The World Baseball Classic reaches its epic conclusion tonight with a battle between the United States and Venezuela at loanDepot park in Miami. Several Yankees still remain with the team, including Aaron Judge, David Bednar, Paul Goldschmidt, and Tim Hill. After tonight, they’ll head back up to Tampa for the final week of spring training. So, in a way, this St. Patty’s Day clash with the Rays in Port Charlotte is the final time before the Yankees will be whole again.
Will Warren is looking to keep
the good times rolling with his second-to-last tune-up start of the spring. The 26-year-old right-hander was perfect into the fifth inning of his last start against the Tigers, but coughed up a two-run homer to Zach McKinstry in what was the only blemish of a strong outing that qualified as a rare spring quality start. Overall, he’s allowed just three earned runs in 16.1 innings this spring, but would love to get more strikeouts in this one. He tossed 64 pitches in his last start, so expect him to get close to 75 today.
Ryan Pepiot was sneakily the Rays’ ace last year, posting 31 starts of a sub-4 ERA with decent enough peripherals to boot. The 28-year-old, who was the centerpiece of the Tyler Glasnow trade, figures to be in the middle of a solid rotation that will hopefully feature healthier versions of Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen. He’s thrown five strong innings across two starts this spring, albeit with six walks. Expect 60-75 pitches today.
Trent Grisham will lead off and hopefully start to get his bat going. Ben Rice, Jasson Domínguez, and Ryan McMahon follow him up, with the former Rockie getting another start at shortstop to see if the team can maximize the bench. Paul DeJong, J.C. Escarra, Oswaldo Cabrera, Max Schuemann, and Seth Brown round up the Yankees’ lineup.
For prospect-heads like myself, some under-the-radar guys figure to get an at-bat late in the game. Coby Morales, Cole Gabrielson, Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, Hans and Willy Montero, and Enmanuel Tejada are among the prospects available off the bench. Kervin Castro, Geoffrey Gilbert, Yovanny Cruz, Gus Hughes, Jack Sokol, and Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest will be out in the ’pen.
As for the Rays, it’s a similar lineup to what you’ll see on Opening Day. Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, and a recently-returned Junior Caminero start it off, followed by a trio of acquisitions in Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley, and Gavin Lux. Hunter Fedducia, Ben Williamson, and Jonny DeLuca, the other piece in the Glasnow trade, round out the lineup.
How to watch
Location: Charlotte Sports Park — Port Charlotte, FL
First pitch: 1:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: Rays.tv
Radio broadcast: TB Audio
Online stream: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv
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