After a first month of the year that saw them win 23 of 29 games to begin the season, the Tampa Bay Rays will begin a stretch of the next month-plus where they will play 39 consecutive games against teams with a winning record, beginning with the start of their three-game series with the National League Central-leading Pittsburgh Pirates. Javy Guerra, recently re-acquired from Milwaukee, will open the game against Roansy Contreras. First pitch from Tropicana Field is set for 6:40.
Rays Starting Lineup
Diaz 1B
Franco SS
Arozarena LF
B. Lowe 2B
Ramirez DH
Paredes 3B
Bethancourt C
Margot RF
Siri CF
Pirates Starting Lineup
Hayes 3B
Reynolds LF
McCutchen DH
Santana 1B
Suwinski CF
Joe RF
Castro SS
Mathias 2B
Hedges C
The smiling face of Ji Man Choi will be back at Tropicana Field starting tonight, albeit wearing a Pirates uniform. photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays
Former Rays 1B Choi Makes Trip Despite Injury
He may currently be on the team’s 10-day injured list with a strained Achilles’ tendon, but Pirates first baseman Ji Man Choi is on the trip to Tropicana Field. Pirates communications director Patrick Kurish (himself a former Rays PR intern) confirmed Monday that Choi, who endeared himself over four-plus seasons with Tampa Bay with his stellar play and fun-loving attitude, traveled with the team for the series.
To those interested parties in St. Petersburg this week to see the first place @Pirates and @RaysBaseball duke it out at the Trop:
Yes, Ji Man Choi made the trip.
— Patrick Kurish (@PKurish) May 1, 2023
Choi was traded by the Rays to Pittsburgh in November for minor-league pitcher Jack Hartman.
