Rays 3/14/19 pre-game notes

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After an off-day on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays will resume their Grapefruit League schedule on Thursday, with just two weeks left before Opening Day. The Rays will play the first of three consecutive home games, facing the Phillies who they beat on Monday, 8-2. Tampa Bay won three straight going into the off-day.

Not everyone had Wednesday off. Tyler Glasnow and Jose Alvarado threw in a minor league game against the Twins affiliate in Ft. Myers. Glasnow tossed 3-1/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing three hits and two walks while fanning six. The right-hander threw 36 of 61 pitches for strikes (59% strike rate). Yet, Alvarado did not fare nearly as well, throwing just 2/3 of an inning and giving up a run on two hits. He struck out two. Alvarado threw 13 of 22 pitches for strikes (59% strike rate).

The Rays enter play with 49 players on the Spring roster — a number that will be further reduced this week. Manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) he will start locking in on a core group of players, beginning today.

The New What Next

Reliever Emilio Pagan, who has had an impressive Spring, will open the game for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Drew Anderson. Also scheduled to throw for Tampa Bay are Diego Castillo, Colin Poche, Cole Sulser, Mike Franco, and Ricardo Pinto. The Phillies will be playing with a split-squad roster, and because of it, they are not likely to bring many name players…such as Bryce Harper.

Rays 3/14/19 Starting Lineup

1. Zunino C
2. Meadows LF
3. Pham DH
4. Choi 1B
5. Garcia RF
6. Diaz 3B
7. Adames SS
8. Robertson 2B
9. J. Lowe CF
10. Pagan RHP

Noteworthiness

— Matt Duffy (hamstring) told Topkin he’s feeling good, but there is still no set day for his return to the field

The plan is to play when I play.

— Matt Duffy

He will run at 70% today and should start taking ground balls on Sunday. Duffy and the team remain optimistic that he will be ready for Opening Day.

— On Wednesday, Fox Sports Sun officially announced that all 162 Rays games will be televised this season.

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Dewayne Staats will be back for his 22nd season as the play-by-play voice of the Rays alongside Brian Anderson. Kevin Burkhardt will fill in for Staats for “a package of games,” which will be roughly 20.

Additionally, Fox Sports Sun will produce three supplemental shows: Rays Inside Pitch, Rays Prospect Spotlight and Rays All-Access.

According to the network’s press release, the Inside Pitch show will include player profiles with unique insights and interviews, plus episodes offering inside access to other aspects of the team and its operations. The Prospect Spotlight show will tell the stories of the players in the pipeline and their minor league affiliate teams. And All-Access will take on various topics with the main focus of showcasing content through behind-the-scenes experiences as players, coaches and staff participate in activities ranging from special events to the routine of game days.