TAMPA, Fla. – The Rays begin a six-game homestand Tuesday evening. The Phillies are in for three games, followed by the Brewers for a three-game weekend series.
The Rays, who took two of three from the Yankees in the Bronx over the weekend, have struggled in their 2025 home of Steinbrenner Field. They have lost seven of their last eight at the corner of Dale Mabry and MLK while scoring three or fewer runs in each of the defeats. The hope is that a 7-5 win over the Yankees on Sunday, in which the Rays banged out 16 hits, is a sign that the lineup will start to produce on a consistent basis.
READ: Speed Demon Chandler Simpson Ready For Opportunity With Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler Simpson has been a bright spot since he was called up from Triple-A Durham last month. In 14 games, he is hitting .296 and is 6-for-7 in stolen bases. The 24-year-old had a pair hits, scored twice and drove in a run Sunday.
“He puts the bat on the ball as well as anybody in our lineup,” said manager Kevin Cash. “He is seeing the best pitching he has seen in his life and is more than holding his own.”
The Rays, who are 9-13 at home and 16-18 overall, will send Drew Rasmussen (1-2, 2.64 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night. He will be opposed by Zack Wheeler (2-1, 3.48), who 57 strikeouts are second in the National League.
Rasmussen will be making his seventh start and has allowed seven earned runs in 10 innings over his last two assignments. The righthander’s lone win was in his season debut, March 31, against the Pirates.
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