Port Charlotte, FLA – Tampa Bay Rays’ All-Star, Austin Meadows was slated to lead off and play left field for the Rays on Monday against the Red Sox. As the Rays took the field it became evident that Meadows was no longer a part of the starting lineup for the day. Manuel Margo was warming up in left as starting pitcher, Yonny Chirinos began his warm-ups.
The original lineup submitted was as follows:
The Rays will roll out a power-packed top half of the lineup on Monday.
LF-Austin Meadows (L)
3B-Yandy Diaz (R)
1B-Ji-Man Choi (L)
RF-Hunter Renfroe (R)
DH-Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (L)
SS-Willy Adames (R)
CF-Kevin Kiermaier (L)
C-Chris Herrmann (L)
2B-Joey Wendle (L)
The Red Sox had the following lineup:
SS-Jose Peraza (R)
3B-Tzu Wei Lin (L)
1B-Michael Chavis (R)
C-Kevin Plawecki (R)
DH-Rusney Castillo (R)
LF-John Andreoli (R)
RF-Nick Longhi (R)
2B-Jeter Downs (R)
CF-Jarren Duran (L)
At first, there was only curiosity as to why the star outfielder wasn’t in the lineup.