Press Box Documents › bit.ly/3f0l9jz TAMPA BAY RAYS (4-6-0) at BOSTON RED SOX (5-5-0) RH Chris Archer (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Garrett Richards (0-0, 13.50) Friday, March 12, 2021 First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. Location: JetBlue Park TV: None Radio: None Spring Game No.: 11 vs. AL Opponents: 2-5-0 vs. NL Opponents: 2-1-0 Home Games: 3-2-0 Road Games: 1-4-0 Day 23 of Spring Training 20 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 Fri., 3/12 at BOS 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Chris Archer, RH Trevor Richards, RH Chris Mazza, RH Ryan Thompson, LH Ryan Sherriff, RH Andrew Kittredge, None RH Hunter Strickland, RH Louis Head; BOS—RH Garrett Richards, RH Hirokazu Sawamura, RH Eduard Bazardo, RH Kevin McCarthy Sat., 3/13 vs. MIN 1:05 p.m. TB—LH Rich Hill, LH Cody Reed, RH Chaz Roe, LH Jeffrey Springs; MIN—RH Randy Dobnak FOX Sports Sun, WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM 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—Yesterday the Rays lost, 2-0, in North Port, their first shutout loss in spring training since Feb 29, 2020 vs. ATL…RH Tyler Glas- SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Per MLB's 2021 guidelines, games from Feb 28– now started and struck out seven in four scoreless innings, and retired 11 March 13 (excluding ESPN games) will be scheduled for 7 innings, though straight at one point…RH Collin McHugh and RH Pete Fairbanks each they can be shortened to 5 innings or lengthened to 9 innings upon mutu- allowed solo homers…the Rays offense was limited to 3 hits. al agreement of both managers…games from March 14-30 will be sched- uled for 9 innings, though managers can decide to shorten to 7 innings. RAYS vs. RED SOX—This is the fourth of eight meetings between the Ê Earlier last month, Major League Baseball released a revised, re- two clubs this spring…the Rays are 1-2 so far, most recently an 11-3 win gionalized Grapefruit League schedule to mitigate travel…27 of the on March 9 at home…the Rays went 7-3 against the Red Sox in the 2020 Rays 28 spring games are against the Braves (6), Orioles (3), Pirates regular season, including 4-0 at Fenway Park…since July 24, 2019, the (2), Red Sox (8) and Twins (8)…the only exception is the final game— Rays are 14-4 against them with a +38 run differential…the Rays scored March 30 in Lakeland (Tigers)—after the Rays move their major 69 runs in 10 games against them last season, incl. 8 runs (or more) five league operations to Tropicana Field to prepare for Opening Day. times…the Rays totaled 103 hits, 25 2B and 17 HR in the season series. Ê The Rays have a club-record 77 players on their spring roster: 42 Ê Today's game in Fort Myers is expected to be 9 innings in length. pitchers, 8 catchers, 15 infielders and 12 outfielders…prior to 2021, Ê The Rays have won a club-record eight consecutive games at Fen- the largest camp roster was 76 players (1999)…the 77 players on the way Park, the longest winning streak at an opponent's park in spring roster includes four rehabbing pitchers on the 60-day IL. franchise history…the Rays will enter their game on April 5, 2021 Ê There are 11 new faces on the 40-man roster—four free agents, four at Fenway Park having gone 667 days since their last loss there. acquired via trade and three from the minor league system. Ê Last offseason the Red Sox hired Chaim Bloom, who spent 15 years Ê In 2020, three players who entered spring training as non-roster in the Rays Baseball Operations dept., as Chief Baseball Officer. invites made the Opening Day roster…incl. postseason, nine non- TODAY’S STARTER at BOS—RH Chris Archer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) roster invites spent time on the Rays active roster last season. Ê 2020 Regular Season: Injured—Did Not Pitch PROMO SCHEDULE—The Rays have announced the promotional sched- Ê Signed a one-year contract, $6.5M deal with the Rays on Feb 9. ule for the 2021 season, including an AL Championship Replica Trophy Ê Ranks 2nd in club history with 1,146 SO behind James Shields (April 13 vs. TEX) and five player bobbleheads: Willy Adames Audio Bob- (1,250)…ranks 2nd in starts, 3rd in innings and 4th in wins…has blehead (June 9 vs. WAS), Brandon Lowe Bobblehead (June 26 vs. LAA), double-digit strikeouts in a club-record 28 starts with the Rays. Austin Meadows Bobblehead (July 6 vs. CLE), Randy Arozarena Bobble- Ê In 2020, experienced neck tightness at the start of spring training head (July 31 vs. BOS) and Tyler Glasnow Bobblehead (Aug 21 vs. CWS). and did not make his Grapefruit League debut until March 6. Ê Underwent thoracic outlet surgery on June 2, performed by Dr. THE SKIPPER—Kevin Cash enters his seventh season as Rays manager… Robert Thompson in St. Louis…missed the entire season. he is baseball’s 3rd-longest-tenured manager with his current team be- Ê Became a free agent after the Pirates declined his $11M option. hind OAK Bob Melvin (10th full season) and CLE Terry Francona (9th Ê Named to the AL All-Star Team in 2015 and 2017 and pitched for season)…Cash's career 454-416 (.522) record is the best winning pct. of any Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic…was the Rays nomi- manager in club history…last season he was named AL Manager of the nee for the Roberto Clemente Award in both 2015 and 2016. Year by the BBWAA, receiving 22 of 30 first-place votes…was the second Ê His full bio is on Page 59 of the Rays 2021 Media Guide. manager in Rays history to win it, joining Joe Maddon (2008 and 2011). Ê At 42 years old in 2020, Cash was the youngest manager to reach SEASON MEMBERSHIPS—The Rays have announced a new and innova- the World Series since Ozzie Guillén (41) in 2005 (White Sox). tive Season Membership model in anticipation of fans returning to Tropi- Ê Three other current managers are former members of his coaching cana Field for the 2021 regular season…Rays Season Memberships allow staff: Rocco Baldelli (Twins), Charlie Montoyo (Blue Jays) and Der- fans to choose from six membership levels, each with its own associated ek Shelton (Pirates)…Cash is one of six former Rays players who discount and seating location…to ensure socially-distant seating, tradi- have gone on to manage major league teams…the others: Guillén tional fixed season ticket locations will not be available for 2021. (White Sox, Marlins), Mickey Callaway (Mets), Gabe Kapler (Phil- CHAMPIONS CLUB—To celebrate the Rays advancing to the 2020 World lies, Giants), Dave Martinez (Nationals) and Baldelli (Twins). Series, the team has launched the American League Champions Club, MINOR MATTERS—The Rays enter the 2021 season ranked by Baseball presented by Geico…the club features exclusive experiences and events, America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN and The Athletic as the No.