The Tampa Bay Rays can finish off a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday afternoon with a victory in the finale of the set. Zach Eflin (3-0, 3.00 ERA) will get the start, taking on Vince Velasquez (4-2, 3.06 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
Franco SS
Arozarena LF
J. Lowe DH
Paredes 3B
Walls 2B
Raley RF
Bethancourt C
Margot CF
Pirates Starting Lineup
Marcano SS
Reynolds LF
McCutchen DH
Santana 1B
Suwinski CF
Joe RF
Hayes 3B
Bae 2B
Delay C
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.
