TAMPA BAY RAYS (1-1-0) at BOSTON RED SOX (0-2-0) RH Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00) Vs
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Press Box Documents › bit.ly/3f0l9jz TAMPA BAY RAYS (1-1-0) at BOSTON RED SOX (0-2-0) RH Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00) vs. LH Martín Pérez (0-0, 0.00) Tuesday, March 2, 2021 First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. Location: JetBlue Park TV: ESPN Radio: None Spring Game No.: 3 vs. AL Opponents: 0-1-0 vs. NL Opponents: 1-0-0 Home Games: 1-1-0 Road Games: 0-0-0 Day 13 of Spring Training 30 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, April 1 at Miami Marlins (4:10 p.m.) UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS & BROADCAST SCHEDULE Upcoming Games Time (ET) Probable Pitchers (Rays vs. Opp.) TV & Radio Tues., 3/2 at BOS 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Michael Wacha, RH David Hess, RH Ryan Thompson, RH Pete Fairbanks, LH Ryan Sherriff, RH Chris Mazza; ESPN BOS—LH Martín Pérez, RH Garrett Whitlock, RH Joel Payamps, RH Ryan Weber, RH Josh Winckowski, RH Andrew Politi Wed, 3/3 vs. PIT 1:05 p.m. TB—LH Shane McClanahan, LH Josh Fleming, RH Hunter Strickland, RH Andrew Kittredge, RH Stetson Allie, FOX Sports Sun, MLB.com LH Jeffrey Springs, RH Joey Krehbiel; PIT—LH Steven Brault, Relievers TBD Thurs., 3/4 at MIN 1:05 p.m. TB—LH Ryan Yarbrough, RH Luis Patiño; MIN—RH Kenta Maeda, RH Hansel Robles, LH Taylor Rogers FOX Sports Sun PLAY BALL!—Today the defending AL champion Rays play their third of Ê This season the Rays continued affiliation with Triple-A Durham, 29 official Grapefruit League games (14 at Charlotte Sports Park, 15 on the Double-A Montgomery and High-A Bowling Green and added the road)…beginning Sunday through the end of the regular season (Feb 28– Low-A Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs, who served as Tampa Bay's Oct 3), the Rays are scheduled to play 191 games over the next 218 days. original Low-A affiliate from 1997–2004. Ê There are 11 new faces on the 40-man roster—four free agents, four RAYS vs. RED SOX—This is the acquired via trade and three from the minor league system. LINEUP at BOSTON Ê The Rays have a club-record 77 players on their spring roster: 42 first of eight meetings between the two clubs this spring (four No. Player Pos. pitchers, 8 catchers, 15 infielders and 12 outfielders…prior to 2021, 1 Willy Adames SS the largest camp roster was 76 players (1999)…the 77 players on the at home, four on the road)…the Rays went 7-3 against the Red 28 Francisco Mejía (S) C spring roster includes four rehabbing pitchers on the 60-day IL. 56 Randy Arozarena LF Sox in the 2020 regular season, Ê The Rays are sold out of tickets for home spring games…tickets 5 Wander Franco (S) DH were all sold within five minutes of going on sale to the public. including 4-0 at Fenway Park… 13 Manuel Margot RF since July 24, 2019, the Rays are 35 Brett Phillips (L) CF SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Today's game will be 9 innings in length…per 14-4 against the Red Sox with 54 Taylor Walls (S) 2B Major League Baseball’s 2021 guidelines, games from February 28–March a +38 run differential (116-78)… 37 Kevin Padlo 3B 13 (excluding ESPN games) will be scheduled for 7 innings, though they the Rays scored 69 runs in 10 76 Dalton Kelly (L) 1B can be shortened to 5 innings or lengthened to 9 innings upon mutual games against them last season, 52 Michael Wacha RHP agreement of both managers…games from March 14-30 will be sched- incl. 8 runs (or more) five times… uled for 9 innings, though managers can decide to shorten to 7 innings. the Rays totaled 103 hits, 25 2B, 4 3B and 17 HR in the season series. Ê Earlier this month, Major League Baseball released a revised, re- Ê The Rays have won a club-record eight consecutive games at Fen- gionalized Grapefruit League schedule to mitigate travel…28 of the way Park, the longest winning streak at an opponent's park in Rays 29 spring games are against the Braves (7), Orioles (3), Pirates franchise history…the Rays will enter their game on April 5, 2021 (2), Red Sox (8) and Twins (8)…the only exception is the final game— at Fenway Park having gone 667 days since their last loss there. March 30 in Lakeland (Tigers)—after the Rays move their major Ê Last offseason the Red Sox hired Chaim Bloom, who spent 15 years league operations to Tropicana Field to prepare for Opening Day. in the Rays Baseball Operations dept., as Chief Baseball