The Tampa Bay Rays will begin thei 2023 regular season Thursday afternoon with the first of a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers, a reprisal of the first game in franchise history, which took place 25 years ago tomorrow. Shane McClanahan (12-8, 2.54 ERA in 2022) will get the start, taking on Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.05 ERA in 2022). First pitch is scheduled for 3:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
Franco SS
Paredes 3B
Arozarena LF
Ramrez DH
Margot RF
B. Lowe 2B
Bethancourt C
Siri CF
Tigers Starting Lineup
Vierling RF
Baez SS
Greene CF
Haase C
Torkelson 1B
Meadows LF
Cabrera DH
Schoop 2B
Kreidler 3B
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.