The New York Yankees are coming to Tropicana Field for a key series this weekend, and the Tampa Bay Rays aren’t sure whether second baseman Brandon Lowe will play.
One thing is for sure, though: Lowe is an All-Star.
Lowe was named to the American League’s squad on Wednesday as an injury replacement, joining teammates Charlie Morton and Austin Meadows.
It’s the first time the Rays have placed three players on the All-Star team since 2011.
Suffering from a right shin injury, the 24-year-old Lowe likely won’t be in the lineup Thursday when his Rays and the rival Yankees, separated by 6 1/2 games in the division, play the first of their four meetings in St. Petersburg, Fla.
In fact, Lowe, who called the All-Star honor “the icing on the cake,” isn’t even certain he’ll be able to play in Cleveland on Tuesday in the Midsummer Classic, but that hasn’t diminished his or his teammates’ enthusiasm.
Meadows, a close friend of Lowe’s, was thrilled for his teammate.
“He’s had a heck of a year on the field and at the plate,” said Meadows. “I’m excited for him to join us. It’s going to be a fun flight. He deserves it.”
The Rays are just 2-7 against the Yankees this season, and the news got worse on Wednesday when Ji-Man Choi (ankle) was placed on the injured list.
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (wrist) was a late scratch from the Rays’ 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, though he did pinch run and steal a base late in the contest.
Yonny Chirinos (7-4, 3.10) will start Thursday for Tampa Bay. In three appearances this season against the Yankees, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.07 ERA.
In five career games (two starts) against New York, Chirinos is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA.
The Yankees earned a two-game split with the cross-town rival New York Mets, winning 5-1 in Flushing, N.Y., on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed dissatisfaction that infielder Gleyber Torres (.298 average, 19 homers, 50 RBIs) wasn’t named to the AL All-Star team’s roster.
“I think it’s a joke that he’s not on that team,” Boone said. “If Gleyber Torres is not an All-Star, you can kick rocks on that one. That’s ridiculous. I mean, he’s been unbelievable for us — a first-place club.”
J.A. Happ (7-4, 5.23) will get the ball Thursday, and the southpaw will be looking to rebound from a terrible start against Houston on June 23.
The Astros roughed up Happ for 11 hits and eight runs, both season highs, in just four innings, slamming three home runs on the way to a 9-4 win in the Bronx.
Happ, 36, is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in one start this season against the Rays — a 6-3 home win on June 18.
Over 18 appearances (17 starts) against Tampa Bay in his career, Happ has compiled a 5-4 mark with a 4.30 ERA, and Rays hitters have batted a robust .355 against him.