Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

The Rays make their way back to their spring home in Port Charlotte, where they’ll take on the Red Sox today at 1:05 PM. Tampa Bay is throwing in a lot of regulars into the lineup, including Luke Scott, who will make his first consecutive start of the spring. Jose Molina will get his third start in four days, as the Rays attempt to see how much they can get out of the 36 year old catcher.

BJ Upton took some practice swings yesterday, but don’t expect to see him on the field until Tuesday at the earliest. Upton still has some lower back tightness following his collision with Desmond Jennings last Wednesday. “It’s (speaking of his back) tolerable,” Upton said. “Probably not up to game speed right now.”

LHP Matt Moore takes the hill today for his first start of the spring, and for the second time overall. He’ll be following James Shields dazzling six inning, four hit and seven strikeout performance. Moore had flashes of greatness earlier in the week with his 1-2/3 inning relief appearance of David Price, where he struck out three, and gave up no hits or walks. Let’s see if Moore and Co. can mince up the Red Sox to make it two in a row. Go Rays!

Rays lineup 3/18/12:
Jennings LF
Scott DH
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Keppinger SS
Joyce RF
Molina C
Fuld CF
Moore P

Leave a comment