X-Rays Spex

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TNWN: Rays vs Red Sox — part three

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  • Tommy Pham was back in action on Thursday after being shelved for four games because of a minor calf strain. He should be back in the field against the Red Sox. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Following a series win in Detroit, the Tampa Bay Rays are headed back east, to Boston, where they will start a four-game, three-day series against the division-rival Red Sox, on Friday. The Rays start the series 1-1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees, and 6-1/2 games ahead of Boston, who is in third place. Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The series is important for both due to their respective rank in the AL Wildcard race (No. 1 and No. 2).

(Credit: FanGraphs)

Yes, I know it is still early in the season, however, if the playoffs were to start today, Tampa Bay would have a stranglehold on hosting the AL Wildcard game. With that in mind, things could change quickly with a poor series at Fenway Park. Boston enters the four-game set tied with the Texas Rangers for the final postseason spot in the American League. A series loss would allow Boston to make up ground in the division standings, as well as the Wildcard standings. The Rays are seeking a series split in the very least.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

As with the set against the Twins two series ago, the Rays pitching staff will need to step up to keep the wolves at bay — especially in the second and fourth games, when they are slated to face former Ray David Price and Eduardo Rodriguez. If Tampa Bay can keep those contests close, they should have a chance against Boston’s relief corps, which has performed to a combined 3.95 ERA and 3.66 FIP over the last 30 days, and a 5.40 ERA and a 4.09 FIP over the last 14.

The Rays are 2-3 against the Red Sox this season, and 2-0 at Fenway.

Pitching Probables

Over the next four days, Kevin Cash will lean on bulk guys Yonny Chirinos (6-2, 3.25 ERA) and Ryan Yarbrough (4-2, 6.23 ERA) — either as traditional starters or following openers — a pitcher to be named before the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, and Blake Snell (3-5, 3.68 ERA). Alex Cora will respond with Rick Porcello (4-5, 4.76 ERA), David Price (3-2, 2.83 ERA), a pitcher to be named before the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, and Eduardo Rodriguez (6-3, 4.88 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Yonny Chirinos gave up four runs on nine hits and one walk over 5-1/3 innings on Saturday. He struck out seven. Chirinos allowed two runs on back-to-back doubles by Jorge Polanco and Marwin Gonzalez in the third inning, then was nicked for single tallies in the fourth and fifth frames, the latter on a Marwin Gonzalez solo homer. Still, he has a solid 3.25 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP to go along with a 4.45 K/BB. Chirinos is 0-1 with a 4.24 ERA in two career starts (four games total) against the Red Sox.

Rick Porcello allowed five runs on nine hits over 4-2/3 innings against the Yankees on Saturday. He struck out five and walked one. Porcello was largely BABIP’d, although he did give up a costly two-run homer to Gary Sanchez’s in the fifth inning which proved to be the difference in the game. The outing broke a string of eight consecutive starts of at least five innings for the right-hander. Porcello carries a 4.76 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and a 2.43 K/BB across 68 innings this season. He is 14-10 with a 3.42 ERA in 29 starts against the Rays, and 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA against Tampa Bay this season. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (3-10, 2B, 3B, RBI), Travis d’Arnaud (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Avisail Garcia (9-24, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, BB), Brandon Lowe (3-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB), Daniel Robertson (2-7), Mike Zunino (3-10, HR, 2 RBI)

Ryan Yarbrough fell on the sword for the Rays bullpen on Sunday, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out four across seven innings against the Twins. Yarbrough was hit hard throughout the middle of his start, with all of his earned runs coming in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. He didn’t allow a home run, yet the left-hander gave up a bases-clearing double to C.J. Cron which accounted for three of his seven charged runs. Yarbrough is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in six games (one start) against the Red Sox, and 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 8.0 total innings of work at Fenway Park.

