UPDATE, 12:12: Today is the 28th doubleheader in Rays history, with a 4-12-11 record thus far. It’s the ninth traditional (as opposed to day/night) DH they’ve played, with a 1-2-5 record. ... With today’s doubleheader and a day game tomorrow the Rays are playing three games that start within a 25-hour window. ... The 19 wins are the most in franchise history by the end of April. ... This is the third time in the 22-year franchise history the Rays had multiple rainouts on the same road trip, also 2000 in Baltimore and 2004 in New York.
UPDATE, 12:07: Cash said he has some ideas on the Game 2 lineup but will wait to see how guys are feeling after the opener. ... He also reiterated that he felt the Royals made the right move switching the planned night game to part of the daytime doubleheader. ... Charlie Morton will start Thursday vs. the Royals and Tyler Glasnow Friday in the opener of the series in Baltimore, with the Rays looking at either back to back opener days over the weekend or a callup from Triple-A.
Here is the Royals Game 1 lineup:
Merrifield 2b
Mondesi ss
Gordon lf
Dozier 1b
Soler dh
Gutierrez 3b
Owings rf
Maldonado c
Hamilton cf
Junis p
DEVELOPING: After being rained on Tuesday, and knowing more heavy rain is expected tonight, the Rays and Royals adjusted the schedule and will try to play two games this afternoon, starting at 1:15 Tampa Bay time. The second game is slated to start 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. (Both games will be shown by Fox Sports Sun and carried on 95.3 FM and the Rays radio network).
The Rays will have KC-area product Ryne Stanek as the opener in the first game, with lefty Jalen Beeks likely to work the bulk of the innings behind him. Ace Blake Snell will pitch the second game, a strategy apparently no more complex than allowing Snell, who was to start Tuesday, to avoid rushing to be ready for the early game. The Rays are adding Austin Pruitt as the 26th man, though he is only eligible for the second game.
The Royals are using Tuesday starter Jakob Junis in the first game and 26th-man callup Glenn Sparkman in the second.
The Rays finished April with the best record in the majors at 19-9.
Here is the Rays lineup for the opener:
B. Lowe 2b
Pham lf
Choi DH
Diaz 3b
N. Lowe 1b
Garcia rf
Kiermaier cf
Adames ss
Perez c
Stanek p