The Tampa Bay Rays will look to continue this strong road trip by beginning their weekend series in Minneapolis with a win over the Minnesota Twins. Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.75 ERA) will get the start, taking on Michael Pineda (4-7, 3.83 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 8:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Lowe 2B
Franco SS
Cruz DH
Arozarena LF
Wendle 3B
Diaz 1B
Kiermaier CF
Margot RF
Zunino C
Twins Starting Lineup
Polanco 2B
Rooker LF
Donaldson 3B
Garver DH
Refsnyder CF
Sano 1B
Larnach RF
Jeffers C
Simmons SS
Choi Needs More Time With Sore Hammy
The Rays will not have first-baseman Ji-Man Choi in the starting lineup against the right-handed Pineda, as he continues to deal with a sore left hamstring.
Manager Kevin Cash said Choi, who came into Tuesday’s game against Boston as a pinch-hitter, but left with the issue, has been dealing with the injury for a few days, but he then started and played the entire game Wednesday. He then sat out Thursday’s win in what Cash called a maintenance day.
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.
