Rays-Royals rained out, will play two on Saturday

KANSAS CITY — The Rays got an extra day on their All-Star break.

Friday’s game against the Royals was postponed due to heavy rain, high winds and the potential for hail, and rescheduled as the first game of a day-night doubleheader Saturday.

Tyler Glasnow will pitch the opener for the Rays, which starts at 2:10 Tampa Bay time. For the nightcap, slated for 7:10, Cooper Criswell, who is being added to the roster as the 27th man, will either start or provide bulk innings, depending on bullpen usage in Game One. The Royals will start Alec March and 27th man call-up Cole Ragans, a lefty.

The doubleheader will cause some further shuffling, as the Rays now have 10 games in nine days out of the break. Plans were still being finalized, but they are leaning toward pushing the rest of their starters back one day.

Under that plan, Zach Eflin would face the Royals on Sunday, with Shane McClanahan’s return from the injured list now pushed back until Monday’s series opener at Texas. Rookie Taj Bradley would work Tuesday, with the Rays undecided about Wednesday. That would be Yonny Chirinos’ turn, but he has not been pitching well and a bullpen day could be an option.

Glasnow had to leave his previous start on July 8 in the sixth inning due to cramping in his hands and legs, and he saw a vascular specialist for testing during the break. Manager Kevin Cash said he doesn’t expect any issues Saturday.

“I anticipate him being fully good,” Cash said. “Excited to have him pitch. I know he’s working through trying to see what issues he’s had and go from there.”

The Rays don’t yet have a set date for the return of All-Star first baseman Yandy Diaz, who was placed on the paternity list Friday following the Wednesday birth of his son. It’s possible he could miss the full series in Kansas City.

Nipping at their heels

After losing seven straight before winning last Sunday’s pre-break finale, the Rays go into play Saturday just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Orioles in the American League East race with only an 8 1/2-game margin over the last-place Red Sox and Yankees.

“I think everybody enjoyed the All-Star break. Everybody got to kind of relax, go home, recharge a little bit,” second baseman Brandon Lowe said. “But to get off to a good start, it’s kind of a necessity at this point. You look around the league, especially at the East, and every single team you see right there, knocking on the door.

“So just get out there and not put too much pressure on ourselves to perform the way we had been, just know that if we go out there and play our game, stay within ourselves, we will do what we have been doing.”

And now to Pete, with the weather

Rays players weren’t aware of the severity of the coming storm until they got to Kauffman Stadium for pre-game work and reliever Pete Fairbanks — Milwaukee born and Missouri raised — filled them in.

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“No one knew until we got here and Pete was telling us all about this Midwestern weather that he knows so much,” Lowe said. “Pete let us know that it might not look good. And then we heard what might be coming and we’re like, ‘Oh we might get an extra day on our break.’

“But everybody still showed up. Everyone got dressed. Everybody’s in the weight room. Pitchers got out there (on the field) early. Hitters are doing their work now. The game’s canceled, but there’s still a day at the at the yard working.”

Miscellany

Outfielder Ben Gamel, who hit .276 with eight homers, 31 RBIs and an .865 OPS in 59 games for Triple-A Durham, was traded to the Padres for cash considerations. … Reliever Andrew Kittredge, rehabbing from June 2022 Tommy John surgery, is slated for his final Florida Complex League rehab outing Saturday before joining Durham. … Miami area prep shortstop Adrian Santana, the No. 31 pick in the draft, signed for $2,002,950, per mlb.com, about $600,000 under slot value,

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