Officer. Ê In 2020, three players who entered spring training as non-roster invites made the Opening Day roster…incl. postseason, nine non- YESTERDAY'S RECAP—The Rays held a 5-2 lead through the 4th inning roster invites spent time on the Rays active roster last season. but allowed 4 runs in the 5th in a 6-5, 6-inning loss to the Twins…2B Xavi- er Edwards hit a 2-run single and 1B Yandy Diaz a RBI double in the 3rd, TWO DISTINCT ERAS—Since becoming the Rays in 2008, the Rays own and C Brett Sullivan hit a 2-run double in the 4th…RH Tyler Glasnow the 5th-best record in baseball at 1,081-924 (.539) and have made six trips pitched a perfect 1st but allowed a solo homer and three 2-out walks in to the postseason, incl. three AL East division titles (2020, 2010, 2008) and the 2nd…RH Tyler Zombro yielded a go-ahead homer in the 5th. two World Series appearances (2020, 2008)…during this span, only three clubs (Dodgers, Yankees, Cardinals) have reached the postseason more TODAY’S STARTER at BOS—RH Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00 ERA) often, and only two (Dodgers, Giants) have competed in more World Se- Ê 2020 Regular Season: 1-4, 6.62 ERA (34-IP, 25-ER) in 8 apps ries…the Rays have seven 90-win seasons since 2008, a number matched Ê In 2020, limited to 8 apps (7 starts) for the Mets due to a stint on the by only three other teams in baseball: Dodgers (8), Red Sox (7) and Yan- injured list with a right shoulder strain…signed a one-year, $3 mil- kees (7)…this success comes after the Devil Rays amassed the majors’ lion contract with the Rays for the 2021 season on Dec 18, 2020. worst record at 645-972 (.399) over the club’s first decade of existence. Ê Had a career-high 9.79 SO/9 IP ratio…his swing-and-miss rate of Ê The Rays enter the 2021 season on the heels of the second AL pen- 11.3 pct. was his highest since 2013 (11.4) and he generated swings nant in team history…in 2020, the Rays went 40-20 (.667), the best on a career-high 34.3 pct. of pitches outside the strike zone. winning pct. in club history…it was the fourth straight season they Ê 64.9 pct. (24 of 37) of his strikeouts came on the changeup…29.2 pct. improved their winning pct., all under Manager Kevin Cash. of his pitches were changeups, the highest rate of his career. Ê Selected 19th overall in the 2012 Amateur Draft out of Texas A&M THE SKIPPER—Kevin Cash enters his seventh season as Rays manager… with one of two compensatory picks the Cardinals received from he is baseball’s 3rd-longest-tenured manager with his current team be- losing Albert Pujols as a free agent to the Angels. hind OAK Bob Melvin (10th full season) and CLE Terry Francona (9th season)…Cash's career 454-416 (.522) record is the best winning pct. of any SEASON MEMBERSHIPS—The Rays have announced a new and innova- manager in club history…last season he was named AL Manager of the tive Season Membership model in anticipation of fans returning to Tropi- Year by the BBWAA, receiving 22 of 30 first-place votes…was the second cana Field for the 2021 regular season…Rays Season Memberships allow manager in Rays history to win it, joining Joe Maddon (2008 and 2011). fans to choose from six membership levels, each with its own associated Ê At 42 years old in 2020, Cash was the youngest manager to reach discount and seating location…to ensure socially-distant seating, tradi- the World Series since Ozzie Guillén (41) in 2005 (White Sox). tional fixed season ticket locations will not be available for 2021. Ê Three other current managers are former members of his coaching CHAMPIONS CLUB—To celebrate the Rays advancing to the 2020 World staff: Rocco Baldelli (Twins), Charlie Montoyo (Blue Jays) and Der- Series, the team has launched the American League Champions Club, ek Shelton (Pirates)…Cash is one of six former Rays players who presented by Geico…the club features exclusive experiences and events, have gone on to manage major league teams…the others: Guillén including a members-only Zoom session with AL Manager of the Year (White Sox, Marlins), Mickey Callaway (Mets), Gabe Kapler (Phil- Kevin Cash and Senior VP of Baseball Operations & General Manager lies, Giants), Dave Martinez (Nationals) and Baldelli (Twins). Erik Neander and photo opportunities with the trophy…members will MINOR MATTERS—The Rays enter the 2021 season ranked by Baseball also receive special gifts, including an replica ring, replica trophy, a Randy America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN and The Athletic as the No.