5 Rays takeaways with Opening Day just 3 weeks away

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Rays are two weeks into their Spring Training game schedule. They¡¯re less than three weeks away from Opening Day. With plenty of games left to play, they still have time to figure out their Opening Day roster. But we¡¯ve still learned quite a bit since they reported to Charlotte Sports Park.

Here are five takeaways after nearly a month in camp.

1. Their rotation situation hasn¡¯t resolved itself yet
This remains the Rays¡¯ most perplexing position battle. Aside from Opening Day starter Shane McClanahan, they haven¡¯t set their starting staff. That leaves five top candidates -- Drew Rasmussen, Zack Littell, Taj Bradley, Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz -- for four spots.

They are unlikely to use a six-man rotation. So if everyone stays healthy heading into Opening Day, the Rays will have to get creative by moving a starter into a relief role, sending someone to the Minors or perhaps considering a trade.

¡°I haven't thought much about it. At this point, everybody's still just trying to get ready,¡± said Littell, who held the Orioles to one run over 3 2/3 innings in the Rays¡¯ 6-3 win on Saturday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. ¡°I know it's only a little less than three weeks, but for us, there's still at least three more outings, some of us four, so still a lot can happen.¡±

2. The situational-hitting focus is getting through
After a historically poor performance with runners in scoring position last season, the Rays prioritized timely hitting from the moment they started taking batting practice this spring. It may not be apparent in their Grapefruit League statistics, but they¡¯ve been pleased with the way their hitters have taken to the ideas, mindset and approach suggested by hitting coach Chad Mottola.

¡°I think that's been one of the brighter spots of camp,¡± manager Kevin Cash said. ¡°I think it's been successful because the players have taken ownership. They realized we were deficient in that, and they've really done a good job as a group of buying in.¡±

3. This is the real Curtis Mead
Mead went 1-for-3 on Saturday, which sent his Spring Training batting average plummeting all the way down to .714.

The Australian infielder is 15-for-21 with three walks and three strikeouts in his first eight games, indicating that an offseason spent bulking up and getting back to his style of play may lead to better performance. Mead is competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster, one that may come down to him or veteran slugger Eloy Jim¨¦nez, but it will be hard to deny the former Top 100 prospect if he keeps hitting like this.

¡°This is the Curtis from a couple years ago that we were seeing,¡± second baseman Brandon Lowe said. ¡°I'm more than excited to kind of see what happens, given he gets the chance to do it at the big league level during the season, what it'll actually look like. He's proving that it's there. It's just if he gets the opportunity to go do it.¡±

4. The kids are all right
One of the best parts of Spring Training is getting to see the next wave of prospects, whether they¡¯re mingling with the big leaguers or sharing the field together. With one of the game¡¯s top-ranked farm systems, and a core of top prospects that coalesced in Double-A at the end of last season, that¡¯s been especially true for the Rays this spring.

Whether it¡¯s Chandler Simpson showing off his unique skill-set, Carson Williams doubling off Garrett Crochet, Brayden Taylor launching a home run on Friday or Tre¡¯ Morgan going oppo with a two-run blast on Saturday, the Rays¡¯ top prospects are making their mark.

¡°You hear about them all during the season, and you don't get to see it with your own eyes,¡± Cash said. ¡°Certainly trust what our [player development] group says, but it is exciting when they come up here -- and it's that much more exciting when they're having success.¡±

5. They added more than just depth to their bullpen
The Rays spoke this offseason about adding depth to their relief corps, specifically in the form of optionable arms who can pitch multiple innings. Some of the pitchers who fit that description are making strong impressions in camp.

Right-hander Eric Orze, acquired from the Mets for Jose Siri, has impressed with his fastball and splitter while racking up seven strikeouts in four innings. Righty Mason Englert, who has worked three hitless innings after coming over in a Feb. 12 deal with the Tigers, has also stood out with his fastball-changeup combination.

Between those two, fellow trade pickup Alex Faedo and holdovers Hunter Bigge, Cole Sulser and Jacob Waguespack, the Rays have assembled an interesting collection of arms to choose from, alongside projected Opening Day bullpen members Pete Fairbanks, Edwin Uceta, Manuel Rodr¨ªguez, Kevin Kelly, Mason Montgomery and Garrett Cleavinger.