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Rays report: Pete Fairbanks opens matinee against Nationals

Rookie Josh Fleming is expected to work the bulk of the innings to wrap up the two-game series.
 
The Rays will use reliever Pete Fairbanks as the opener for today's game against the Nationals.
The Rays will use reliever Pete Fairbanks as the opener for today's game against the Nationals. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]
Published Sept. 16, 2020|Updated Sept. 16, 2020

The Rays are looking to make it a sweep of the quick two-game series against the Nationals in today’s matinee, first pitch 1:10.

Rookie Josh Fleming was lined up to start, but the Rays instead will use reliever Pete Fairbanks as the opener today. It will be Fairbanks' first “start” in the majors, though he did make one such appearance at Triple-A Durham last year and was a starter earlier in his career.

Manager Kevin Cash said a big part of the reasoning was that Fairbanks has not been as sharp lately and the change of roles may help, as it benefited some other relievers previously. “He has been in kind of that pressure-cooker environment lately every time he’s come in,” Cash said.

The Rays leave after the game today for Baltimore, where they play a doubleheader on Thursday. They will be the “home” team for the second game, which is a makeup of the Aug. 27 postponement at Tropicana Field.

Blake Snell will pitch the first game at 4:35, with the second to be determined. Trevor Richards, a candidate to start, was at the Trop Wednesday morning, which would mean he is either on the taxi squad, will be designated as the “29th man” for the doubleheader, or both.

Also of note:

* Cody Reed’s pinky issue is not getting better and will require “more detailed” evaluation. He was throwing a bullpen session Tuesday in Port Charlotte and had to stop after 11 pitches. “The finger is not just feeling right for whatever reason,” Cash said.

* Catcher Mike Zunino (oblique) is getting some more at-bats this morning in Port Charlotte. If all goes well, he will join the Rays on the trip to Baltimore and New York (Mets), with the idea that he’d be activated after the weekend.

* Though Yandy Diaz (hamstring) was playing catch on the field Wednesday morning with head athletic trainer Joe Benge, Cash said Diaz still is “pretty limited with running and putting pressure on his hamstring area" and progress, as expected, has been slow.

Here is the Rays' lineup for Wednesday, against struggling Nationals right-hander Austin Voth:

Meadows DH

B. Lowe 2b

Arozarena lf

N. Lowe 1b

Margot rf

Wendle 3b

Adames ss

Kiermaier cf

Perez c

Fairbanks p

And for the Nationals:

Eaton rf

Hernandez dh

Turner ss

Soto lf

Cabrera 1b

Gomes c

Kieboom 3b

Garcia 2b

Robles cf

Voth p