Game 65: Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays-Pregame News and Notes

Updated 4:25 P.M. After dropping three of four games to the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, the Rays (29–35) will look to salvage their seven-game home-stand with a three-game series against an AL East foe, the Toronto Blue Jays (30–35). Tampa Bay currently sits a half-game behind Toronto for third place in the AL East. The Rays took two out of three from the Jays the first time these two teams met this season.

Here’s the Rays lineup for the series opener. With Jake Bauers being moved up to second in the order, and Willy Adames back for his second major league stint.

Duffy 3B

Bauers 1B

Ramos C

Cron DH

Wendle 2B

Adames SS

Smith CF

Gomez RF

Refsnyder

Ryan Yarbrough (4–2, 3.68 ERA) will start the game for the Rays in what is expected to be a bullpen day. Ryne Stanek was originally slated to start the game, but was scratched after throwing 25 pitches in the ninth inning yesterday. Yarbrough pitched five innings of one-hit ball in relief against Toronto in the opener of the first series between the two teams in early May. The lefty last pitched Wednesday in Washington, allowing 10 hits and five runs (four earned) in 5.1 innings against the Nats.

Below is the lineup Yarbrough will face for Toronto:

Hernandez LF

Solarte 3B

Smoak 1B

Morales DH

Pillar CF

Martin C

Grichuk RF

Diaz SS

Travis 2B

Toronto will give the ball to Sam Gaviglio, who’s been a pleasant surprise for them. The second-year pitcher currently sports a 2.51 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00 in six appearances (four starts) with the Jays so far this season. Rays hitters have a combined three at-bats total against Gaviglio, two by Daniel Robertson, one by Rob Refsnyder.

The Rays announced Monday that they placed Robertson on the 10-day DL with a left hamstring strain suffered in Sunday’s game. In a corresponding move, Adames has been brought back up from Triple-A Durham. Adames, the Rays top positional prospect, made his first major league stint in a three-game series against the Red Sox last month.

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Bauers was disappointed Robertson is on the DL, but Bauers and his good friend Willy Adames will be playing together for the first as major leaguers.

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Robertson described his hamstring strain as “the mildest of the mild” and expects to be ready to rejoin the Rays as soon as his 10 day DL stint. Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier also confirmed he will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow, with the goal of him being active by the start of the next homestand.

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Adeiny Hechavarria starts his rehab with Charlotte tonight.

In addition, manager Kevin Cash said before the game that starting pitcher Chris Archer will not throw in a simulated game as scheduled tomorrow. Archer is dealing with abdominal soreness he experienced after throwing a bullpen on Saturday. It’s that abdominal soreness than landed Archer on the DL.

The team also announced last night that they’ve traded infielder Brad Miller and cash considerations to the Milwaukee Brewers for first basemen Ji-Man Choi. Miller was designated for assingment last week when the Rays called up Jake Bauers. A left-handed hitter from Korea, Choi played 12 games with the Brewers this season, and has also spent parts of three seasons with the Angels and Yankees. He will report to Triple-A Durham.

Speaking of Durham, here are Sunday’s results from the minor league system:

Durham (36–25): won 6–1 at Twins affiliate Rochester to sweep that series. Kean Wong was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Chih-Wei Hu, Colin Poche and Jaime Schultz combined on a five-hitter. Andrew Velazquez had two hits and three RBI, while Nick Ciuffo had three hits and two runs scored.

Montgomery (33–30) edged Twins affiliate Chattanooga 2–1. Sam McWilliams allowed a run on three hits over seven innings. Jake Cronenworth had two hits and drove in both runs.

Charlotte (28–31) defeated Phillies affiliate Clearwater 5–3. Brock Burke went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs, while Tristan Gray had a double and two RBI.

Bowling Green (40–21) rolled to an 8–4 win at Reds affiliate Dayton. Vidal Brujan had two hits and two runs scored, while Moises Gomez had three hits including a homer.

Coverage of today’s game begins at 6:30 p.m with the pregame show on the Rays Radio Network. Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 7:10.