TBA vs Rays

TBA vs Red Sox

David Price held the Yankees to two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six across 6-1/3 innings of work on Sunday. The former Ray blanked New York over the first three frames before a fourth-inning wobble, when the southpaw gave up a home run to Luke Voit, followed by three consecutive singles to load the bases. Gio Urshela followed with a sacrifice fly to score Gary Sanchez, allowing New York to cut the deficit to one run. Price was able to limit the damage when Aaron Hicks got caught stealing home for the final out of the frame. In spite of the messy inning, he looked sharp overall. He carries a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 4.92 K/BB into his matchup against Tampa Bay. Price is 5-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 15 starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Christian Arroyo (1-4), Yandy Diaz (3-7, HR, RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (6-21, 2 2B, HR, RBI, BB)

Blake Snell allowed a run in the first inning of his last start, and it appeared that he had settled in after escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the second. However, while the left-hander struck out eight and continued to pound the strike zone (65 of his 95 pitches landed for strikes, 68% strike rate), the Tigers started a rally in the fifth inning with three consecutive one-out hits which were followed by a walk. Miguel Cabrera capped the inning with a grand slam, knocking Snell out of the game. Snell entered Tuesday’s start having allowed only six runs over his last 30-1/3 innings, a span of five starts. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox, but 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts at Fenway.

Eduardo Rodriguez allowed two runs on six hits over 5-2/3 innings on Wednesday while striking out seven. The southpaw fell just short of his sixth quality start of the season, getting the hook after 89 pitches (60 strikes, 67% strike rate). Rodriguez continues to be a strikeout machine despite his inability to pitch deep into games — he’s fanned at least five batters in 10 consecutive turns. Even so, Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 6.42 ERA in seven starts against the Rays, and 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this season. He’ll take a 4.88 ERA and 3.65 K/BB over 66-1/3 innings into the series finale on Sunday. Key Matchups: Yandy Diaz (2-2, BB), Brandon Lowe (1-3, HR, RBI), Austin Meadows (1-3), Tommy Pham (3-8, 2B, RBI), Daniel Robertson (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI)

Noteworthiness

— Prior to the start of the series, the Rays recalled RHP Casey Sadler from Triple-A Durham and optioned RHP Hunter Wood to make room on the 25-man roster.

— Tampa Bay will recall a 26th man for Saturday’s doubleheader.

— It bears mentioning:

LBWMF: Rays snap four-game skid, blank Tigers 4-0

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Charlie Morton was dominant across seven innings on Wednesday.

Charlie Morton came up big Wednesday night, throwing seven shutout innings on just 83 pitches (55 strikes, 66% strike rate) against Detroit. The Tampa Bay Rays were able to snap their four-game losing skid with a 4-0 shutout against the Tigers.

Morton scattered five hits while striking out eight and walking none, and only allowed one runner to get as far as third base, which came in the fourth inning.

Brandon Dixon singled to right with two outs, then went to third on a base hit to right-center by Harold Castro. Castro swiped second but Morton struck out John Hicks looking to end the threat. Interestingly enough, 16 of the 21 runs allowed by Morton came with two outs, so there was a strong possibility that this particular threat could have ended miserably, yet Morton — staked to just a one-run lead — came up big when he was needed to.

The right-hander now has delivered three consecutive quality starts, seven on the season, while working to a 2.30 ERA and a 3.37 K/BB across 74-1/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay got on the board in the third inning when Austin Meadows tripled to center off Spencer Turnbull and scored on an errant relay throw by second baseman Castro — otherwise known as a Little League home run (the second for the Rays in as many weeks).

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1136419637481025536

They threatened to put a crooked number on the board in the inning after Yandy Diaz hit a hard single off the wall in right, and Brandon Lowe was hit by a pitch. However, Avisail Garcia struck out and Willy Adames grounded out to end to the threat. The Rays went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position overall.

Even so, the Rays were able to add to their lead in the fifth inning after Diaz worked a one-out walk and Garcia drove him home on a two-out RBI double to left field. Ji-Man Choi followed by lining an RBI single to center — the only wRISP hit — scoring Garcia and putting the Rays up by three.

