Rays vs. Jays, lineups and pre-game update

Posted Aug 30, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Aug 30, 2010 at 05:02 PM

By TONY FABRIZIO

ST. PETERSBURG Still tied for first place with the Yankees, the Rays will move from a heated three-game series with the contending Red Sox to a three-game series with a Blue Jays team that swept them earlier this month in Toronto.

Wade Davis (10-9, 4.41) will take the mound for the Rays in tonight’s opener against lefty Brett Cecil (11-6, 3.80), who beat the Red Sox and Yankees in his last two starts.

Manager Joe Maddon’s lineup has only two lefty hitters - Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena - along with switch-hitters Ben Zobrist and Willy Aybar, who are batting down in the seventh and eighth spots. Sean Rodriguez, who is hitting.330 against lefties, gets the start at second and bats sixth.

Newly acquired utility man/designated hitter Brad Hawpe took early batting practice at Tropicana Field and will play at Bradenton tonight for Class A Charlotte. Relief Grant Balfour, who is battling to return from an intercostal strain, will pitch at Bradenton.

Here are tonight’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS

Fred Lewis, DH
Mike McCoy, SS
Jose Bautista, RF
John Buck, C
Adam Lind, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
DeWayne Wise, CF
John McDonald, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
—
Brett Cecil, LHP (11-6, 3.80)

RAYS

B.J. Upton, CF
Jason Bartlett, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Ben Zobrist, RF
Willy Aybar, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
—
Wade Davis, RHP (10-9, 4.41 ERA)