It’s not much of a surprise, but the Tampa Bay Rays have finally made a decision on who will start April 1 in Miami.
Rays manager Kevin Cash announced Wednesday that right-hander Tyler Glasnow will get the start Opening Day against the Marlins.
“We’re excited,” Cash said. “I know it’s a big deal for pitchers. I think the way that Tyler has been throwing the ball the last couple of seasons, he deserves the opportunity.”
Glasnow went 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 11 starts in 2020, following up on a 6-1 season in 2019 with a 1.78 ERA in 12 starts, though he missed four months with an elbow injury.
Archer, Kiermaier Expected Back In Game Friday
Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier has not played since Monday with what Cash is calling a tight quad, but is anticipated to get back into Grapefruit League action Friday afternoon when the Rays head to Fort Myers to take on the Boston Red Sox. Pitcher Chris Archer, who hasn’t pitched since last Friday, is also scheduled to get back on the mound in Friday’s contest against the Red Sox.
Cash says the right-hander is still expected to be fully stretched out before the start of the regular season.
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.
