The Tampa Bay Rays had an amazing return to their home ballpark on Monday after 18 months away.
Now the Rays will look to win a second consecutive series when they host the Chicago Cubs in the middle contest of their three-game series on Tuesday night.
There was plenty to celebrate in Tampa Bay’s 6-4 win over Chicago on Monday, notably a three-homer day by the Rays’ offense.
However, Rays manager Kevin Cash was happy to see his former ace, Shane McClanahan, come back to refurbished Tropicana Field for his first start there in 989 days.
McClanahan missed the past two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery and a subsequent nerve issue.
“I thought the reception for Shane McClanahan when he was announced was pretty spectacular,” Cash said during the game’s broadcast. “Just shows how appreciative our fans are of him and what he’s meant to us and dealt with.”
McClanahan walked four and allowed two runs over the first two innings, but the left-hander settled in during a four-inning stint by retiring his final seven batters.
“It was an important day for Rays baseball, and (it was) unique. Teams don’t go through what we went through the last year and a half,” Cash said after his team won its third straight contest.
The Rays hadn’t played at Tropicana Field since Hurricane Milton decimated the roof and caused massive damage throughout the stadium in October 2024. While the stadium was being renovated, the team played its home games at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
In their return to Tropicana Field on Monday, the Rays’ Chandler Simpson was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. He reached base for the 10th straight game to match Randy Arozarena’s team record to start a season.
After allowing three hits to the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings in a 4-1 victory Sunday, Tampa Bay limited the Cubs to four hits. That included a homer by Matt Shaw and back-to-back doubles by Ian Happ and Carson Kelly that did not score a run.
Shaw homered for the second consecutive game, but Chicago’s bats are in a rut.
“We have very good hitters,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Some of them are not succeeding right now. They will, in a big way.”
The third time was supposed to come around for Opening Day starters Matthew Boyd and Drew Rasmussen on Tuesday, but Chicago had to call an audible on the left-hander.
A few hours before Monday’s series opener, the Cubs placed Boyd on the 15-day injured list due to a left bicep strain.
“You never want to compound things, so when there’s an opportunity to buy a little time, you want to be more cautious, especially while the calendar is still in April,” Boyd said. “And that’s what was portrayed to me as this is trying to do what’s best for everything. But, yeah, I’m optimistic of coming out of this normal.”
The spot will be filled Tuesday by right-hander Javier Assad, who has not pitched this season and went 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA last year.
Assad, 28, has made two career appearances (one start) against the Rays. He is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA.
Rasmussen (0-0, 1.80 ERA) has been tough to face in two five-innings road starts against St. Louis and Milwaukee. The right-hander has allowed three runs (two earned), six hits and two home runs while fanning 10 with one walk.
In five career appearances (two starts) against the Cubs, Rasmussen has a 6.10 ERA without a decision in 10 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
