Jose Reyes is thrown out asfirst baseman Logan Forsythe makes the catch during first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jose Reyes is thrown out asfirst baseman Logan Forsythe makes the catch during first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Rays 4/16/15 Starting Lineup 

DeJesus DH
Souza Jr. RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Dykstra 1B
Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

  • You can read about tonight’s match-up in our series preview.
  • Catcher J.P. Arencibia has agreed to a minor-league deal with the The Tampa Bay Rays. He’ll head to Triple-A Durham and used as depth at catcher and first base. One can’t help but wonder if he may fill one of the holes in the roster left in the wake of John Jaso and James Loney’s placement on the DL. Then again, I can’t see Arencibia in the lineup on a daily basis, or more often than David DeJesus – though he can hit homers, his OBP leaves a lot to be desired.

    Arencibia, 29, was released by the Orioles last week despite his home run power — a rarity among catchers. Yet he, like Jaso, is not really good enough to carry much all-around value. It was noted elsewhere, his defense is shaky, he’s a career .207 hitter, and his ghastly 462/84 K/BB ratio has led to a .255 on-base percentage.

  • Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote a scathing piece on Erasmo Ramirez, saying, “The primary reason the Rays are above .500 has been the tremendous work of their injury-depleted pitching staff. Now if they could just erase Erasmo.” Topkin continued, “The Rays knew it was a gamble starting erratic Erasmo Ramirez on Wednesday, and it failed miserably in a 12-7 loss to the Blue Jays that snapped their four-game win streak. Ramirez was really no better than in his first outing for the Rays on Friday, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks over 31/3 innings, though his ERA actually went down, from 31.50 to a not-quite-tidy 23.63.” Not being one to advocate eating ones contract, I’d have to say I’d wholeheartedly agree with dumping Ramirez — quality change-up or not.
  • On that note:

  • Manager Kevin Cash Cash said James Loney could return Wednesday when he is eligible to come off the DL. On the other hand, John Jaso still has swelling in his wrist and cannot resume swinging until that goes away. Cash told Roger Mooney (Tampa Tribune) that Jaso is not close to returning.
  • Nick Franklin isn’t progressing as quickly as previously thought. The Rays hoped he would begin his rehab assignment this week, though that is not the case.

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