The Tampa Bay Rays are set to play the Orioles tonight, although the weather may again prove to be a challenge. The weather report out of Charm City, it has been raining lightly for most of the afternoon, but the forecast — which is not particularly encouraging — does improve slightly later.
Erasmo Ramirez (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 3.48 ERA) will take the mound for Tampa Bay, pitching opposite of Wade Miley (1-0, 1.89 ERA, 3.15 FIP).
Ramirez making his second start in place of Jake Odorizzi, who was expected to test his hamstring today in a simulated game. The team, however, pushed the simulated game back to Wednesday, putting him on schedule for a Monday return. Erasmo was superb in his start on 4/20, allowing just one run and two hits in five innings against the Tigers (on 66 pitches). He is expected to have a longer leash tonight. One thing that is concerning, Ramirez has given up three home runs in his past four appearances.
Miley is coming off an excellent start in Cincinnati, where he tossed eight scoreless frames. The outing was the longest by a Baltimore starter this season. Miley tends to rely on his 91 mph sinker (41% of the time) with a lot of arm-side run, his 92 mph four seam fastball (22% of the time) with good “rising action,” and his 84 mph slider (22% of the time) — by far his best pitch. He’ll also mix in a 77 mph curveball (10% of the time) to coax a fly ball from time to time. Key matchups: Peter Bourjos (1-4, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (4-11, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB), Derek Norris (3-3, RBI), Rickie Weeks Jr. (4-13, 2B, 2 BB)
Rays 4/25/17 Starting Lineup
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Miller 2B
Weeks DH
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Norris C
Bourjos LF
Ramirez RHP
Noteworthiness
— Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), there appears to be a nod toward better defense as Logan Morrison is starting at 1B against the lefty, with Rickie Weeks at DH. That alos means rookie Daniel Robertson is not playing. I know what you’re thinking,
Beckham?! Better defensively than Robertson?!
From the Rays’ pregame notes, Beckham ranks third among all American League shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage (behind Ronald Torreyes and Alcides Escobar). He’s made one error in 82 chances. In Beckham’s favor, he has raised his DRS from -1 to +2.
— Steven Souza Jr. is in lineup a day after bruising his elbow jumping for a home run ball in last night’s ball game.