THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018 vs. MINNESOTA TWINS RH Kyle Gibson vs. RH Nathan Eovaldi First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. | Location: Charlotte Sports Park, Charlotte County, Fla. | TV: None | Radio: MLB.com Game No: 20 (8-10-1) | vs. AL: 5-8-1 | vs. NL: 3-2-0 | Home: 2-7-0 | Road: 6-3-1 Day 30 of Spring Training | 14 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, March 29 vs. Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field (4:00 p.m.) SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Yesterday at PIT, the Rays tied a spring high moves from third base coach to LINEUP vs. MINNESOTA with 9 runs (also March 4 at NYY) and won for only the second time in bench coach and Rocco Baldelli No. Player Pos. their last 8 games (2-5-1)…RH Yonny Chirinos made his 6th app (2nd start) moves from first base coach to 39 Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF of the spring and his first 6 outs were recorded via strikeout…the Rays the newly created role of major 27 Carlos Gómez RF improved to 6-3-1 on the road, compared to 2-7-0 in Charlotte County. league field coordinator. 2 Denard Span (L) LF Ê Including Cash, five for- 44 C.J. Cron 1B MEDICAL MATTERS—RH José De León underwent Tommy John sur- mer Rays have gone on 18 Joey Wendle (L) 2B gery on Tuesday, performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola…De to manage in the majors… 5 Matt Duffy 3B León was the second Rays pitching prospect to have Tommy John surgery Mickey Callaway (Mets), 11 Adeiny Hechavarria DH this spring, following RH Brent Honeywell on Feb 27 (by Dr. Andrews). Gabe Kapler (Phillies) 45 Jesús Sucre C and Dave Martinez (Na- 28 Daniel Robertson SS ON THE BACKFIELDS—INF Brad Miller will play in a minor league game tionals) are current skip- 24 Nathan Eovaldi RHP today against Twins affiliates…yesterday, LH Dan Jennings and RH An- pers…previously, Ozzie drew Kittredge pitched against Class-A Red Sox affiliates…Jennings went Guillén managed the White Sox from 2004-11 and Marlins in 2012. 1.2 IP with 4 SO and Kittredge 2 IP with 5 SO, both scoreless outings. Ê Five members of this reconfigured coaching staff once played in the Rays organization: Cash, Baldelli, Mottola (minors), Quatraro HOT OFF THE PRESS—The 2018 Rays Media Guide has arrived in Port (minors) and Timmons. Charlotte…see press box attendant Dukes Knutson or the Rays Commu- nications staff to request a copy…the Media Guide is also available online MINOR LEAGUE REPORT—In January, Baseball America listed the Rays at rayspressbox.com and mlbpressbox.com. at No. 5 in its annual Organizational Talent rankings of minor league pros- pects, their highest position since 2013 (No. 4)…this rating came before the PACE OF PLAY—Minor League Baseball has announced its pace of play February acquisitions of SS Jermaine Palacios, LH Anthony Banda and iniatives…at all levels of the minors, extra innings will begin with a run- 2B Nick Solak…the publication’s Top 100 Prospects included six Rays, a ner at second base…mound visits by coaches and position players will be figure topped only by the Braves (8)…in addition toBaseball America’s rat- limited based on classification level: Triple-A (6), Double-A (8), Class-A (10) ing, the Rays are ranked by MLB.com as the No. 4 farm system in baseball and Short-Season/Rookie-level (no limit)…in addition, the Triple-A and (No. 1 based just on position players), and by ESPN.com at No. 7. Double-A levels will use a 15-second pitch clock with no runners on. 560 AND COUNTING—The Rays will enter the 2018 season with a streak ON THE AIRWAVES—Today’s game vs. MIN will be broadcast on of 560 games started by a pitcher under the age of 30, the longest current MLB.com, with Neil Solondz on the call…Tampa Bay Times beat writer streak in the majors…35-year-old LH Erik Bedard on July 3, 2014 at DET Marc Topkin will join Solondz in the booth for an inning during the was the last 30-plus pitcher to start a game for the Rays…entering the game…hitting coach Chad Mottola and OF Denard Span are guests on season, since June 26, 2006, the Rays have started a pitcher under the age this weekend’s Countdown to Opening Day show, airing Sat. and Sun. on of 30 in 96 pct. (1,795 of 1,869) of their games…the Rays have used only 30 WDAE 620 AM at 12:30 p.m. different starting pitchers over the last 10 seasons, fewest in the majors. ROSTER MAKEOVER—Of the 32 players on last season’s Opening Day SPRING THINGS—This is the Rays 21st spring training and 10th in Char- roster or disabled list, only 14 still remain in the organization: pitchers lotte County…over the past 10 years, the Rays have won three Grapefruit Matt Andriese, Chris Archer, Alex Colomé, Nathan Eovaldi, Kevin Ga- League titles (2008, 2010, 2014) while winning at least 15 games seven dea (outrighted), Austin