Game 72: Rays at Seattle Mariners — Pregame News and Notes
Updated 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay will turn to Josh Fleming on Saturday to end the team’s short skid. The Rays (43–28) have dropped four straight games, including the first two in Seattle, after winning 24 of 29. Tampa Bay still have the top spot in the American League East by a half game over Boston, although the Red Sox won earlier in the day to pull even pending tonight’s game against Seattle.
Here’s the Rays lineup:
Arozarena DH
Choi 1B
Diaz 3B
Meadows LF
Margot RF
Wendle 2B
Walls SS
Zunino C
Kiermaier CF
The Rays are now 1–4 on their current road trip, and regardless of the outcome in the final two games, with have the team’s first sub-.500 trip since the first week of the year. Tampa Bay is 3–11 in the team’s last 14 games in Seattle dating back to 2016. The Mariners (36–36) have won five of six overall and nine of the team’s last 12 home games.
Josh Fleming (6–4 3.20) will start tonight. Fleming threw four shutout innings last Sunday against Baltimore in a 7–1 win. He has never pitched at Seattle.
Here’s the lineup for Seattle:
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Crawford SS
Haniger RF
France 1B
Seager 3B
Murphy C
Bauers DH
Moore 2B
Fraley CF
Long Jr LF
Tampa Bay has had to use its bullpen a great deal this road trip with the injury to Tyler Glasnow, so Mike Brosseau was optioned after the game. Pitcher Drew Rasmussen has been called up from Durham, giving Tampa Bay another reliever. Rasmussen, who was acquired from Milwaukee in the Willie Adames trade, threw 11.1 scoreless innings for Durham, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out 23.
Rasmussen, who originally was drafted by Tampa Bay, says he was excited to be joining the Rays in Seattle. Rasmussen flew to Seattle with his wife Stevie, and 30 or so family are coming to the game, with many more friends getting tickets as well. Rasmussen raved about the clubhouse environment in Durham and the messaging from the Rays.
Seattle will start rookie Logan Gilbert (2–2 4.13), the team’s top pick in the draft in 2018. Gilbert, who went to Stetson University, has had four straight starts where he’s allowed two runs or fewer. In his last outing, Gilbert gave up one run in 6.2 innings at Cleveland.
In the Rays minor league system, the three Tampa Bay affiliates that played won on Friday night:
Durham (26–13) won 4–3 at Orioles affiliate Norfolk. Dalton Kelly hit a pinch-hit grand slam. Josh Lowe had two doubles, and Drew Strotman allowed a run over five innings.
Montgomery (17–21) was rained out at Marlins affiliate Pensacola.
Bowling Green (27–13) edged Braves affiliate Rome 7–5 in 11. Niko Hulsizer, Grant Witherspoon and Jacson McGowan homered.
Charleston (26–13) shut out Myrtle Beach 4–0. Taj Bradley struck out eight in five innings of one-hit ball. Curtis Mead doubled and drove in a pair of runs.
Coverage on the Rays Radio Network begins at 9:30 p.m. and Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 10:10.
