This was one of the most exciting NFL offseasons in recent memory Maxx Crosby Jersey , thanks in large part to what shaped up to be one excellent free agent class - loaded with mega talent all over. 2018 free agency was highlighted by proven No. 1 starting quarterbacks, including Kirk Cousins (who signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings), Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater, among others. We also saw the running back and cornerback markets heat up, though some of these players absolutely got overpaid.With the season less than two months away from kicking off, we can now only project just how these free agent signings will pan out. The majority of superstars who sign big contracts with new teams wind up declining in production, and they don't tend to fulfill the entire contract. That's just how business is in today's NFL. Teams take chances by throwing out money on players, then they'll release him if he doesn't produce enough.Now, some teams played free agency smart and found just a few pieces to fix their weaknesses. For example Hakeem Butler Jersey , the Chicago Bears made the smart choice to throw money at wide receiver Allen Robinson, who now gives QB Mitch Trubisky a star to work with. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wisely let some of his players chase big money elsewhere, knowing he can replace them with a bunch of practice squad players.But some teams spent way too much money on a player that won't bring much of anything to the table. Here are 10 free agent signings that will flop, and the 10 players who should replace them.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays continue to win games they perhaps shouldn’t, and they’ll have an opportunity for more of that Saturday against Houston’s Justin Verlander.

The Rays (40-41) hit the midway point of their 2018 season with a 3-2 win over Houston, giving them six wins in their last seven games. Their pitching has led the way — three times in the last four games, they have held their opponent to three hits or less, this after doing so only three times in the first 77 games of this season.

“If we are going to win a lot of game and we are going to string a bunch together, we have to have good pitching Chris Lindstrom Jersey ,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “The timely hitting is great, but we have to stay in the ballgame. For us to have allowed three runs in 18 innings against arguably the best team in baseball, we should find a way to win one.”

Houston will send Verlander, who has been dominant (9-3, 1.82 ERA) but has gotten surprisingly little run support from a potent Astros lineup.

Houston is just 11-7 in games he starts, and the Astros have scored a total of two runs in five of those losses.

So Saturday could look like Thursday’s 1-0 Astros win, or could look like Friday’s 3-2 loss, which saw two errors factor in Tampa Bay’s scoring.

Verlander faced the Rays just 11 days ago in Houston, again pitching well, allowing one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/kaleb-mcgary-jersey , but ultimately taking a no-decision in a 2-1 loss. He has 136 strikeouts in 113 innings this season and a ridiculous 0.81 WHIP.

Against the Rays for his career, Verlander is 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA, but since 2010, he’s just 4-3, despite a 1.72 ERA in his last five starts against the Rays. At Tropicana Field, he’s 5-2 all-time with a 2.53 ERA, including a 1.20 ERA in his last two outings.

The Rays counter with reliever-turned-starter Ryne Stanek, who has thrived in the “opener” role that Tampa Bay has essentially created in the past six weeks. He’s starting for the second time in three days against the Astros having thrown 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball Thursday night. For the month of June, he’s pitched in 11 games and 14 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

He’s held opponents to just four hits Kendall Sheffield Jersey , lowering his season ERA to 1.85, just barely above Verlander’s.

The Astros know they have to be careful with the white ceiling of Tropicana Field — the Rays’ three-run fourth inning got a spark Friday when center fielder Jake Marisnick couldn’t hold onto a pop at the warning track, allowing a run to score.

“When you play here, you try to not take your eye off the ball,” Marisnick said. “With the ceiling, I kind of glanced quickly at the ball, then looked back up and lost track. I wasn’t able to come up with it. That’s a play I need to make 10 out of 10 times.”