Press Box Documents › bit.ly/3f0l9jz TAMPA BAY RAYS (4-8-0) at ATLANTA BRAVES (6-6-0) RH Drew Strotman (0-1, 6.75) vs. RH Luke Jackson (0-1, 3.00) Sunday, March 14, 2021 First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. Location: CoolToday Park TV: None Radio: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM Spring Game No.: 13 vs. AL Opponents: 2-7-0 vs. NL Opponents: 2-1-0 Home Games: 3-3-0 Road Games: 1-5-0 Day 25 of Spring Training 18 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, April 1 at Miami Marlins (4:10 p.m.) PRONUNCIATION GUIDE To hear Rays coaches and players pronouncing their names in their own voices, visit raysbaseball.com/pronunciation. UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS & BROADCAST SCHEDULE Upcoming Games Time (ET) Probable Pitchers (Rays vs. Opp.) TV & Radio Sun., 3/14 at ATL 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Drew Strotman, RH Diego Castillo, RH Pete Fairbanks, RH Nick Anderson, RH Yacksel Rios; WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM ATL—RH Luke Jackson, LH Will Smith, LH A.J. Minter, LH Grant Dayton, RH Nate Jones, RH William Woods, RH Victor Vodnik Mon., 3/15 vs. BOS 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Joe Ryan, LH Shane McClanahan, LH Josh Fleming; BOS—RH Nick Pivetta, Relievers TBD FOX Sports Sun, MLB.com Tues., 3/16 vs. BAL 1:05 p.m. TB—LH Ryan Yarbrough, RH Collin McHugh; BAL—RH Félix Hernández, Relievers TBD FOX Sports Sun, MLB.com Wed., 3/17 at PIT 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Tyler Glasnow, RH Chris Ellis, RH Nick Anderson, RH Chris Mazza; PIT—RH Mitch Keller MLB Network ON THE WEB—The 2021 Rays Media Guide is now available at mlbpress- (2011-12), Joe Mauer (2004-05) and Andruw Jones (1996-97). box.com (login required), rayspressbox.com (using username rays\media Ê Last month, MLB announced a modernized minor league sys- and password R@ys1998#) and bit.ly/3t73SkH (no login necessary). tem, with each major league club providing players and staffs to their four affiliates—one at each of the Triple-A, Double-A, High- TWO DISTINCT ERAS—Since becoming the Rays in 2008, the Rays own A and Low-A levels…the Rays continued affiliation with Durham, the 5th-best record in baseball at 1,081-924 (.539) and have made six trips Montgomery and Bowling Green…the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs to the postseason, incl. three AL East division titles (2020, 2010, 2008) and served as Tampa Bay's original Low-A affiliate from 1997–2004. two World Series appearances (2020, 2008)…during this span, only three clubs (Dodgers, Yankees, Cardinals) have reached the postseason more MINOR STUDIES—MLB has announced experimental rules to be tested often, and only two (Dodgers, Giants) have competed in more World Se- during the 2021 minor league season, varying by level of play: ries…the Rays have seven 90-win seasons since 2008, a number matched Ê Triple-A will use larger bases in an attempt to reduce injuries; by only three other teams in baseball: Dodgers (8), Red Sox (7) and Yan- Ê Double-A teams must have their four infielders remain on the dirt, kees (7)…this success comes after the Devil Rays amassed the majors’ and the 2nd Half may include two on each side of second base; worst record at 645-972 (.399) over the club’s first decade of existence. Ê High-A pitchers must step off the rubber before throwing to a base; Ê The Rays enter the 2021 season on the heels of the second AL pen- Ê Low-A pitchers can attempt two pickoffs per plate appearance, and nant in team history…in 2020, the Rays went 40-20 (.667), the best will be charged a balk if a third is attempted and unsuccessful winning pct. in club history…it was the fourth straight season they improved their winning pct., all under Manager Kevin Cash. SPRING THINGS—The Rays have lost four consecutive games and have been outscored, 17-4, over that stretch…they have scored 2 runs (or few- SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Beginning today through the end of the spring er) in all 4 games and been shut out twice over that span…they are 1-6 in training schedule, games will be scheduled for 9 innings but can be short- their last 7 games following a 3-2 start…the Rays are one of four Grape- ened to 7 innings upon mutual agreement of both managers. fruit League teams without a tie game…yesterday the Rays lost, 1-0, to Ê Earlier last month, Major League Baseball released a revised, re- the Twins in Port Charlotte, and were held to 2 hits (both singles)…LH gionalized