The Tampa Bay Rays will look to end their eight-game road losing streal tonight in Buffalo, with the first of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Luis Patino (1-1, 3.60 ERA) will get the start after being called up from Triple-A Durham, taking on Alek Manoah (1-0, 3.34 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:07.
Rays Starting Lineup
Lowe 2B
Choi 1B
Franco SS
Meadows DH
Arozarena LF
Wendle 3B
Margot RF
Kiermaier CF
Mejia C
Blue Jays Starting Lineup
Semien 2B
Bichette SS
Guerrero 1B
Springer DH
Hernandez RF
Biggio 3B
Grichuk CF
Gurriel LF
McGuire C
Archer, Drake Throw To Hitters
Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Friday’s game that pitchers Chris Archer and Oliver Drake each threw an inning to hitters at the team’s Spring Training complex in Port Charlotte.
Cash said that the training staff was pleased with what they saw from both pitchers, and that while velocity is not what they look at as a guide, but that Archer’s fastball reached 93 MPH, while Drake was around 90-91 MPH.
The plan for each is to have them throw a two-inning simulated session in the next few days.
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.
