The Tampa Bay Rays will look to even their three-game series on the North Side of Chicago as they take on the Cubs for the middle game of their series. Matt Wisler (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will open tonight’s game, with left-hander Josh Fleming scheduled to work the bulk of the innings. Left-hander Justin Steele (1-0, 1.93 ERA) will get the start for the Cubs, with first pitch from Wrigley Field scheduled fore 7:40.
Rays Starting Lineup
Arozarena LF
Franco SS
Ramirez 1B
Diaz 3B
B. Lowe DH
Margot CF
Zunino C
J. Lowe RF
Walls 2B
Cubs Starting Lineup
Villar 3B
Suzuki RF
Contreras C
Happ LF
Schwindel 1B
Madrigal 2B
Heyward CF
Frazier DH
Hoerner SS
Franco Back In Lineup After Missing Monday
The Rays will have shortstop Wander Franco back in the lineup Tuesday night after he was scratched just before first pitch Monday with left quad tightness.
Franco had said after Monday’s loss that he was ready to pinch-hit in the ninth if needed, and manager Kevin Cash said he would have used Franco as a pinch-hitter if they had brought the tyinf run to the plate.
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.
