WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018 vs. BOSTON RED SOX LH Ryan Yarbrough (1-0, 2.53) vs. RH Marcus Walden (0-0, 0.90) First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. | Location: Charlotte Sports Park, Charlotte County, Fla. | TV: FOX Sports Sun | Radio: MLB.com Game No: 25 (11-12-1) | vs. AL: 8-10-1 | vs. NL: 3-2-0 | Home: 3-8-0 | Road: 8-4-1 Day 36 of Spring Training | 8 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, March 29 vs. Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field (4:00 p.m.) SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Last night at BAL, the Rays were postponed for ure topped only by the Braves LINEUP vs. BOSTON the first time in spring training since March 29, 2016 at TOR…today the (8)…in addition to Baseball No. Player Pos. Rays are attempting to win a third straight spring game for the first time America’s rating, the Rays are 2 Denard Span (L) LF since Feb 26-28, 2017…Rays pitchers lead the majors with a .224 opp avg., ranked by MLB.com as the No. 39 Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF ahead of the Astros (.240), and the Rays offense ranks 3rd in the Grape- 4 farm system in baseball (No. 1 27 Carlos Gómez RF fruit League with a .268 avg., behind the Orioles (.272) and Astros (.268). based just on position players), 13 Brad Miller (L) 1B Ê The Rays are 4-2 in their last 6 games following a 1-5-1 skid. and by ESPN.com at No. 7. 44 C.J. Cron DH Ê The Rays are 8-4-1 on the road, outscoring opponents 73-43…at 18 Joey Wendle (L) 2B home, they are 3-8 and have been outscored 62-40. FOUR FOR ARCHER—Man- 40 Wilson Ramos C ager Kevin Cash announced 5 Matt Duffy 3B ON THE BACKFIELDS—RH Nathan Eovaldi will start in a game today last week that RH Chris Ar- 11 Adeiny Hechavarria SS against Red Sox affiliates…tomorrow, RHSergio Romo, LH José Alvarado cher will start on Opening Day 48 Ryan Yarbrough LHP and RH Alex Colomé will pitch in a minor league game against Twins (Thurs., March 29 vs. BOS)… affiliates…yesterday, OFMallex Smith went 1-for-5 with a single, stolen this will be his fourth consecu- base and run against Twins minor leaguers. tive Opening Day start, becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to do so…he is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA (17.2-IP, 7-ER) in his previous 3 starts RAYS ON THE TUBE—Today is the second FOX Sports Sun telecast of on Opening Day, a 2017 win vs. NYY and losses in 2016 vs. TOR and 2015 the spring…other televised games are Sun vs. NYY and Mon at DET (FOX vs. BAL…his fourth Opening Day start will tie James Shields (2008-10, Sports Detroit feed)…all 162 regular season games will be televised this 2012) for the most in club history. season…FOX Sports Sun has announced a 159-game broadcast sched- Ê Since 2008, the Rays have used only three starters on Opening ule, and the other 3 games will be nationally televised…Dewayne Staats Day: Archer (4), Shields (4) and David Price (3)…in 10 seasons as the (play-by-play), Brian Anderson (color), Orestes Destrade (analyst), Doug Devil Rays, eight pitchers made Opening Day starts for the club. Waechter (analyst) and Rich Hollenberg (host) return to the FOX Sports Sun telecast and Michelle Margaux is the new in-game reporter. 560 AND COUNTING—The Rays will enter the 2018 season with a streak of 560 games started by a pitcher under the age of 30, the longest current ON THE AIRWAVES—Today’s game will be broadcast on MLB.com, with streak in the majors…35-year-old LH Erik Bedard on July 3, 2014 at DET Neil Solondz and Doug Waechter on the call…Neil and Aaron Ledezma was the last 30-plus pitcher to start a game for the Rays…entering the will be in the booth on Fri vs. TOR…both games this weekend will air on season, since June 26, 2006, the Rays have started a pitcher under the age WDAE 620 AM and the Rays Radio Network, with Dave Wills and Andy of 30 in 96 pct. (1,795 of 1,869) of their games…the Rays have used only 30 Freed on the call…Dave and Andy are entering their 14th season togeth- different starting pitchers over the last 10 seasons, fewest in the majors. er, the 3rd-longest tenured full-season radio broadcast duo in the majors behind Detroit and San Francisco…field coordinator Rocco Baldelli and 20TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN—The Rays have created a 20th An- OF Carlos Gómez are guests on this weekend’s Countdown to Opening niversary logo that will appear as a patch on all Rays jerseys