rays had plenty of starting pitching options. The bullpen had been one of the best in baseball, and it felt like Kevin Cash had more arms than he could realistically use once October arrived.

That's starting to change.

Shane McClanahan is back on the injured list with elbow tightness. Manny Rodriguez is also unavailable. Garrett Cleavinger has struggled recently and has been unavailable over the last few games.

Even Bryan Baker missed time over the weekend due to illness.

Individually, maybe none of those situations completely changes how you feel about Tampa Bay's pitching staff.

Together?

It's starting to test some of that incredible depth.

We saw some of that Sunday against the Texas Rangers.

Ian Seymour lasted only three innings, allowing three earned runs and two home runs while throwing 75 pitches.

And the home run ball is becoming something worth watching.

Seymour has now allowed nine home runs over his last five starts.

We already know the strikeout stuff is there.

He showed that against the New York Mets when he struck out 10 batters over seven innings, and he has consistently shown the ability to miss bats.

However, it sometimes feels like Seymour's outings are becoming strikeout or home runs. All or nothing.

That's something the Rays need him to figure out.

Because Tampa Bay might actually need Seymour in October.

Maybe McClanahan comes back healthy, and everything falls into place.

Maybe Cleavinger gets back on track. Rodriguez returns. The bullpen gets healthy, and suddenly we're talking about how Tampa Bay has too many pitching options again.

But the Rays can't simply assume that's going to happen.

It might mean pitchers such as Seymour, Steven Matz or Cole Sulser are asked to get important outs in October.

And maybe Ty Johnson becomes part of that conversation.

Johnson made his MLB debut Sunday and immediately gave Tampa Bay something to be excited about, throwing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts and one walk on just 14 pitches.

It may be only one appearance, but if Johnson can continue to pitch like that over the next few weeks, maybe the Rays have found another bullpen option exactly when they need one.

Tampa Bay still has plenty of pitching talent.

But suddenly, that depth doesn't feel quite as comfortable as it did a few weeks ago.

And the Rays have a few weeks to figure it out before those innings start meaning considerably more.