The Tampa Bay Rays will look to finish off a series win in this weekend series against the Detroit Tigers with a victory in this afternoon’s finale. Left-hander Shane McClanahan (9-5, 3.59 ERA) will come off the injured list and make the start, taking on Wily Peralta (3-3, 3.32 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Lowe 2B
Meadows LF
Cruz DH
Choi 1B
Arozarena RF
Wendle SS
Diaz 3B
Phillips CF
Zunino C
Tigers Starting Lineup
Reyes CF
Schoop 1B
Grossman RF
Cabrera DH
Canderlario 3B
Haase LF
Goodrum SS
Garneau C
H. Castro 2B
photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
Medical Matters: Cruz OK After HBP, Kiermaier Activated From COVID List
After getting hit on the forearm by a pitch in Thursday’s series opener and missing the last two games,designated hitter Nelson Cruz is back in the starting lineup for Tampa Bay Sunday. Rays manager Kevin Cash said there was a scenario in Saturday’s game where he may have seen an at-bat, but it never happened and he was able to get another day off. Cruz has a slash line of .237/.295/.486 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins on July 22.
Tampa Bay also activated outfielder Kevin Kiermaier from the COVID-related injured list Sunday after he was pulled from Friday’s game with a general illness and was kept away from the team Saturday. Both Kiermaier and shortstop Taylor Walls, who was scratched from Saturday’s game, tested negative for COVID, and are available to play today though they are not in the starting lineup.
To make room for Kiermaier to return to the active and 40-man rosters, reliever Louis Head was optioned to Triple-A Durham, and pitcher Joey Krehbiel, who was optioned after Saturday’s loss, was designated for assignment.
Rays Magic Number Adjusted Down
Major League Baseball has adjusted the Rays magic number to clinch a postseason berth from 5 to 4 due to head-to-head matchups, namely because the New York Yankees, who are one half-game out of the Wild Card, still have series to play with both the Blue Jays and Red Sox.
The magic number to clinch the American League East title for a second consecutive year remains six.