Recall the 2020 Rays-Dodgers Globe Series? Friday, they meet once more

ST. PETERSBURG — The final time the Rays saw the Dodgers, Los Angeles was celebrating its victory in the 2020 Globe Series in Arlington, Texas, the neutral internet site amid serious pandemic restrictions.

Friday, they will meet once more, with the Rays in possession of the greatest record (37-15) in the American League and the Dodgers the second-greatest (31-20, percentage points behind Atlanta) in the National League. It will be L.A.’s very first pay a visit to to Tropicana Field because 2019 and just its fifth general.

How large a deal it is depends on whom you ask.

To Rays infielder Taylor Walls, it is nothing at all particular.

“I do not know, they’re just yet another group, I guess,” he stated. “I honestly forgot we played them (this weekend) till you just pointed out it. We just show up just about every day, appear at the process at hand, appear at the scouting report and attempt to place with each other a program to be effective that day. And that is fairly substantially it.

“We do not actually place also substantially believed into precisely who we’re playing or the hype about it or what the possibilities may perhaps be in the future.”

Rays manager Kevin Money requires the ball from beginning pitcher Blake Snell (four) in the sixth inning of Game six of the 2020 Globe Series against the Dodgers.

[ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

To outfielder Randy Arozarena, who had a breakout functionality for the duration of the 2020 postseason, it is a reminder of a missed chance.

“I had a fairly superior Series,” he stated by way of group interpreter Manny Navarro, “but I wanted the Globe Series ring. I wanted to win it.”

Plus, Arozarena pointed out, “it’s a quite distinctive group.”

“2020 was 2020 and it is in the previous, but this is year 2023,” he stated. “We’re attempting to get to the playoffs and we believe we can do it, and (want to) play a superior series against them.”

To Rays manager Kevin Money — in spite of the six-game loss and scrutiny of his choice to take out starter Blake Snell in Game six — it is a likelihood to appear back and smile at the highlights, like the wild Game four win sparked by Brett Phillips.

“Great memories,” Money stated. “A lot of enjoyable. Definitely, we came up brief, but actually appreciated that, seeking back how special that 2020 postseason was, finding to the Globe Series. Proud of that, to be a aspect of that group. And I’m certain it will be talked about more than this weekend with (the Dodgers) coming in.”

Rays relief pitcher Calvin Faucher (58) pitches in the prime of the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday at Tropicana Field.

[ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

The Rays continued their bullpen shuffle, recalling Calvin Faucher from Triple-A and activating left-hander Jake Diekman from the paternity list.

To make area, reliever Ben Heller and infielder Vidal Brujan, who have been known as up Wednesday, have been optioned back to Durham.

Faucher produced the opening-day roster but was sent down April 30 (following compiling a six.43 ERA in eight games, enabling 16 hits and six walks in 14 innings) to get operate in bullpen sessions refining what Money known as “stupid good” stuff. Faucher pitched in only 3 games for the Bulls, enabling 3 hits and 3 walks more than four-two/three innings. Thursday, he worked a one particular-stroll eighth.

“It’s nonetheless a operate in progress,” Money stated just before the game. “He can actually assistance us. We’ve just got to come across a way to get him in the zone a tiny bit extra regularly. But his stuff fits actually effectively with the back finish of our bullpen …. his two breaking balls that he throws, and the fastball.”

Brujan was brought up as a hedge offered uncertainty more than the availability of corner infielder Yandy Diaz due to a household matter. Diaz was back with the group Thursday and “totally available” if necessary, Money stated.

Diekman returned following going house to Nebraska for the birth of a daughter on Monday. He had a rough outing Thursday, coming in for the ninth with a six-1 lead and enabling two one particular-out singles and a stroll to generate a save circumstance that Colin Poche, following a bases-loaded stroll and a sacrifice fly, converted.

Rays beginning pitcher Zach Eflin pitches in the very first inning Thursday at Tropicana Field.

[ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

Lefty Jalen Beeks will be the opener Friday, with suitable-hander Cooper Criswell anticipated to operate bulk innings. … The Rays are the very first group with two seven-steal games in the identical season because the 1995 Astros. … As the Rays attempt to increase and stabilize their bullpen, they’ve benefited from 4 seven-inning begins (two each and every by Shane McClanahan and Zach Eflin) more than their final seven games. … Eflin is six- with a two.19 ERA in six begins at the Trop. … Attendance was ten,736 Thursday, for a 4-game total of 40,198.

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