Rays send struggling Blake Snell to Class AAA Durham

The Tampa Bay Rays have lost patience with Blake Snell and optioned the left-hander to Class AAA Durham for the second time this season, the club announced on Friday.

Rays manager Kevin Cash hasn't announced who will take his spot in the rotation, but with an off day on Monday, he has several options. Jake Odorizzi is due back from the disabled list next week. The Rays could keep rookie Austin Pruitt in the rotation or they could call up minor league prospect Brent Honeywell.

Snell, Paste BN's Minor League player of the year in 2015, has yet to win a game in 14 starts this season. He's struggled with consistency and command all season. He started Thursday's game against the Houston Astros and was pulled after allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts over four-plus innings.

The former first round pick is 0-6 with a 4.98 ERA. He has walked 41 batters over 72 1/3 innings for a team-high 5.1 walks per nine innings.

The Rays, who have won three straight games, are in the thick of the playoff race. At 57-53, they are 3 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East and 1/2 back in the wild card.   

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