After a day off Thursday following their west coast trip wrapping up, the Tampa Bay Rays open a six-game homestand Friday night, welcoming in the Toronto Blue Jays to Tropicana Field for the first of a three-game series. Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 2.89 ERA) will get the start, taking on Kevin Gausman (3-1, 2.13 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Margot DH
Franco SS
Ramirez RF
Lowe 2B
Arozarena LF
Choi 1B
Kiermaier CF
Zunino C
Walls 3B
Blue Jays Starting Lineup
Springer CF
Bichette SS
Guerrero 1B
Hernandez RF
Kirk DH
Gurriel LF
Chapman 3B
Collins C
Espinal 2B
Margot Back In Lineup, Diaz Out
Outfielder Manuel Margot returns to the lineup after leaving Monday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels with right hamstring tightness and missing the final two games of the series, but third baseman Yandy Diaz, who was initially in tonight’s lineup, was scratched due to illness.
The Rays say Diaz is dealing with a “non-COVID illness,” and was replaced by Taylor Walls in the lineup, with Margot moving into Diaz’s spot in the lineup.
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.
