UPDATE, 12:26: Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch on left forearm in rehab game for Stone Crabs in Clearwater, was only grazed and is slated to DH today. Also of note, he played SS which could make him interesting option when he returns. Cash said he is “confident” Duffy can play there again. ... The Rays are serious about INF Jake Cronenworth as a two-way player, as he opened for AAA Durham last night, hit 94-96 mph. "It would be a nice weapon if it clicks,'' Cash said. "Interesting to see how that develops.'' Cronenworth pitched in college at Michigan.
UPDATE, 12:09: Cash said just a day off for Garcia trying to manage his workload. Also main thing in building lineup today vs. Yankees was balance and not clumping lefties knowing Britton and Chapman are looming. ... It’s the second start of the season in right for Lowe. .. As for not getting too wrapped up in the standings, Cash said: "I think you try to stay in the moment, stay in the series a little bit. Look anytime we play the Yankees they’re “big” games. But I think as everybody is recognizing we’re in the middle of May, towards the end of May, whatever it is, so we want to just continue to play games, and try to find ways to win series. We’ve done that, now we’ve got some work to do today.''
DEVELOPING: The Rays talk more than anything about winning series, and they will have that opportunity this afternoon when they play the final of game of a weekend trio in New York.
The first two have been close, the Yankees winning on a walkoff in the ninth on Friday, the Rays in 11 innings on Saturday.
Charlie Morton will be on the mound today for the Rays, while the Yankees - fittingly, on the one-year anniversary of the Rays first using the strategy - will deploy an opener, of sorts, in Chad Green. What’s not clear is how long he will pitch, or who the Yankees will bring in after him.
As a result, the Rays lineup has a bit of a different look, structured to provide balance and flexibility for late game moves. Most notably, Daniel Robertson starting at second with Brandon Lowe in right.
Here is the Rays lineup:
Meadows dh
Pham lf
Choi 1b
Diaz 3b
B. Lowe rf
d’Arnaud c
Kiermaier cf
Adames ss
Robertson 2b
Morton p