Pruitt and Blake Snell, catchers Wilson Ramos times—something they were unable to do in 10 springs from 1998–2007. and Jesús Sucre, infielders Matt Duffy, Brad Miller and Daniel Robert- Ê A recent study for USA Today ranked Charlotte Sports Park as the son, and outfielders Kevin Kiermaier and Mallex Smith. No. 1 spring training destination for food-and-drink as well as for Ê Only four players remain from the 2015 Opening Day roster or dis- family friendliness…the study noted rave reviews of the pork na- abled list, which was Kevin Cash’s first game as Rays manager: An- chos and Oreo churros, and the ballpark’s “Kid Clubhouse” play- driese, Archer, Colomé and Kiermaier…Archer and Kiermaier are ground and affordable prices…overall, it ranked as the No. 4 spring the only players remaining from the 2013 postseason roster (last training destination in Florida. playoff appearance)…Kiermaier was on the roster for that season’s AL Wild Card Game, but not the ALDS. KNUTSON CLASSIC—The Rays are 1-3 against the Twins so far this spring, and the Twins Wives won, 9-4, over the Rays Wives in a charity STAFF SHUFFLING—The coaching staff under Manager Kevin Cash softball game raising $19,500 for the Broward Education Foundation’s Of- features only two coaches returning to the same position as last season: ficial Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund…the spring series determines the hitting coach Chad Mottola and bullpen coach Stan Boroski…new to winner of the “Knutson Classic” (named for Rays press box attendant and the staff are third base coach Matt Quatraro, pitching coach Kyle Sny- Minnesota native Dukes Knutson) and takes home the coveted “Dukes der and first base coach Ozzie Timmons…in addition, Charlie Montoyo Cup”…the Twins have clinched the Cup for a second straight season. TODAY’S STARTER vs. MIN—RH Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 1.42 ERA) TOMORROW’S STARTER at MIN—RH Jake Faria (0-2, 16.62 ERA) Ê Spent the entire 2017 season rehabbing from a second Tommy Ê Spent the entire 2017 season rehabbing from a second Tommy John surgery…made 2 rehab apps (1 start) in the MiLB playoffs John surgery…made 2 rehab apps (1 start) in the MiLB playoffs Ê Is attempting to become the 32nd player to pitch in the majors after Ê Is attempting to become the 32nd player to pitch in the majors after two Tommy John surgeries, and only the 12th pitcher to start a ma- two Tommy John surgeries, and only the 12th pitcher to start a ma- jor league game after doing so…could become the third to pitch for jor league game after doing so…could become the third to pitch for the Rays after two Tommy John surgeries (Al Reyes, Lance Carter) the Rays after two Tommy John surgeries (Al Reyes, Lance Carter) Day-by-Day W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP Result Day-by-Day W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP Result 2/27 vs. BAL -- 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 L, 1-2 2/24 at BOS L-1 0.2 4 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 L, 3-4 3/4 at NYY W-1 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 W, 9-1 3/1 vs. BAL -- 2.0 1 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 L, 2-5 3/10 at PHI -- 3.0 4 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 W, 5-3 3/6 vs. TB * -- 3.0 1 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 -- 3/11 vs. MIN L-2 1.2 7 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 L, 5-6 * indicates simulated game UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHERS Date & Opp. Time (ET) Rays Pitchers Opposing Pitchers March 15 vs. MIN 1:05 p.m. RH Nathan Eovaldi, RH Matt Andriese, RH Sergio Romo, RH Kyle Gibson, RH Ryan Pressly, RH Tyler Kinley LH Anthony Banda, LH Kyle Bird, RH Ian Gibaut March 16 at MIN 1:05 p.m. RH Jake Faria, Relievers TBD RH José Berríos, RH Fernando Rodney, LH Taylor Rogers, RH Trevor Hildenberger (R) March 17 at BOS 1:05 p.m. RH Austin Pruitt, Relievers TBD TBD 2018 SPRING INNINGS PLAYED (“A” GAMES) Player C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Player C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Adames 8 38 7 Maris 12 2 2 Álvarez 1 McCarthy 17 5 8 6 Arroyo 30 16 Miller 3 Bauers 39 6 9 Milone 3 12 1 Boldt 7 6 10 Monell 14 22 8 Brosseau 7 Moore 20 4 Bruján 9 Olmedo-Barrera 8 6 Carrillo 25 Padlo 16 Chester 4 2 Palacios 7 Ciuffo 6 4 Peña 4 Coats 7 42 13 Ramos 42 9 Cron 42 16 Rengifo 0 1 Cronenworth 1 33 Robertson 29 5 10 5 4 Duffy 42 Rondón 2 Field 6 29 7 2 Russell 6 5 4 Fraley 3 3 Sánchez 13 7 Fox 8 Schimpf 5 15 7 Gómez 23 Smith 30 10 5 7 Hechavarria 34 6 Snyder 3 27 6 14 6 Johnson 9 38 Solak 25 4 8 Kelly 15 Span 34 10 5 Kiermaier 31 19 Sucre 34 15 Law 1 Sullivan 17 7 Lowe, B 7 7 Velazquez 7 9 21 8 Lowe, J 5 Wendle 49 7 Lowe, N 3 Williams 4 33 Lukes 5 11 Wong 18 33 9 SPRING TRANSACTIONS Feb 17 Acquired 1B C.J.