Game Thread: Rays at Pirates, 3/17/21

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to those of us with Irish heritage and those just looking for an excuse to day-drink! Today, the Bucs are taking on the Rays, with a (sadly) familiar face on the mound for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays (6-9 preseason) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (8-7 preseason) - Wednesday, March 17 @ 1:05 p.m.

Stadium: LECOM Park, Bradenton, Florida

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB Network

Radio: KDKA 1020 AM/100.1 FM

Starting Pitchers

Pirates: Mitch Keller - RHP - (0-0) - 12.00 ERA - 3 total Ks

Rays: Tyler Glasnow - RHP - (0-0) - 3.18 ERA - 10 total Ks

Probable Starting Lineups (subject to last-minute changes)

Pirates

1. Adam Frazier - 2B
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes - 3B
3. Bryan Reynolds - LF
4. Colin Moran - 1B
5. Gregory Polanco - RF
6. Anthony Alford -CF
7. Jacob Stallings - C
8. Erik Gonzalez - DH
9. Cole Tucker - SS

Rays

1. Austin Meadows - LF
2. Manuel Margot - RF
3. Joey Wendle - 3B
4. Mike Brosseau - 1B
5. Francisco Mejia - C
6. Wander Franco - SS
7. Miles Mastrobuoni - 2B
8. Brett Sullivan - DH
9. Ryan Boldt - CF

After getting shellacked by the Orioles on Monday, the Bucs bounced back nicely against the Minnesota Twins yesterday, winning 4-2. Chad Kuhl lived up to his name, tossing three nice innings, and Kevin Newman continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-4.

Mitch Keller will make his third start of the spring today. His last outing against the Orioles on March eleventh was somewhat encouraging; here’s hoping he can go a bit longer and keep his fastball humming. On the other side, Tyler Glasnow (I KNOW I KNOW) has already been named the Rays’ Opening Day starter after a dominant performance over the Braves on the eleventh. Obviously, the Bucs have something to prove there. Wind up those bats, boys. Oh, come on, I can dream.

Power up your GIFs and come hang out!