and caps… Day radio show, airing Sat. and Sun. on WDAE 620 AM at 12:30 p.m. the home plate-shaped patch features the number 20, a sunburst and a variation of the original fish—all in the Rays modern colors…on March 31 HOT OFF THE PRESS—The 2018 Rays Media Guide has arrived in Port vs. BOS, June 9 vs. SEA, June 23 vs. NYY and Sep 8 vs. BAL, the Rays will Charlotte…see press box attendant Dukes Knutson or the Rays Commu- wear a white alternate throwback Devil Rays jersey…the Rays will pay nications staff to request a copy…the Media Guide is also available online tribute to the first game in franchise history on Opening Weekend and at rayspressbox.com and mlbpressbox.com. the 2008 AL Championship club on Aug 4 vs. CWS. ROSTER MAKEOVER—Of the 32 players on last season’s Opening Day TODAY’S STARTER vs. BOS—LH Ryan Yarbrough (1-0, 2.53 ERA) roster or disabled list, only 14 still remain in the organization: pitchers Ê 2017 Minors (DUR): 13-6, 3.43 ERA (157.1-IP, 60-ER), 26 starts Matt Andriese, Chris Archer, Alex Colomé, Nathan Eovaldi, Kevin Ga- Ê Last season was his first in the Rays organization after being ac- dea (outrighted), Austin Pruitt and Blake Snell, catchers Wilson Ramos quired from the Mariners in a trade involving Drew Smyly…his 13 and Jesús Sucre, infielders Matt Duffy, Brad Miller and Daniel Robert- wins, 26 starts, 157.1 IP and 159 SO were all career highs son, and outfielders Kevin Kiermaier and Mallex Smith. Ê According to FanGraphs, generated swings-and-misses on 14.0 pct. Ê Only four players remain from the 2015 Opening Day roster or dis- of his pitches, 2nd-highest in the International League abled list, which was Kevin Cash’s first game as Rays manager: An- Day-by-Day W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP Result driese, Archer, Colomé and Kiermaier…Archer and Kiermaier are 2/24 at BOS -- 1.1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 L, 3-4 the only players remaining from the 2013 postseason roster (last 2/28 at MIN W-1 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 W, 3-1 playoff appearance)…Kiermaier was on the roster for that season’s 3/4 at NYY -- 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 W, 9-1 AL Wild Card Game, but not the ALDS. 3/8 at BOS -- 1.1 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 T, 6-6 3/11 vs. MIN -- 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 L, 5-6 STAFF SHUFFLING—The coaching staff under Manager Kevin Cash 3/16 at MIN -- 3.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 W, 11-1 features only two coaches returning to the same position as last season: TOMORROW’S STARTER at TOR—RH Jake Faria (1-2, 8.64 ERA) hitting coach Chad Mottola and bullpen coach Stan Boroski…new to the Ê 2017 Majors: 5-4, 3.43 ERA (86.2-IP, 33-ER) in 16 apps (14 starts) staff are third base coach Matt Quatraro, pitching coach Kyle Snyder and Ê Named the club’s Outstanding Rookie by the Tampa Bay Chapter first base coach Ozzie Timmons…in addition, Charlie Montoyo moves of the BBWAA last season…min. 75 IP, led AL rookies with a 3.43 from third base coach to bench coach and Rocco Baldelli moves from first ERA, .225 opp avg., .387 opp SLG, 8.72 SO/9 IP and 1.18 WHIP base coach to the newly created role of major league field coordinator. Ê Was the first pitcher to begin his career with 7 consecutive quality Ê Five members of this reconfigured coaching staff once played in starts since NYY Masahiro Tanaka (16) in 2014 the Rays organization: Cash, Baldelli, Mottola (minors), Quatraro (minors) and Timmons. Day-by-Day W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP Result 2/24 at BOS L-1 0.2 4 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 L, 3-4 MINOR LEAGUE REPORT—In January, Baseball America listed the Rays 3/1 vs. BAL -- 2.0 1 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 L, 2-5 at No. 5 in its Organizational Talent rankings of minor league prospects, 3/6 vs. TB * -- 3.0 1 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 -- their highest position since 2013 (No. 4)…this rating came before the Feb- 3/11 vs. MIN L-2 1.2 7 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 L, 5-6 3/16 at MIN W-1 4.0 3 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 W, 11-1 ruary acquisitions of SS Jermaine Palacios, LH Anthony Banda and 2B * indicates simulated game Nick Solak…the publication’s Top 100 Prospects included six Rays, a fig- UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHERS Date & Opp.