Coming into the second half of the season, the Rays had some interesting pitching rotation decisions to make. In particular, they needed to figure out how to best use their three marquee names: Blake Snell, Charlie Morton, and prospect Brendan McKay.
The first decision was to give 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell extra rest. After the All-Star break he was moved down to fifth in the rotation, which gave him another four days off, and more importantly guaranteed him a slot against the Yankees in New York this week.
Morton, in contrast, might have been expected to get the extra rest, as he’s been the Rays biggest innings eater thus far.