Tampa Bay capped the scoring in the eighth inning on Detroit’s fourth error of the game. With runners on first and second, Castro threw wide of first as he tried to complete a routine double play on a ball hit by Diaz. That allowed pinch-runner Guillermo Heredia to score an insurance run.

Oliver Drake took over for Morton in the eighth inning and completed the shutout by throwing two scoreless frames while striking out one.

The New What Next

The Rays look to win two of three with opener Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.78 ERA) on the mound. He will be followed by left-hander Jalen Beeks (4-0, 3.02 ERA). They will be opposed by Daniel Norris (2-4, 4.58 ERA) for Detroit.

Ryne Stanek hasn’t pitched since he allowed one run on four hits over two innings in Friday’s loss to the Twins. Still, the 27-year-old has a 1.73 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 5.8 K/BB across 26 innings in the opening role this season.

Jalen Beeks allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three across 3-1/3 innings on Friday. Beeks cruised through his first two innings of work before getting roughed up in the fifth, yielding two runs on a pair of hits. Still, the 25-year-old southpaw has been solid out of the bulk inning role this season, posting a 3.02 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 44-2/3 innings of work.

Daniel Norris allowed six runs (five earned) across 5-1/3 innings on Saturday. He fanned four and walked two. Norris kept Atlanta off the board for the first three innings before he allowed two runs in each of the next two frames. He carries a 4.58 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 2.8 K/BB into the series finale on Thursday. He relies primarily on a 91 mph four-seam fastball, and an 84 mph slider with short glove-side cut, while also mixing in a whiffy 85 mph changeup that dives down out of the zone, a whiffy 91 mph sinker, and a 77 mph curveball with exceptional bite. Norris is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Avisail Garcia (2-8, 2 BB), Guillermo Heredia (5-8, HR, 3 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, RBI), Daniel Robertson (2-5, 2 RBI, BB)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noeworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Tigers — a series preview

Rays 6/6/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Diaz 1B
  2. Pham DH
  3. Meadows LF
  4. Garcia RF
  5. Adames SS
  6. Arroyo 3B
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. d’Arnaud C
  9. Robertson 2B
  10. Stanek Opener

Noteworthiness

— Joey Wendle (fractured wrist) will likely play his first rehab game for the Charlotte Stone Crabs today. Wendle should be able to rejoin the Rays during the upcoming homestand.

— Michael Perez was the DH for the Stone Crabs in his first rehab game yesterday.

TNWN: Rays look to split the series with the Twins

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  • Travis d’Arnaud drove in one of Tampa Bay’s two runs yesterday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays look to avoid losing their first out of division series this afternoon, after dropping their second consecutive game to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, 6-2. They need a win against Minnesota, who has the best record in baseball, to split the four-game series. Tampa Bay has lost just three series this season — two to New York and one to Boston.

The Rays had a hard time capitalizing on early scoring opportunities, ultimately allowing the Twins to slowly extend their lead inning by inning.

I thought we did a pretty good job of getting on base. We just didn’t make the most of the situation. That’s going to happen some nights.

— Kevin Cash

Tampa Bay had opportunities against Twins starter Kyle Gibson. Yet with the exception of Travis d’Arnaud’s two-out, run-scoring single in the second inning, the Rays were held hitless in five other at-bats with runners in scoring position against Gibson in his five innings of work. All told, they left seven on base against the right-hander and finished the game 1-for-8 wRISP (.125 wRISP BA) overall.

The Rays had their best chance to plate runs in the third inning. After Brandon Lowe hit a double, Gibson hit Ji-Man Choi on the left foot and walked Nate Lowe to load the bases. Yet Christian Arroyo grounded out to second to end the inning.

The malaise is due in part to the fact that team has been playing without three of its top hitters: Outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia were recovering calf and hamstring injuries (respectively) and infielder Yandy Diaz, who was in Port Charlotte working his way back from the injured list with a bruised left hand.

