Today's lineup, per Marc Topkin:
Fuld CF
Zobrist RF
Damon DH
Longoria 3B
Joyce LF
Kotchman 1B
Rodriguez 2B
Brignac SS
Jaso C
Players to watch:
- Sam Fuld will be in center field again as B.J. Upton finishes his short suspension. Yesterday, Fuld misplayed a ball or two in center, but the Rays should be fine with the speedy Sam in center. Expect him to look much better in his second day in the middle.
- Sean Rodriguez gets the start today despite a right-handed pitcher (Jeremy Guthrie) on the mound. Rodriguez has hit well this season, but has yet to show the power stroke he had in the minor leagues as recently as 2009 (when he hit 30 homers between the Rays' and Angels' Triple-A teams). Hopefully Rodriguez can start finding some power today against a weaker pitcher like Guthrie.
- John Jaso, despite hitting two early homers this year, has not hit up to his expected talent level. His walks are down this year, but so are his strikeouts. It appears he has been the recipient of some bad luck, so hopefully a few more hits fall for him today.