The Tampa Bay Rays can earn a spot in the postseason for the third straight season with a victory in tonight’s middle game of this three game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 3.00 ERA) will get the start, taking on Alek Manoah (6-2, 3.39 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Startling Lineup
Lowe 2B
Choi 1B
Diaz 3B
Meadows DH
Wendle SS
Margot LF
Kiermaier CF
Zunino C
Phillips RF
Blue Jays Starting Lineup
Springer DH
Semien 2B
Guerrero 1B
Bichette SS
Hernandez RF
Kirk C
Gurriel LF
Dickerson CF
Valera 3B
Rays Can Ensure Return To Playoffs Tonight With Help
The Rays can make the postseason for a third consecutive season for the first time in franchise history as early as tonight. In order to guarantee playing beyond October 3, Tampa Bay needs a win tonight over the Blue Jays, a loss by the Oakland A’s to the Seattle Mariners, and either a Red Sox loss at home to the New York Mets or a New York Yankees loss at home to the Texas Rangers.
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.
