3/2812 Update: The Rays announced who would fill the open spots on both the starting rotation (Jeff Niemann) and the bullpen (Burt Badenhop) yesterday. Today they set the rotation. As we here at Raysbaseball.co thought, Moore and Niemann would fill the fourth and fifth spots behinds Shields, Price, and Hell-boy. The 2012 starting rotation looks like this: Shields, Price, Hellickson, Moore, and Niemann.
10:38 Update (starting rotation announced): It’s official, Jeff Niemann is in the starting rotation, finding Wade Davis in the pen. The pitching order hasn’t been announced yet, though I suspect that Matt Moore and Jeff Niemann will be in the fourth and fifth spots. “I’m good. It will be a good experience… It’s not a demotion. We’re still all going for the same thing, to get to World Series as a team. Individualizing yourself and taking it personally would be stupid, and selfish,” said Davis of the move to the bullpen.
We’re still waiting on the announcement of the Rays starting rotation. We also await the decision of who will fill the final bullpen spot. As of now, it’s between Brandon Gomes and Burt Badenhop. Tampa Bay, reportedly, would like to “take one more look at Gomes, who has yet to regain full velocity in recovering from offseason back surgery,” says Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
On the injury front, BJ Upton is feeling “a lot” better. He took batting practice and did some running, though he isn’t ready to play any games. Reid Brignac went 2 for 5, including a homer in yesterday’s minor league game. His plantar fascia problem has been upgraded to “uncomfortable, but tolerable.” Sam Fuld received an MRI on his sore right wrist yesterday, and will see a doctor today. Surgery is likely. Their availability for the April 6th opener is uncertain at this point.
James Shields was initially scheduled to face the Red Sox today, but opted to pitch in a minor league game instead. Reliever (not closer…duh) Kyle Farnsworth was slated to take Shields place on the bump, but also opted out, noting that he didn’t want to show the Sox all of his pitches. He’ll pitch from the pen instead. Fernando Rodney will take the hill in lieu. Jennings is in the lineup at DH, and hopes to see some action on the field tomorrow. Here’s to hope that the Rays can turn yesterday’s monster game into a rallying cry. Tampa Bay’s starting lineup is below.
Rays 3/27/12 Starting Lineup:
Jennings DH
Joyce RF
Zobrist 2B (c’mon Joe, let him lead off)
Pena 1B
Keppinger 3B
Salazar CF
Rodriguez SS
Lobaton C
Rhymes LF
Rodney P