ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After a mostly productive spring training, the Tampa Bay Rays are limping into the start of the regular season.
Injuries have hampered the team’s infield and pitching staff the last couple of weeks, impacting the starting lineup going into Thursday’s season-opening game at St. Louis.
Top prospect Carson Williams moves into the starting shortstop role due to Taylor Walls starting the season on the injured list because of his right oblique.
Meanwhile, second baseman Gavin Lux’s debut with the Tampa Bay Rays is going to have to wait.
The club is placing the veteran infielder on injured reserve with right shoulder pain. The move means Richie Palacios will make the opening day roster for Tampa Bay.
Now the pitching staff.
Starter Ryan Pepiot is headed to the injured list with right hip inflammation. Joe Boyle will step in top that starting slot.
Pepiot, who led the Rays with 167-plus innings pitched last year, is not expected to be out longer than the 15-day IL stint, said Rays manager Kevin Cash.
Also, Nick Martinez will see his first start for the Rays pushed back a few days due to a hamstring issue.
The opening day lineup likely will be Yandy Diaz leading off at DH, followed by Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Cedric Mullins (CF), Palacios (2B), Johnny DeLuca (RF), Chandler Simpson (LF), Nick Fortes (C) and Williams (SS).
Drew Rasmussen will pitch on Thursday, followed by Boyle and Steven Matz.
Tampa Bay opens the season with a 3-game series at St. Louis, followed by three at Milwaukee and three at Minnesota. The Rays open their home slate April 6 back at Tropicana Field against the Chicago Cubs.
On Wednesday, the team announced its complete opening day roster:
The Tampa Bay Rays have placed infielder Gavin Lux (right shoulder impingement) and infielder Taylor Walls (right oblique strain) on the 10-day injured list, right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot (right hip inflammation) and right-handed pitcher Edwin Uceta (right shoulder impingement) on the 15-day injured list, and right-handed pitcher Steven Wilson (lumbar disc inflammation) on the 60-day injured list, finalizing their 26-man Opening Day roster. Additionally, the Rays selected left-handed pitcher Cam Booser to the 40-man roster and optioned him to Triple-A Durham.
LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS (4): Garrett Cleavinger, Steven Matz, Shane McClanahan, Ian Seymour
RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS (9): Bryan Baker, Joe Boyle, Mason Englert, Yoendrys Gómez, Griffin Jax, Kevin Kelly, Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen, Cole Sulser
CATCHERS (2): Hunter Feduccia, Nick Fortes
INFIELDERS (5): Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Carson Williams, Ben Williamson
OUTFIELDERS (6): Jonny DeLuca, Jake Fraley, Cedric Mullins, Richie Palacios, Chandler Simpson, Ryan Vilade
10-DAY INJURED LIST (2): INF Gavin Lux, INF Taylor Walls
15-DAY INJURED LIST (2): RHP Ryan Pepiot, RHP Edwin Uceta
60-DAY INJURED LIST (2): RHP Manuel Rodríguez (recovery from right elbow surgery), RHP Steven Wilson