Advertisement

For starters: Sergio Romo on mound tonight as Rays open series against Orioles

The pitcher is making his third career “start’’ in the Rays’ new strategy of opening a game with a reliever, who is charged with getting three to six outs.
 
Sergio Romo pitches in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last week at Angel Stadium. [Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images]
Sergio Romo pitches in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last week at Angel Stadium. [Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images]
Published May 25, 2018|Updated May 25, 2018

By JOEY JOHNSTON
Times Correspondent

ST. PETERSBURG — For openers, the Rays will use RHP Sergio Romo, the 35-year-old career reliever, as tonight's starter against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field.

Romo is making his third career "start'' in the Rays' new strategy of opening a game with a reliever, who is charged with getting three to six outs. Romo is also scheduled to start Sunday's finale in the three-game series, while RHP Ryne Stanek gets his first career start in Saturday's game.

In other news:

* Rays 2B Joey Wendle has returned to the lineup after paternity leave and will bat third tonight. Wendell and wife Lindsay welcomed a baby boy, Jack Joseph, on Tuesday morning.

* Rays RHP Nathan Eovaldi (arthroscopic elbow surgery) is scheduled to make his first Tampa Bay start Tuesday night at Oakland.

* Rays OF Carlos Gomez (groin strain) hit two home runs in an extended spring-training game Friday at Port Charlotte, according to Manager Kevin Cash. Gomez was scheduled to arrive at the Trop on Friday for further examination. If all goes well, Gomez will come off the disabled list on Saturday or Sunday.

Tonight's lineups:

Orioles
Trey Mancini DH
Adam Jones CF
Manny Machado SS
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Danny Valencia 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Craig Gentry LF
Andrew Susac C
Joey Rickard RF
David Hess RHP

Rays (updated with Span trade)
Brad Miller, 1B

C.J. Cron, DH

Joey Wendle, 2B

Wilson Ramos, C

Matt Duffy, 3B

Mallex Smith, CF

Daniel Robertson, SS

Johnny Field, RF

Rob Refsnyder, LF

Sergio Romo, RHP