It’s a little different. We rely on our depth, and when you speak about depth, you’re hopefully talking about one guy coming in, but we’re missing some major presence in our lineup right now.

— Kevin Cash

Reinforcements are on the way through, as Diaz has been activated from the IL after playing in multiple extended Spring Training games in Port Charlotte yesterday. To make room for Diaz on the 25-man roster, Nate Lowe has been optioned back to Triple-A Durham.

Neither Pham nor Garcia will be back in the lineup today going into Monday’s off-day, although they could be available off the bench.

The New What Next

Ryan Yarbrough (4-1, 5.53 ERA) will get the start in the series finale, pitching opposite of former Ray Jake Odorizzi (7-2, 2.16 ERA).

Ryan Yarbrough followed Stanek and fired 3-2/3 scoreless innings, issuing one walk and recording a strikeout. The lefty got out of a second and third none-out jam in the fourth inning by coaxing a pop-up out of Grichuk, a ground ball out to third from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and whiffing Brandon Drury to put the kibosh on Toronto’s best early scoring opportunity.

Yarbrough had allowed a combined 12 earned runs across his previous three appearances, yet he needed just 53 pitches to finish with his second scoreless effort of the season.

Jake Odorizzi will return to his old stomping grounds after he fired 5-1/3 scoreless innings Sunday, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out nine. The right-hander was dominant once again although a high pitch count prevented him from going very deep. Odorizzi allowed a walk and a single in a 25-pitch third inning but escaped undamaged. He has lowered his ERA to a terrific 2.16 in 58-1/3 frames this season.

Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) wrote about Odorizzi’s recent spate of success:

Odorizzi has not allowed a run in five of his last six starts (3 ER/35.2 IP). One reason is his fastball velocity (92.7 on average) is the highest it’s ever been. Another is that the Twins haven’t allowed him to face a team the third time through the order often (just 42 plate appearance — .788 OPS against).

— Neil Solondz

Odorizzi relies primarily on a whiffy 93 mph four-seam fastball which he runs at the top of the zone and a 93 mph sinker with little sinking action and run, while also mixing in a firm 86 mph split-change with arm-side fade, a 76 mph curveball with sharp downward bite, an 85 mph slider with glove-side cut, and an 87 mph worm-killer cutter. Odorizzi is 0-0 with a 10.38 ERA against his former team but is 21-19 with a 3.38 ERA in 64 starts at Tropicana Field. Key Matchups: Guillermo Heredia (2-7), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Twins — a series preview

Rays 6/2/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows RF
  2. Diaz DH
  3. B. Lowe LF
  4. Adames SS
  5. Choi 1B
  6. Arroyo 3B
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. Zunino C
  9. Robertson 2B
  10. Yarbrough LHP

Noteworthiness

— Michael Perez, who has been out more than three weeks with an oblique injury, is to start a rehab assignment.

TNWN: Rays look to bounce back from 5-3 loss

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Hot Florida days and nights make me thankful for the “weather” inside the Trop. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

After dropping the second game of the series last night, 5-3, the Tampa Bay Rays look to get back on the winning side of the ledger Saturday afternoon.


Source: FanGraphs

The Rays not only saw their six-game win streak come to an end, the stretch of nine consecutive games of allowing three runs or fewer was also halted. They finished out the month with a 16-11 record — their second consecutive plus .500 month of the season. Tampa Bay starts the day 15 games over .500 overall.

Neither Tommy Pham nor Avisail Garcia was in the lineup last night. Pham exited the game Thursday because of a right lower leg cramp while Garcia did not play due to left hamstring tightness. It appears they are available options off the bench.

Yonny Chirinos will have the unenviable task of keeping Minnesota’s lineup in check. Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), the Twins scored four of their five runs yesterday with two out. They have scored three runs or more in 24 consecutive games, tying the franchise record set in 2006.

