The Tampa Bay Rays come off a four-game sweep in Anaheim and look to extend their winning streak to a season-best six games as they begin a weekend series in Oakland. Rich Hill (1-1, 6.39 ERA will get the start, while Sean Manaea (3-1, 3.48 ERA) will start for the Athletics. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40.
Rays Starting Lineup
Arozarena DH
Margot LF
Lowe 2B
Diaz 1B
Brosseau 3B
Zunino C
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Phillips RF
Athletics Starting Lineup
Canha CF
Laureano DH
Olson 1B
Murphy C
Chapman 3B
Lowrie 2B
Piscotty RF
Andrus SS
Kemp LF
Mejia Scratched From Starting Lineup
Catcher Francisco Mejia was scratched from tonight’s starting lineup with left intercostal discomfort. Mike Zunino will start in his place and hit seventh, while third baseman Mike Brosseau moves up from seventh to sixth in the order.
Smith Called Up As Yarbrough Goes On COVID IL
The Rays have selected the contract of Kevan Smith to provide depth at catcher with Mejia dealing with the intercostal issue.
The 32-year-old played in 17 games with the Rays in 2020, hitting .258/.378/.452 with a home run and eight RBI in 38 plate appearances.
To make room on the Major League and active rosters for Smith, pitcher Ryan Yarbrough was placed on the COVID injured list with side effects from receiving the vaccination.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
