The Tampa Bay Rays can finish off a series win over the Houston Astros, and in the process possibly prevent them from clinching the American League West division title for one more night. Collin McHugh (6-1, 1.60 ERA) will get the start, taking on Lance McCullers Jr. (12-5, 3.17 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Lowe 2B
Arozarena RF
Franco SS
Cruz DH
Meadows LF
Margot CF
Choi 1B
Zunino C
Wendle 3B
Astros Starting Lineup
Altuve 2B
Bregman 3B
Alvarez LF
Gurriel 1B
Tucker RF
Correa SS
Brantley DH
Meyers CF
Maldonado C
Wisler Back From IL, Rays Send Down Sherriff
The Rays Thursday activated reliever Matt Wisler from the 10-day injured list after his second stint dealing with a right middle finger injury.
The 29-year-old, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants on June 11, has gone 2-3 with a 2.30 earned run average in 25 appearances, but has played in just one game since August 15 due to inflammation in the middle finger on his right hand. He missed 22 games in his first stint on the IL, came back and pitched to just one batter on September 8 in Boston, and was placed back on the injured list for the same injury.
To make room on the active roster for Wisler, left-hander Ryan Sherriff was optioned to Triple-A Durham.
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.
