The Rays open a brief, to put it mildly, two-game homestand tonight against the Dodgers, and they’ll have the added challenge of facing three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw, who will be making his first career start at the Trop.
The Rays wrapped a five-game, six-day roadtrip in New York on Sunday, then after having Monday off play two games against the Dodgers and leave after Wednesday’s game for Cleveland, where they open a four-game series and then return home. It is only the third time in franchise history, and first since 1999, they have a two-game stand.