The Tampa Bay Rays will look to possibly get to the precipice of possibly winning a second consecutive division title with a victory in the first game of the three-game weekend series against the Miami Marlins. David Robertson (0-0, 5.63 ERA) will open Friday’s contest, taking on Edward Cabrera (0-2, 5.31 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Lowe 2B
Franco SS
Choi 1B
Cruz DH
Meadows LF
Arozarena RF
Wendle 3B
Mejia C
Kiermaier CF
Marlins Starting Lineup
Rojas SS
Chisholm 2B
De La Cruz CF
Sanchez RF
Brinson LF
Diaz 1B
Fortes DH
Alvarez 3B
Henry C
Rays Reinstate Franco, Get Cruz Back Healthy
Tampa Bay will get their 20-year-old shortstop wunderkind back from the injured list tonight, as Wander Franco was activated from the injured list after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Designated hitter Nelson Cruz missed the final two games against Toronto feeling under the weather per manager Kevin Cash, but he told me before the game that he was feeling “much better.”
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.
