The series between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees is expected to start as expected tonight at Tropicana Field despite a positive COVID-19 test from third base coach Phil Nevin and a number of other coaches and staff also quarantining.
“We have a breakthrough positive involving [Nevin,] who is fully vaccinated,” a statement from the Yankees said. “He is ubder quarantine protocol in Tampa. Under Major League Baseball’s guidance and advice, and with its assistance, additional testing and contact tracing are ongoing.”
The Yankees have announced that bench coach Carlos Mendoza will coach third base while Mario Garza, who serves as the team’s coordinator of baseball development, will coach first base in place of Reggie Willits, who is also quarantining.
On the field, it will be Luis Patino (1-0, 1.17 ERA) looking to help push Tampa Bay to a second straight win, taking on Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 4.41 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Rays Starting Lineup
Arozarena LF
Margot RF
Meadows DH
Diaz 1B
Brosseau 2B
Padlo 3B
Zunino C
Adames SS
Phillips CF
Yankees Starting Lineup
LeMahieu 2B
Stanton DH
Judge RF
Urshela 3B
Voit 1B
Torres SS
Sanchez C
Frazier LF
Gardner CF
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.