The New What Next

Yonny Chirinos (6-1, 2.91 ERA) will make his sixth start of the season, pitching opposite of Kyle Gibson (5-2, 4.08 ERA).

Yonny Chirinos tossed five hitless innings, and had a nice Monday afternoon, albeit one where he got a little help from his friends. In the second inning, Avisail Garcia caught a sinking line drive off the bat of Luke Maile. Then in the fourth, Kevin Kiermaier made an outstanding leaping catch in left-center, robbing Rowdy Tellez of a leadoff extra-base hit.

Chirinos, who was on a pitch limit, walked two batters and struck out seven on just 69 pitches (45 strikes, 65% strike rate). Both free passes came with two outs in the second inning, although he recovered to fan Jonathan Davis, to end the threat.

At the end of the day, however, Chirinos was on a 70-75 pitch count — so it was a given that he wasn’t going to pitch all nine innings — but even so, it was a little upsetting to see the hurler get such a quick hook…especially when he was cruising.

Kyle Gibson allowed one run on five hits across seven innings on Saturday. He struck out nine and walked one. Gibson’s only blemish on the day came in the fourth inning when Jose Abreu connected for a solo homer. Gibson has now won five of his last seven starts and has walked just six batters over 42-2/3 innings over that span. Still, he has a 4.08 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 4.29 K/BB on the season. Gibson relies primarily on 94 mph two-seam sinker and a whiffy 85 mph slider with two-plane movement, while also mixing in a 94 mph four-seam fastball with little movement, a firm 86 mph changeup, and an 81 mph 12-6 curveball. He is 2-5 with a 5.80 ERA in eight career starts against the Rays, and 1-3 with a 7.52 ERA in four starts at the Trop. Key Matchups: Yandy Diaz (1-3), Guillermo Heredia (2-3), Kevin Kiermaier (5-11, 3 2B, RBI, BB)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Twins — a series preview

Rays 6/1/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows RF
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Kiermaier CF
  4. Choi DH
  5. N. Lowe 1B
  6. Arroyo 3B
  7. Adames SS
  8. d’Arnaud C
  9. Heredia RF
  10. Chirinos RHP

Noteworthiness

— Adam Kolarek (2-1, 4.58 ERA/5.28 FIP), who’s given up runs in five of his last seven appearances, has been optioned back to Triple-A Durham. To fill his spot on the 25-man roster, the Rays have recalled INF Nate Lowe.

— Yandy Diaz, who has been sidelined since being hit by a pitch in New York almost two weeks ago, will play in a rehab game in extended Spring Training this afternoon in Port Charlotte.

— Michael Perez (oblique) could also start a rehab assignment this weekend.

LBWMF: Rays wallop high scoring Twins, 14-3

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  • Birthday boy Christian Arroyo went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and a pair of RBI in his big league return Thursday night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays did their best Minnesota Twins impersonation on Thursday, pummeling the highest scoring team in Major League Baseball 14-3. Tampa Bay enters the day at 35-19, sitting 1/2 game out of first place in the AL East, and are a season-best 16 games over .500.

The Rays handed Charlie Morton more than enough run support last night, and he responded by allowing two runs on four hits and no walks across seven innings on an efficient 87 pitches (62 strikes, 71% strike rate). He struck out six. Morton pitched to the minimum, allowing just one hit across the first four frames before the Twins got on the board in the fifth inning on a two-out single by Ehire Adrianza. Minnesota pushed across another run in the sixth inning on Max Kepler’s groundout. Morton likely could have gone deeper into the game, although the lopsided score allowed Kevin Cash to give Adam Kolarek and Oliver Drake a little work in the eighth and ninth innings. Consecutive quality starts have Morton’s ERA at an excellent 2.54 heading into his next scheduled start against Detroit.

Tampa Bay broke the game open with a six-run third inning which began with a one-out single to center by Daniel Robertson. After Avisail Garcia and Tommy Pham worked back-to-back walks, loading the bases, Austin Meadows doubled past first baseman CJ Cron into the right-field corner, clearing the bases.

