Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

The dish

Rays vs. Nationals

When/where: 6:08 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: None; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers:

RAYS: RH Andy Sonnanstine (4-6, 7.00)

Nationals: RH Jordan Zimmer­mann (2-3, 5.71)

Promotion: Postgame concert by Ludacris

Watch for ...

In the park: Sonnanstine has pitched well in his past couple of starts but been hurt by the long ball, including four homers against the Yankees in his last outing. Right-handers are hitting .418 against him. Only two Nationals have faced Sonnanstine. Alberto Gonzalez is 0-for-1, and Josh Willingham is 1-for-6.

Stepping up: Zimmermann, a 2007 second-round pick, is winless in his past five starts. But the rookie pitched well in his last outing, giving up two earned runs in six innings against the Giants. He has never faced the Rays.

On deck

Sunday: vs. Nationals, 1:38, FSN. Rays — James Shields (5-5, 3.36); Nationals — Ross Detwiler (0-3, 5.06)

Monday: Off

Tuesday: at Rockies, 8:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (5-4, 4.12); Rockies — Jorge de la Rosa (2-6, 5.08)

Wednesday: at Rockies, 8:40, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (1-0, 2.37); Rockies — Aaron Cook (5-3, 4.26)

Thursday: at Rockies, 3:10, FSN. Rays — Matt Garza (4-4, 3.63); Rockies — Ubaldo Jimenez (5-6, 3.92)

Guest of the day

USF football coach Jim Leavitt was at Friday's game with his daughter Deandra, 13, and both got to visit with some Rays, including Evan Longoria. "He said he came to our game against Pittsburgh last year (a 26-21 Bulls loss)," Leavitt said. "I said, 'That was a rough one.' " Leavitt said of the Rays, "What they've done is probably one of the greatest stories there is in all of sports."

Quote of the day

"I saw (Scott Kazmir) as an opposing player when I was with the Red Sox, and I saw him really good. And (Friday), I saw some signs that suggested that that's not far away."

RF Gabe Kapler, left, on facing Kazmir in a simulated game

Numbers of the day

34 Pitches by Matt Garza in the first inning Friday.

20 Interleague RBIs by Evan Longoria entering Friday, which was third most in the majors since 2008, according to Stats, Inc.