The Tampa Bay Rays will look to extend their current winning streak to four straight games, and will get both catcher Mike Zunino and their newest acquisition, designated hitter Nelson Cruz, in their starting lineup tonight. Josh Fleming (7-5, 3.93 ERA) will get the start, taking on Zach Plesac (5-3, 4.19 ERA), with first pitch scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Lowe 2B
Choi 1B
Cruz DH
Meadows LF
Diaz 3B
Franco SS
Arozarena RF
Kiermaier CF
Zunino C
Indians Starting Lineup
Hernandez DH
Rosario SS
J. Ramirez 3B
Reyes RF
H. Ramirez LF
Mercado CF
Chang 1B
Hedges C
Clement 2B
Rays Option Mazza To Add Cruz
In order to add Cruz to the active roster, the Rays optioned reliever Chris Mazza to Triple-A Durham after Thursday’s win.
Mazza pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings Thursday, allowing Tampa Bay to rally from down 4-1 to tie the game up in the ninth inning before going on to a 5-4 victory in the tenth.
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.
