Tampa Bay Rays: Joe Maddon picks "minimalist" travel theme; J.P. Howell gets a birthday spanking

Rays vs. Angels

When/where: 1:10 today; Tropicana Field

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Tickets: $9-210, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.

Probable pitchers

RAYS:

LH Matt Moore (0-1, 5.12)

ANGELS:

RH Jerome Williams (1-1, 7.71)

Watch for …

More Moore: The rookie lefty is winless through three starts, primarily because of a high walk rate, 5.50 per nine innings pitched, sixth highest of AL starters. Also, lefties are hitting .500 (10-for-20), righties .189 (10-for-53).

Remember him: Williams, 30, who has allowed three or fewer earned runs in five of his past six starts, last faced the Rays on June 8, 2004, beating them as a Giant.

Key matchups

Rays VS. WILliams

Brandon Allen 1-for-5

ANGELS VS. moore

None have faced

On deck

Friday: at Rangers, 8:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (3-0, 2.76); Rangers — Matt Harrison (3-0, 1.66)

Saturday: at Rangers, 8:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (1-2, 4.11); Rangers — Neftali Feliz (1-1, 2.70)

Sunday: at Rangers, 8:05, ESPN. Rays — David Price (3-1, 2.63); Rangers — Colby Lewis (2-0, 2.03)

Rays disabled list

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day

RHP Kyle Farnsworth, right elbow strain, 15-day

OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery, 60-day

C Jose Lobaton, right shoulder soreness, 15-day

Themed trip of the day

Manager Joe Maddon decided the quick weekend jaunt to Texas would be themed, appropriately, as the "Minimalist" trip. "I'm hoping everybody just brings their little carry-on luggage," Maddon said. "One pair of jeans, three shirts, some socks, and those who wear underwear bring underwear. And your toiletries. … As we move forward into this century I think minimalism is going to become a more popular concept."

Streak of the day

551/3

Innings by Rays pitchers without allowing a home run before Vernon Wells' solo shot in the fourth; the team record is 59⅔, set in 2006.

Quote of the day

"29 spanks on the right cheek from Kyle Farnsworth. … And it's a big paw."

LHP J.P. Howell, on the most interesting "gift" he got for his birthday Wednesday