Update: It looks as though Rays left-fielder, Desmond Jennings, is headed to the DL at some point tonight or tomorrow. Out-fielder, Stephen Vogt, looks to be his likely replacement. Vogt hit did not reach base in his seven game, 13 plate appearance stint earlier in the season. Audible groans could be heard.
Any speculation that the newly acquired Hedeki Matsui would be filling in for the ailing left-fielder is unfounded. Odds are good that Matsui will be added to the Triple-A Durham roster by the middle of this week, but not to the Rays roster at this time.
A battered, and somewhat beleaguered, Rays (21-14) makes its way into the Rogers Center tonight for a bang-bang, two game set against the Blue Jays (19-16). Coming off of a big, yet shaky, victory in Baltimore yesterday, Tampa Bay will attempt to take the next two game, and return home with a 4-4 following their current road trip. Tampa Bay can make up some ground against Baltimore with a couple of wins, and a few Orioles losses against New York. Conversely, the Blue Jays are looking to make up some ground against the Rays with a couple of victories.
Taking the hill for the Rays will be Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.48 ERA) who’s coming off a big start in New York. Jeff Niemann received a no-decision while posting a 7.0 IP/6 H/1 ER/1 BB/5 K line. Niemann had a decent start against the Jays back in April, giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out five. He only lasted five innings in that start though, being pulled out of the game in the sixth because he got into some trouble, compounded with a somewhat high pitch count. Niemann inevitably got the loss. You’ve got to believe that Niemann can be successful if he uses the momentum from his last start to his advantage, along with David Price’s plan of attack against the Jays in his last start.
Brandon Morrow (4-1, 2.27 ERA) gets the start for the Jays tonight. , Morrow has been nearly flawless following his last start against the Rays, where he posted a 6 IP/8 H/6 ER/3 BB/2 K line. Morrow’s given up a combined two earned runs, while striking out 30, in 27.2 innings of work since that woeful start. Over the course of the last three years, the Rays have averaged a very cold .153 BAA against Morrow in 13 meetings. In turn, Morrow has a posted a 2.26 ERA against Tampa Bay. All of this is to say that Morrow is a very good, very dangerous, pitcher who the Rays have dutifully handled only four times, in 13 previous outings against the righty.
There is still no word whether Desmond Jennings will be placed on the DL or not. Nevertheless, don’t expect to see him in the lineup tonight. Defensive powerhouse, Sean Rodriguez, will get the start at third. In his words, he is “More sore,” today than he was the last two days. Also in the lineup for the third day in a row is Chris Gimenez. Something tells me that Jose Molina may still be feeling the effects of his start against the Yankees last week where he had the proverbial crap beat out of him. Starting lineup is below. As always, Let’s Go Rays!
Tampa Bay Rays (21-14)
Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Pena 1B
Scott DH
Rodriguez 3B
Rhymes 2B
Gimenez C
Johnson SS
Niemann RHP