Secure matter
Security around the team will be increased after a scary incident during Saturday night's game in Bradenton against the Pirates, when a man upset the Rays had visited Cuba ran onto the field, screamed obscenities and threw a can of beer into their dugout. "I think we'll do a good job of carrying and having plenty of security and see how it kind of plays out," manager Kevin Cash said. The man — identified by 10News WTSP as Heliodoro Gutierrez, 67, of Bradenton and of Cuban descent — was arrested and charged with trespassing, causing affray and assault, Bradenton police said.
Attendance woes?
Entering Sunday's contest, the 11th non-split-squad home game this spring, attendance at Charlotte Sports Park was up 11 percent from 2015. Through the first 10 home contests, the Rays were averaging 5,463, up from 4,936 this time last year. Paid attendance for Easter Sunday was 5,835.
Number of the day
20,000 Dollars the Rays will contribute today to the building of the Sulphur Springs Youth Development Park in Tampa at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The park, intended to provide local youth with a clean, safe place to play and learn the game, features new dugouts, scoreboard, backstop and bleachers among other amenities.
Rays roster
A look at the 35 players remaining on the spring roster:
Pitchers (18): Matt Andriese, Chris Archer, Andrew Bellatti, Brad Boxberger, David Carpenter, LH Xavier Cedeno, Alex Cobb, Alex Colome, LH Dana Eveland, Danny Farquhar, Steve Geltz, LH Matt Moore, Jake Odorizzi, Erasmo Ramirez, LH Enny Romero, LH Drew Smyly, Ryan Webb, Chase Whitley
Catchers (3): Curt Casali, Hank Conger, Rene Rivera
Infielders (8): Tim Beckham, Logan Forsythe, James Loney, Evan Longoria, Brad Miller, Logan Morrison, Steve Pearce, Richie Shaffer
Outfielders (6): Corey Dickerson, Brandon Guyer, Desmond Jennings, Kevin Kiermaier, Mikie Mahtook, Steven Souza Jr.
The dish
Today: Off
Heads-up
The only action at the Charlotte Sports Park today will be Triple-A and Double-A games against Red Sox teams. No major-league personnel are participating, per the Rays.
On deck
Rays tickets: Range from $10-24, available at raysbaseball.com, by calling toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS), and at CSP or Tropicana Field box offices, team Tampa Store (400 N Tampa St.).
Tuesday: at Blue Jays (Dunedin), 1:05. Rays — Matt Andriese; Jays — Arnold Leon
Wednesday: vs. Red Sox, 1:05. Rays — TBA; Red Sox — TBA
Thursday: vs. Pirates, 1:05. Rays — TBA; Pirates — TBA