The Yankees are coming to Port Charlotte today to face the Rays in a matchup of what could be both team's Opening Day fifth starters. Well, that's not entirely true - Bartolo Colon is most likely to start the season in the minors with the Yankees while Freddy Garcia gets the fifth starter's role, but I'm holding out hope that Colon gets the job. It'd be so much fun getting to face him multiple times this season...
Matt Joyce was originally slated to start the game, but got bumped due to "back tightness". Casey Kotchman is getting a start in his place, with Ben Zobrist manning right field and Dan Johnson sliding to DH.
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Who: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays
When & Where: 7:05 PM, Charlotte Sports Park, Charlotte County, Fla.
Radio & TV: WDAE 620 AM, FS Florida
Pitching for the Rays: Jeremy Hellickson, Kyle Farnsworth, Juan Cruz, Joel Peralta
Pitching for the Yanks: Bartolo Colon, Dellin Betances, David Robertson
Rays Lineup: Courtesy of Marc Topkin:
Zobrist rf
Damon lf
Longoria 3b
D. Johnson 1b
Upton cf
Kotchman dh
Rodriguez 2b
Brignac ss