Most of the focus on the Rays pitching staff has centered around Charlie Morton. Morton deserves it. He has been incredible and with a 2.85 ERA, 2.70 FIP, and 3.27 xFIP he has put himself squarely in the discussion for the American League Cy Young Award.
Morton’s 5.3 fWAR ranks third in the majors behind only Max Scherzer and Lance Lynn, and his 5.1 RA9 WAR ranks tied for seventh in the majors. Anyway you slice it Morton has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
However there is somebody else that has been just as important to the Rays staying in the playoff hunt.