The magic number for the Tampa Bay Rays to clinch the American League East is six, and they will look to drop that further Saturday afternoon when they take on the Detroit Tigers in the third of a four-game series. Ryan Yarbrough (8-5, 5.27 ERA) will get the start, taking on Tarik Skubal (8-12, 4.21 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 3B
Arozarena LF
Lowe 2B
Margot RF
Luplow DH
Choi 1B
Zunino C
Wendle SS
Phillips CF
Tigers Starting Lineup
Baddoo LF
Schoop 1B
Grossman RF
Cabrera DH
Canderlario 3B
Goodrum SS
Garneau C
Castro 2B
Hill CF
Kiermaier Placed On COVID IL By Rays, Walls scratched, Krehbiel Called Up
After being lifted from Friday night’s game due to illness, outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was put on the COVID-related injured list Saturday due to general illness and symptoms.
Manager Kevin Cash said they sent the center fielder home Friday and told him to stay home for Saturday. Cash also said Kiermaier had a COVID test to get into Canada last weekend, which was negative.
The Rays also scratched shortstop Taylor Walls about 45 minutes before the start of the game with general illness.
To take Kiermaier’s spot on the active and 40-man rosters, reliever Joey Krehbiel was selected from Triple-A Durham. Krehbiel, a Seminole native who grew up with Friday night’s hero Brett Phillips, has not played in the majors since 2018.
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.
