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For starters: Rays at Red Sox, facing an old friend

 
Published Aug. 18, 2018|Updated Aug. 18, 2018

UPDATE, 6:14: The tarp is coming off, so they may start on time at 7:10.

UPDATE, 6:10: Just a planned day off for Smith, Cash said, unrelated to his collision with the rightfield wall on Friday. … Glasnow should be in the 90-100 pitch range tonight. … RHP Ryne Stanek is the the likely choice to open Sunday's game in front of LHP Jalen Beeks, but that could change depending how Saturday's game goes. … Cash said he was basically playing a hunch in having Gomez lead off since he wanted to put a right-hander up there and Gomez had some good swings on Friday. … The Sox say Sale's shoulder issue is not a big deal and he is expected to miss only a couple starts at most. They have not announced a starter for Sunday in his place but are leaning toward RHP Hector Velazquez. … The tarp has been on much of the afternoon but the bad weather is expected to clear for game time.

UPDATE, 3:59: With Mallex Smith getting a night off, the Rays needed someone else to hit at the top of the order. Manager Kevin Cash chose Carlos Gomez, but not for good reason, as Gomez is 1-for-23 with 10 strikeouts vs. Price.

Here is the Rays lineup:
Gomez rf
Duffy 3b
Bauers 1b
Pham lf
Cron dh
Wendle 2b
Adames ss
Kiermaier cf
Perez c
Glasnow p

DEVELOPING: The Rays will try again against the majors-best Red Sox tonight, and they will be facing an old friend in former ace LHP David Price.

This will be Price's 14th outing against his original team since being traded in July 2014, and he is 4-4, 3.32 thus far.

The Rays are starting RHP Tyler Glasnow, the hard thrower acquired July 31 in the Chris Archer deal they hope develops into a future ace. Glasnow worked five innings and threw 79 pitches on Sunday in Toronto and is close to being fully stretched out as a starter after working in relief for Pittsburgh.

RELATED: Price on Rays' 10-year reunion, Archer/Beeks deal, openers, more

Of note, the Sox on Saturday placed ace LHP Chris Sale back on the DL with a shoulder issue, so the Rays will get a reprieve as he was slated to start Sunday.

Tonight's game will be the 14th time this season the Rays face a starter who is an ex-mate. They are 6-7 thus far, going 4-0 vs. Baltimore's Alex Cobb, 1-0 vs. Kansas City's Jason Hammel, 0-1 vs. Texas' Matt Moore, 0-1 vs. Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi, 0-2 vs. Chicago's James Shields and 1-3 vs. Price.

Here is the Red Sox lineup:
Betts RF,
Benintendi LF,
Moreland 1B,
Martinez DH,
Bogaerts SS,
Kinsler 2B,
Holt 3B,
León C,
Bradley Jr. CF,
Price P