Grapefruit League schedule to mitigate travel…27 of the Rich Hill pitched three scoreless innings in his second spring start, and Rays 28 spring games are against the Braves (6), Orioles (3), Pirates RH Chaz Roe, LH Cody Reed, LH Ryan Sherriff and LH Jeffrey Springs all (2), Red Sox (8) and Twins (8)…the only exception is the final game— made scoreless appearances…the only run was a solo homer in the 7th. March 30 in Lakeland (Tigers)—after the Rays move their major league operations to Tropicana Field to prepare for Opening Day. RAYS vs. BRAVES—Today is the third of six Grapefruit League games Ê The Rays have a club-record 77 players on their spring roster: 42 against the Braves for the Battle of Tamiami Trail, which includes three pitchers, 8 catchers, 15 infielders and 12 outfielders…prior to 2021, at home and three in North Port…the Rays are 1-1 so far, most recently a the largest camp roster was 76 players (1999)…the 77 players on the 2-0 loss on March 11…last spring the Rays went 1-1-1 against the Braves spring roster includes four rehabbing pitchers on the 60-day IL. and turned a 6-3-4 triple play against them…the two clubs met four times Ê There are 11 new faces on the 40-man roster—four free agents, four in the regular season, with the Rays going 2-0 at home and 0-2 in Atlanta. acquired via trade and three from the minor league system. Ê Today's game in North Port is expected to be 9 innings in length. Ê In 2020, three players who entered spring training as non-roster Ê The Rays nearly met the Braves in the World Series…both teams invites made the Opening Day roster…incl. postseason, nine non- went to a Game 7 in their League Championship Series, with the roster invites spent time on the Rays active roster last season. Rays beating the Astros and the Braves losing to the Dodgers. Ê The only series against the Braves in the 2021 regular season is PROMO SCHEDULE—The Rays have announced the promotional sched- from July 16-18 at Truist Park, immediately following the All-Star ule for the 2021 season, including an AL Championship Replica Trophy break…the 2021 All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, July 13 in (April 13 vs. TEX) and five player bobbleheads: Willy Adames Audio Bob- Atlanta…as the defending AL champions, the AL team will be led blehead (June 9 vs. WAS), Brandon Lowe Bobblehead (June 26 vs. LAA), by Manager Kevin Cash and the Rays coaching staff. Austin Meadows Bobblehead (July 6 vs. CLE), Randy Arozarena Bobble- head (July 31 vs. BOS) and Tyler Glasnow Bobblehead (Aug 21 vs. CWS). TODAY’S STARTER at ATL—RH Drew Strotman (0-1, 6.75 ERA) Ê 2020 Regular Season: Did Not Pitch THE SKIPPER—Kevin Cash enters his seventh season as Rays manager… Ê In 2020, was not part of the 60-man player pool but pitched in the he is baseball’s 3rd-longest-tenured manager with his current team be- Instructional League…added to the 40-man roster in November. hind OAK Bob Melvin (10th full season) and CLE Terry Francona (9th Ê In 2019, made his season debut on July 11, returning from Tommy season)…Cash's career 454-416 (.522) record is the best winning pct. of any John surgery (performed on June 11, 2018)…went 0-3 with a 4.50 manager in club history…last season he was named AL Manager of the ERA (24-IP, 12-ER) in 9 starts with the GCL Rays and Class-A Char- Year by the BBWAA, receiving 22 of 30 first-place votes…was the second lotte…pitched for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. manager in Rays history to win it, joining Joe Maddon (2008 and 2011). Ê Selected in the fourth round of the 2017 Amateur Draft out of St. Ê At 42 years old in 2020, Cash was the youngest manager to reach Mary’s College of California…drafted after going 6-1 with a 4.57 the World Series since Ozzie Guillén (41) in 2005 (White Sox). ERA (67-IP, 34-ER) and 75 SO in 18 apps (7 starts) as a junior. Ê Three other current managers are former members of his coaching Ê His full bio is on Page 182 of the Rays 2021 Media Guide. staff: Rocco Baldelli (Twins), Charlie Montoyo (Blue Jays) and Der- ek Shelton (Pirates)…Cash is one of six former Rays players who ON THE AIRWAVES—Today's game will air on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM, have gone on to manage major league teams…the others: Guillén with Dave Wills and Andy Freed on the call…Dave and Andy are en- (White Sox, Marlins), Mickey Callaway (Mets), Gabe Kapler (Phil- tering their 17th season together; only the Giants and Tigers have lon- lies, Giants), Dave Martinez (Nationals) and Baldelli (Twins).