The Tampa Bay Rays will look for a second consecutive victory over the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, taking the series in the rubber match of their three-game series at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 2.67 ERA) will get the start, taking on Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 3.72 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
Franco SS
Ramirez DH
Arozarena LF
Mejia C
Paredes 3B
Brujan RF
Walls 2B
Phillips CF
Tigers Starting Lineup
Grossman RF
W. Castro LF
Baez SS
Candelario DH
Schoop 2B
H. Castro 3B
Torkelson 1B
Barnhart C
Hill CF
Sanders Back From Back Spasms, Sent To Durham
The Rays activated relief pitcher Phoenix Sanders from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, and optioned him to Triple-A Durham.
Sanders went on the injured list May 3 with lower back spasms after working in his fifth career big-league game against Oakland the day prior. He had amassed no record and a 1.80 earned run average in those five appearances out of the bullpen.
Baz, Chargois Set To Start Rehab Assignments
Manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that pitchers Shane Baz and JT Chargois will be heading to Durham to begin rehab assignments this week.
Baz, who had surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow during Spring Training, is scheduled to start and pitch two innings Thursday in Jacksonville, while Chargois, who was sidelined with left oblique tightness and right-hander Chris Mazza (lower back spasms) will both pitch Friday against the Jumbo Shrimp.
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.
