Rays adjust schedule to avoid conflicts with 2 Bucs home games

TAMPA — The Rays have adjusted their schedule to avoid conflicts with two Bucs home games and eliminate significant logistical, traffic and parking hassles with the stadiums sitting across Dale Mabry Highway from each other.The Rays’ game with the Cardinals Aug. 23 at Steinbrenner Field now will be played on Aug. 21, a Thursday that had been an off day for both teams. Instead, they will have a rare Saturday off. The Bucs will play an exhibition game against the Bills Aug. 23 at Raymond James Stadium with a 7:35 p.m. start.The Rays’ regular-season home finale Sept. 21 against the Red Sox will be pushed back from a planned 12:10 p.m. start to 7:35. The Bucs will play their home opener against the Jets that same day, with a 1 p.m. kickoff.In addition to having 75,000-plus fans heading to the same area, the conflicts would have put a major squeeze on parking, as most Rays fans have been using the north Raymond James lots. There also would be a strain on police/emergency personnel, as well as issues for workers who have gigs at both stadiums.Tickets with the original dates and times can be used for the rescheduled games, the Rays said. Fans interested in exchanging tickets for other 2025 regular season games at Steinbrenner Field can email tickets@raysbaseball.com, though some exclusions may apply.The Rays had asked the NFL to avoid any conflicts, if possible. They did get one break in that the Bucs will open the regular season at Atlanta on Sept. 7, while the Rays are hosting Cleveland.Infielder Ha-Seong Kim and outfielder Jonny DeLuca are headed to Triple-A Durham with plans to start playing rehab games on Monday.DeLuca, sidelined since early April with a right shoulder strain, served as the DH on Saturday for the Florida Complex League team. Kim, signed as he was recovering from October surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, worked out with the major-league team before Saturday’s game.At Durham, they will join two other rehabbers: reliever Kevin Kelly (left gluteal strain), who blew a save Saturday by giving up two seventh-inning runs in the first game of a doubleheader, and outfielder Jake Mangum (left groin strain), who had the day off.Ace starter Shane McClanahan has increased the distance at which he is playing catch to 90-100 feet but is still in the early stages of a throwing program.With repair work on Tropicana Field slated to start in June, the Rays are literally cleaning out the closets and hosting a Pre-Construction Charity Yard Sale on May 31 in the Lot 7 parking area.The Rays say there will be more than 75,000 items available that had been in storage at the stadium, including bobbleheads, drinkware, previous promotional items, and team hats, shirts and other clothing. Proceeds benefit the team foundation.The event is free and open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Season ticket members will get access at 10 a.m.) Fans who buy a bag for $20 will get a voucher for two complimentary tickets to a 2025 regular-season game. There also will be free hot dogs for anyone purchasing an item.The Trop sustained significant damage from Hurricane Milton, forcing the Rays to play this season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the spring home of the Yankees.The Rays announced their 31st sellout in 33 home games, with a crowd of 10,046. ... Part of the calculus in determining how many innings Drew Rasmussen pitches each start is a team-determined cap of 150 innings for the season. ... Ex-Ray Kevin Kiermaier was at the games in his new role as a special assistant in the Blue Jays organization working with outfielders. ... The Rays have won four of their last five series and three straight at home. • • • Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook .

Rays adjust schedule to avoid conflicts with 2 Bucs home games

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