Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, take two. Saturday’s Grapefruit League action against Baltimore was cut short ― after just two outs and six pitches ― due to heavy rain. The Rays will attempt to play one more game this afternoon before they head to Cuba.
Archer opened yesterday’s contest with a pop-fly to center then got a three-pitch strikeout. But soon after the goddamn deluge began, and the Rays’ ace went to the batting cages and threw about 90 pitches with Curt Casali, while Steven Souza Jr. stood in as a batter.
The effort and the intensity was the exact same, Archer said. Mentally, I put myself in certain situations I’m going to have during the season. … Anytime you can have a little adversity and you do well, it’s a positive sign.
Special thanks to @Curtcasali, @SouzaJr, @MattyMoe55 for being a part of my simulated game after the rainout today. I appreciate the love!
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) March 20, 2016
Archer has two more Spring starts before Opening Day. Rays manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) he’ll be capped at seven innings or 105 pitches on Thursday, and tapering off in his final Spring outing.
The other pitchers scheduled to throw yesterday — Andrew Bellatti, Ryan Webb and Alex Colome — all threw in intrasquad games to stay on schedule. Colombo became the first reliever to throw back-to-back outings this Spring.
The New What Next
Jhan Marinez will start for Tampa Bay on Sunday, opposite of Chris Tillman. Also expected to throw are Kyle McPherson, Tyler Sturdevant, Ryan Garton, Parker Markel, and Mark Sappington.
Rays 3/20/16 Starting Lineup
Forsythe 2B
Morrison DH
Longo 3B
Dickerson LF
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Beckham SS
Loney 1B
Rivera C
Marinez RHP
Roster cuts
The Rays continued to whittle down their roster on Saturday with seven players departing, leaving 43 players on the roster with exactly two-weeks left until Opening Day.
Tampa Bay optioned INF Nick Franklin and C Luke Maile and reassigned five players — RHPs Neil Wagner, Parker Markel and Ryan Garton, LHP Jonny Venters and 1B Kyle Roller — to minor-league camp.
Franklin, who I opined likely wouldn’t crack the Opening Day roster, will still travel with the team to Cuba. The infielder hit .375 in 24 Spring at-bats.
Noteworthiness
— The first set of busses left Tropicana Field Sunday morning, en route to Tampa International Airport for the 55 minute flight to Havana. The rest of the team will depart after this afternoon’s contest against the Orioles.
— You certainly can’t blame Chris Archer for trying…
Well, @FLOTUS, your husband didn’t respond about hanging out in Cuba. Maybe you and I could get a café or something? Lmk if you’re free.😀
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) March 19, 2016
— Drew Smyly will throw in an intrasquad game Sunday at the Charlotte Sports Complex.