In 2013, Tampa Bay Rays' starting pitcher Matt Moore took over the national spotlight as he won eight of his first nine starts to begin the season. Later, The southpaw collected seven more victories in a span of eight starts while collecting 2013 All-Star honors. Where is he today? Columbus, Ohio, for his final rehab start before rejoining the Rays' rotation.
Last season after only two starts with Tampa Bay, Moore tore a ligament in his throwing elbow resulting in him going under the knife for Tommy John Surgery. When 2015 rolled around the twenty-six year old was placed on the sixty-day DL as he was still recovering from surgery and regaining strength. But now he is only one start away from being back in the rotation to help the Rays in their pursuit for the postseason.
The Florida native started his rehab very well with two scoreless starts (six strikeouts and four bases of balls in six and one/third innings) for Port Charlotte (Single-A Advanced), yet as the Rays increased the number of pitches Moore was to throw, the poorer the results. In his third and final start for Port Charlotte, the six foot, three inch hurler was knocked around for two runs in four and two/thirds innings. His struggles continued in the following start at Triple-A Durham as he surrendered three earned runs on seven hits in five and one/thirds innings. A positive sign in Moore's last performance was that he had seven strikeouts, two of which were of Cleveland Indians' Opening Day third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.
Despite a non-idealistic start last Sunday, when Moore returned to Tampa Bay he felt he was ready for his season debut in the Big Leagues and told Rays' manager Kevin Cash "Let me know if you need me Friday or Saturday." Cash didn't take him up on the offer though and decided it would be best for Moore to make one more rehab start with Durham in Columbus against the team he faced six days earlier.
Therefore, Matt Moore will make his fifth and final rehab start this evening in game one of a doubleheader at Hunnington Park in Columbus, Ohio. If everything goes well and there is no concern with his health after, he will join the Rays and make his season debut at "The Trop" Wednesday versus Cleveland.
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