Update: It was announced earlier that Brandon Guyer would be recalled from Triple-A Durham. However, the role he’d be filling on the roster was not noted. In his post-game conference, Joe Maddon made mention that Guyer is being called up to add more right-handed depth to the roster. It doesn’t look as though he’d be filling in for a somewhat ailing Desmond Jennings.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to take on the Yankees tonight at the new Yankee Stadium, at 7:10. However, there is a very good chance that the game could be, in the least, delayed by a couple of hours because of rain. Hey, that’s a first, innit?
Assuming that the game does take place, Rays ace James Shields (5-0, 3.05 ERA) will attempt to improve his record against the Yankees to 5-0, following his opening day no decision. Since his opening day kerfuffle, Shields has been very good, giving up only eight runs in 36.1 innings of work, while striking out 36 and walking nine. He’s also been able to keep his WHIP at a low 1.23. With a win tonight (cough…assuming there’s a game) Shields could tie the franchise record by winning his first six decisions.
On the flip side of things, Ivan Nova (3-1, 5.58 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Yankees. The Rays have not had much success against Nova in the past, hitting .170 against the right handed pitcher. They’ve hit only two home runs against Nova, while striking out 10 times, and walking four. There is a caveat: Nova hasn’t had the hottest of seasons thus far, posting a 5.58 ERA/19 ER/6 HR/9 BB/28 SO line in 30.2 innings of work. Nova has also given up 11 runs in 11 innings of work spanning his last two starts. His opponents are hitting .341 against him, and the Rays have the tools to touch him up for runs.
Nova hasn’t exactly pounded the strike zone against the Rays, by any stretch of the imagination, with only 41% of his pitches finding the zone over the course of his career, against Tampa Bay. Also Nova has only lasted six innings, on average, per start in 2012. All this is to say, if Tampa Bay can work the count and force Nova to pitch in the zone, they could force mistakes and find themselves on base.
As was expected, Desmond Jennings will not appear in the lineup following a left knee strain Sunday. Matt Joyce, who’s a bit under the weather himself, will take his spot in LF, with Ben Zobrist in RF. Jennings is still listed on the active roster, yet remains day to day.
Finally, Marc Topkin has tweeted that something is afoot as, “Guyer is on way to New York to join(the) Rays but not to replace Jennings, so something else is brewing. May know more after game.” The starting lineup is below. As always, Let’s Go Rays!
Tampa Bay Rays (19-11) Starting Lineup:
Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Joyce LF
Scott DH
Keppinger 3B
Rhymes 2B
Rodriguez SS
Molina C
Shields RHP