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What you need to know about Monday’s Rays-Nationals game

Who is pitching, where to watch and listen, and what’s ahead for Tampa Bay.
 
In his first start since returning from the injured list, Charlie Morton worked two scoreless, hitless innings at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, striking out the side in the second.
In his first start since returning from the injured list, Charlie Morton worked two scoreless, hitless innings at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, striking out the side in the second. [ KATHY WILLENS | AP ]
Published Sept. 7, 2020

Tonight: at Nationals

6:05, Nationals Park, Washington

TV/radio: Fox Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM, 96.1-FM (Spanish)

Rays info: 1-888-326-7297

Probable pitchers

Rays: In first start since returning from injured list, Morton worked two scoreless, hitless innings Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, striking out the side in the second. In four starts at Nationals Park, he’s 1-2 with a 10.13 ERA that’s the highest of his career in an opposing ballpark.

Nationals: Scherzer gave up three earned runs on seven hits in six innings in Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to Phillies, slamming his glove in frustration after his night was done. Three walks he issued give him 16 in 43⅓ innings (3.32 per nine innings), significantly up from career average (2.44).

On deck

Tuesday: at Nationals, 6:05. Rays, LH Ryan Yarbrough (0-2, 3.65); Nationals, RH Anibal Sanchez (1-4, 6.48)

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: vs. Red Sox, 6:40. Rays, LH Josh Fleming (3-0, 3.52); Red Sox, TBA

Friday: vs. Red Sox, 6:40. Rays, LH Blake Snell (3-0, 3.14); Red Sox, TBA

Injured list

• INF Yandy Diaz, right hamstring strain, 10-day, eligible Sept. 11

• C Mike Zunino, left oblique strain, 10-day, eligible Sept. 5

• LH Ryan Yarbrough, left groin tightness, 10-day, eligible Sept. 8

• LH Jalen Beeks, elbow tear, 45-day, out for season

• RH Chaz Roe, elbow soreness, 45-day, out for season

• RH Yonny Chirinos, Tommy John surgery, 45-day, out for season

• LH Jose Alvarado, shoulder inflammation, 45-day, eligible Sept. 28

• RH Andrew Kittredge, elbow tear, 45-day, out for season

• RH Oliver Drake, biceps tendinitis, 10-day, eligible Aug. 19

• LH Colin Poche, Tommy John surgery, 45-day, out for season

Also: LH Brendan McKay is out for season due to shoulder surgery but is on option to minors, not on injured list

Roster

Pitchers (13): RH Nick Anderson, RH Diego Castillo, RH John Curtiss, RH Pete Fairbanks, LH Josh Fleming, RH Tyler Glasnow, LH Aaron Loup, RH Charlie Morton, LH Cody Reed, RH Trevor Richards, RH Aaron Slegers, LH Blake Snell, RH Ryan Thompson

Catchers (2): Michael Perez, Kevan Smith

Infielders (6): Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Ji-Man Choi, Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe, Joey Wendle

Outfielders (7): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot, Brett Phillips, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo

Some things different about 2020

• Season shortened to 60 games, about 37 percent of usual 162.

• Teams playing only against their division and corresponding geographical division in other league, so for Rays, AL and NL East.

• Doubleheaders games are seven innings rather than nine.

• Rosters were 30 players to start season, but were reduced to 28 and will stay at 28 through the postseason.

• Fans not allowed in Trop, at least at start of season. There are plans, depending on virus situation, to host 5,000-7,000 a game later in season.

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• Fake fan noise, created from recordings of actual crowds and adapted for and then from MLB The Show video game, will be played, along with more music and sound effects.

• Most weekday home games start at 6:40 p.m., moved up from 7:10. All games on Fox Sports Sun.

• For extra-inning games, each team will start with runner on second. The runner is the batter who made last out of previous inning or a pinch-runner.

• All pitchers must face minimum of three batters, except for injury or illness.

• DH will be used in both leagues.

• Injured list stays are 10 days for all players (shortened from 15 for pitchers), and long-term list is 45 days, down from 60.

• Games halted due to weather before becoming official will be resumed at later date, not started over.