Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Postseason Begins Tonight For Rays With ALDS Game 1

photo: Steve Carney/St. Pete Nine

The Tampa Bay Rays will begin their quest for their first World Series championship tonight at Tropicna Field with Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox.  Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.43 ERA in 2021) will get the start, taking on left-hnder Eduardo Rodriguez 13-8, 4.74 ERA in 2021).  First pitch is scheduled for 8:08.

Rays Starting Lineup

Arozarena LF

Franco SS

Lowe 2B

Cruz DH

Diaz 3B

Luplow 1B

Margot RF

Zunino C

Kiermaier CF

 

Red Sox Starting Lineup

Hernandez CF

Schwarber DH

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3B

Renfroe RF

Verdugo LF

Dalbec 1B

Vazquez C

Arroyo 2B

Brett Phillips

Outfielder Brett Phillips isn’t a part of the Rays ALDS roster, but it doesn’t mean his influence won’t be felt. (photo: Steve Carney/St. Pete Nine)

RAYS ALDS ROSTER LEAVES OFF YARBROUGH, PHILLIPS

The Rays set their 26-man roster for the American League Division Series Thursday morning, and a pair of players who have been with the ball club the entire season will not be with them for the first round of the postseason.

Pitcher Ryan Yarbrough and outfielder Brett Phillips will not be active for the series, but will remain with the team and could be added to the roster in future series.

Manager Kevin Cash said for Yarbrough, it came down to the fact that they didn’t want to use him in a short-inning role.

“We need to keep him lengthened out, and felt like our best way to do that, we had enough bullpen coverage,” Cash said.  “We went with [Josh] Fleming being the lone left-hander. I think we’re equipped with some guys that are right-handed that can be more neutral, to reverse splits against their tough lefties.”

As for Phillips, the fact that Boston is likely to use three left-handed starting pitchers played the biggest factor in keeping him off the roster.

“Very tough decision for everything that he has meant to our club this year,” Cash admitted.  “And he can — he certainly has played well and is deserving, but given how I’m very confident we’re going to be aggressive with our pitchers and in the bullpen, we wanted to make sure that we added the extra pitcher. And then also, that theoretically, we’re going to be facing three lefties, or the potential to face three left-handed starters in this series.”

Phillips took the news in typical fashion.  He joked about coaching third base, and being angry with McClanahan starting over him for Game 1, but then got serious and said he understood the rationale behind the decision.

“I believe in what this team does & decides. I know it was tough but it’s okay. I believe in them. For me to respond any other way wouldn’t make sense.”

Written By

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.

You May Also Like

Advertisement

Trending