The Tampa Bay Rays will look to extend their franchise record winning streak to begin a season to eight straight games Saturday and in the process earn a series victory over the Oakland Athletics. Jeffrey Springs (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the start, taking on Shintaro Fujinami (0-1, 30.86 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
B. Lowe 2B
Arozarena DH
Franco SS
Raley LF
Paredes 3B
J. Lowe RF
Margot CF
Mejia C
Athletics Starting Lineup
Ruiz CF
Diaz 2B
Brown DH
Aguilar 1B
Laureano RF
Rooker LF
Langeliers C
Peterson 3B
Allen SS
Siri Dealing With “Cranky” Hamstring
Centerfielder Jose Siri is not in the starting lineup, and manager Kevin Cash says the 27-year-old is dealing with a right hamstring that is now “cranky.” Siri is expected to have an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.
Cash said Siri suffered the injury in the eighth inning Friday when running down Seth Brown’s deep fly ball.
“I don’t think he thought it was that bad,” the Rays manager said. “He said he felt it tug, but he was heated up in the moment, and then this morning he woke up and it was a little more sore than what we were hoping for.”
Tampa Bay can use Manuel Margot and Josh Lowe in center until Siri is healthy.
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.
