The Tampa Bay Rays can run their season-long winning streak to six games Saturday with a third consecutive victory over the Seattle Mariners. Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 3.13 ERA) will get the start, taking on Marco Gonzales (1-3, 4.05 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 9:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
Franco SS
Ramirez DH
Arozarena LF
Lowe 2B
Margot RF
Zunino C
Paredes 3B
Kiermaier CF
Mariners Starting Lineup
Frazier 2B
France 1B
Crawford SS
Suarez 3B
Winker LF
Toro DH
Rodriguez CF
Kelenic RF
Raleigh C
Fleming Sent To Durham, Garza Recalled
The Rays made a roster move to bolster their pitching staff Saturday, optioning left-hander Josh Fleming to Triple-A Durham, and recalling right-hander Ralph Garza from the Bulls.
Fleming has appeared in six games, two starts and four bulk appearances, for the Rays this year, and has accumulated a 2-3 record and a 6.38 ERA. He worked 2 2/3 innings in Friday’s win, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks.
Garza, who was claimed off waivers by the Rays from the Boston Red Sox on April 7, has made one appearance with Tampa Bay this year. On April 12 against Oakland at Tropicana Field, he allowed three runs in his first inning of work, but held the Athletics to just one hit over the last two innings of his outing, as Tampa Bay would eventually come back to beat the Athletics 9-8 in 10 innings. In Durham, he has gone 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in seven appearances, including a pair of opens.
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.