Meadows moved up to third on a ground out before Travis d’Arnaud punched a single into shallow right field, plating another run. Then birthday boy Christian Arroyo, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game, looped a ball into left-center which Byron Buxton bobbled, putting runners into scoring position on what was ruled a double. Finally, Brandon Lowe capped the inning with a two-run single to right, chasing starter Martin Perez.

Then in the fourth inning, the Rays jumped on Zack Littell who finished out the third. Garcia led things off with an infield into the hole at short, while Pham’s double to right-center moved both runners into scoring position. Meadows came up big again, lining an opposite-field single into left-center, scoring one.

Willy Adames drove in another run on a bullet into center field for a hit, although he was thrown out as he tried to move into second when Buxton bobbled the ball. Still, the running gaffe allowed Meadows to move up to third which was fortuitous. After d’Arnaud walked, putting runners at the corners, Arroyo doubled to the wall in left-center, scoring two. Finally, Lowe capped the five-run outburst with a double to right for an 11-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/1134259202107486209

Tampa Bay capped their scoring in the seventh inning on a two-out double by Garcia and a two-run homer by Ji-Man Choi on the next pitch.

Pham left the game after scoring in the fourth inning due to a right lower leg cramp.

The outfielder underwent an MRI which revealed “good results.” Per Josh Tolentino (The Athletic) Pham didn’t really sound concerned that the injury was anything more serious than a cramp, as he joked around and said he’ll ask Kevin Cash to be in the lineup on Friday.

The New What Next

Game two of the four-game series is on Friday night as opener Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.97 ERA) will take the mound for the first two innings, and will likely be followed by Jalen Beeks (4-0, 2.83 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Jose Berrios (7-2, 3.20 ERA).

Ryne Stanek allowed one hit and a walk while striking out a batter across two innings as an opener on Tuesday. Stanek recorded an impressive outing as an opener, and in 15 “starts” this season, he owns a 1.50 ERA. He is 0-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 30-1/3 innings this season.

Jalen Beeks pitched to contact on Sunday, allowing no runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 4-2/3 innings of a win over Cleveland. Beeks had great results in his outing even though he only fired off 54% of strikes (49 of 91 pitches total). Be it as it may, the southpaw continues to keep the ball in the yard, allowing just one home run on the season (41-1/3 innings). It was a nice bounce-back performance from Beeks who has given up more than three runs in any outing just twice in 2019.

Jose Berríos gave up four runs (one earned) on nine hits over 6-2/3 innings while striking out four in his last turn. The shaky defense allowed Chicago to take a four-run lead in the second inning, but Berríos bounced back and put up zeroes the rest of the way. The right-hander attacked the strike zone all night, throwing 74 of 98 pitches for strikes (75% strike rate), and he carries a 3.20 ERA and 5.82 K/BB through 70-1/3 innings on the season. He relies primarily on a whiffy 93 mph four-seam fastball, an 82 mph curveball with sweeping glove-side movement, and a 92 mph sinker, while also mixing in an 84 mph changeup with fade and sink. Berríos is 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in three career starts against the Rays, and 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in two starts at Tropicana Field. Key Matchups: Avisail Garcia (3-12, RBI, BB), Guillermo Heredia (1-4)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Twins — a series preview

Rays 5/31/19 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows LF
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Adames DH
  4. Choi 1B
  5. Arroyo 3B
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Robertson SS
  8. Zunino C
  9. Heredia RF
  10. Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tommy Pham is not in tonight’s lineup.

— The Rays have activated catcher Mike Zunino from the IL and have designated catcher Erik Kratz for assignment.

Kratz spoke fondly on his time on the Rays:

This organization allows everybody to be who they are. Every guy is able to contribute here from the first guy to the 25th guy. Sometimes you’re on teams and guys dont fit in. There’s none of that here. It’s so awesome to be part of.

— Erik Kratz