The Tampa Bay Rays can establish a new modern MLB record for consecutive home wins to begin a season with a victory Monday against the Houston Astros, which would be their 14th in a row. Taj Bradley (2-0, 2.61 ERA) will get the start, taking on Jose Urquidy (1-1, 3.66 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
Franco SS
Arozarena LF
B. Lowe 2B
Ramirez DH
Paredes 3B
J. Lowe RF
Bethancourt C
Margot CF
Astros Starting Lineup
Dubon 2B
Pena SS
Tucker RF
Bregman 3B
Abreu 1B
Julks LF
Diaz DH
Meyers CF
Maldonado C
Alvarez Leaves Astros To Check On Neck Issue
Astros star slugger Yordan Alvarez is not with the team in St. Petersburg, having returned to Houston in order to get his neck discomfort diagnosed, accoriding to Chandler Rom of The Athletic.
Yordan Alvarez is experiencing neck discomfort. The Astros sent him back to Houston to get examined. It’s unclear if he’ll need a stint on the injured list or if he’ll be available during this series in Tampa.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 24, 2023
Rome reports that Alvarez has been dealing with the issue for around a week, according to Astros manager Dusty Baker, and may require a stint on the injured list. If Alvarez is sent to the IL, the only position players on their 40-man roster are catcher Koery Lee and infielder Joe Perez.
Siri On Cusp Of Being Activated
After a short rehab assignment with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, outfielder Jose Siri has returned to St. Petersburg to work out at Tropicana Field, and if all goes well, he could be activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Siri went on the injured list after injuring his hamstring on April 7 against Oakland. He played for Durham on Friday and Sunday in Syracuse. He went 1 for 8 in his two games with the Bulls.
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.
