The Rays continued their preparations for the 2020 season with a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins in Fort Meyers this afternoon.
The Rays are 8-5 on the spring and Cuban prospect Randy Arozarena leads the Rays with a .571 batting average and has driven in six runs.
The Rays pitchers have been sharp this spring with Diego Castillo striking out six in four innings of work, Tyler Glasnow has five strikeouts, and Ryan Yarbrough has given up one run in six innings of work while striking out seven.
The inconsistent Jose Alvarado who has said that his personal issues are behind him and he can now focus on baseball has given up three runs in four innings for a 8.10 ERA.
Alvarado has three walks and six strikeouts on the spring.
Yonny Chrinos was sharp this afternoon in his three innings of work giving up two hits while striking out three.
Brendan Mckay followed Chrinos making his spring debut and looked good in one inning of work striking out one and allowing no hits.
The Rays are possibly looking at Mckay being part of the rotation to start the season if Blake Snell is not ready to go with his sore elbow.
Mckay is itching to pick up a bat to continue his goal of being a two way player for the Rays. But manager Kevin Cash said that is not going to happen right away as they want McKay to build up his arm strength and have him focus on his pitching.
Blake Snell who has been shut down since having the cortisone shot in his elbow on February 28th threw a bullpen session today and both Snell and Kevin Cash were pleased with the way things went.
Snell threw 20 pitches and mixed in his fastball, curveball and change-up. Snell felt good after the session and is planning on pitching in the game against the Blue Jays on Monday afternoon.
Cash did say that Snell would not be pitching opening day and may not pitch until the start of the ten game road trip on April third.
Rays one time highly touted prospect Brent Honeywell threw his third bullpen session of the spring and looked good. Honeywell is still on a pitch count and threw just 20 pitches.
Honeywell is recovering from elbow surgery last year and will start the season on the DL.
The Rays will play at North Port against the Atlanta Braves in a split squad game tomorrow, while also hosting the Baltimore Orioles in Port Charlotte.
The Rays will host Pittsburgh in Port Charlotte on Sunday.
