Series Preview: Rays at Red Sox

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Mascot DJ Kitty of the Tampa Bay Rays waves a flag after defeating the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) | Getty Images This is what everyone expected at the start of th

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What is the story about?

This is what everyone expected at the start of the season. Solid pitching. Good defense. Runs on offense. The Sox head home after their first sweep of 2026, taking all three games from the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are now under .500 at 18-20, barely better than the disaster of a start 16-21 Red Sox.

Now they welcome in the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, sellers in the offseason, once again are finding ways to win. Shockingly at 24-12, they join the Yankees as the only AL teams over .500. And the Yankees lost

(they’re still 25-12) putting the Sox, uh, 9.0 games back in the AL East and 1.5 in the Wild Card.

Thursday night, the Rays are starting Griffin Jax. Acquired from the Minnesota Twins, Jax has been a reliever but the Rays are converting him to the rotation. He’s made 2 “starts” on the season – 2.1 innings and 2.2 innings – against the Twins and Giants, respectively. He didn’t allow a run either time and struck out 4 against 2 walks. Tampa is trying to build up his arm strength and stretch him out in the majors, so don’t expect a long outing this series. He’ll be opposed by Jake Bennett making his second career major league start. His first outing was a 5-inning, 5-hit, 1-run, 2-walk, 3-strikeout performance against the Houston Astros.

Tampa doesn’t have any other starters listed as of yet. FanGraphs suggests Mason Englert, Nick Martinez, and Drew Rasmussen could be the probables. Englert is a reliever and would presumably be the opener. He’s currently on the IL so they’ve have to make a move. He hasn’t pitched since April 19 and had a 7.11 ERA when he went down. Connelly Early will look to bounce back from an off day last time out against Englert or whoever opens and bulk relieves.

The Rays picked up Nick Martinez for a year this winter and he’s been great. 1.71 ERA / 3.45 FIP over 42 innings. Only 28 Ks but also just 10 walks. So it’s a mixed bag.

Drew Rasmussen is a starting pitcher, another righty (they all are) which helps with all the lefty bats the Sox have on hand. Rasmussen doesn’t tend to go more than about 90 pitches, which can get him through 6.0 innings. A 2.95 ERA / 3.74 FIP an about a strikeout per inning? He could be a tough customer. He has issued just 6 walks on his 36.2 innings this year – as many walks as home runs allowed.

Junior Caminero has 9 homers and Jonathan Aranda 7 to lead the team.

Chandler Simpson has 12 steals already but also has been caught 4 times.

Yandy Diaz is getting on base at a .406 clip.

Boston is still waiting for news on Ranger Suárez to plan out the rest of the weekend.