Keep in mind the 2020 Rays-Dodgers Globe Series? Friday, they meet once again

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 website amid serious pandemic restrictions.

Friday, they will meet once again, with the Rays in possession of the most effective record (37-15) in the American League and the Dodgers the second-most effective (31-20, percentage points behind Atlanta) in the National League. It will be L.A.’s 1st stop by to Tropicana Field considering the fact that 2019 and just its fifth all round.

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

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

“I do not know, they’re just a different group, I guess,” he stated. “I honestly forgot we played them (this weekend) till you just described it. We just show up each and every day, appear at the job at hand, appear at the scouting report and attempt to place with each other a strategy to be thriving that day. And that is fairly considerably it.

“We do not truly place as well considerably believed into precisely who we’re playing or the hype about it or what the possibilities might 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 overall performance in the course of the 2020 postseason, it is a reminder of a missed chance.

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

Plus, Arozarena pointed out, “it’s a really various 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 assume we can do it, and (want to) play a great 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 possibility to appear back and smile at the highlights, which includes the wild Game four win sparked by Brett Phillips.

“Great memories,” Money stated. “A lot of exciting. Of course, we came up brief, but truly appreciated that, hunting back how one of a kind that 2020 postseason was, obtaining to the Globe Series. Proud of that, to be a component of that group. And I’m confident it will be talked about more than this weekend with (the Dodgers) coming in.”

Rays relief pitcher Calvin Faucher (58) pitches in the best 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 space, reliever Ben Heller and infielder Vidal Brujan, who have been known as up Wednesday, have been optioned back to Durham.

Faucher created the opening-day roster but was sent down April 30 (immediately after compiling a six.43 ERA in eight games, permitting 16 hits and six walks in 14 innings) to get function in bullpen sessions refining what Money known as “stupid good” stuff. Faucher pitched in only 3 games for the Bulls, permitting 3 hits and 3 walks more than four-two/three innings. Thursday, he worked a 1-stroll eighth.

“It’s nonetheless a function in progress,” Money stated just before the game. “He can truly assist us. We’ve just got to uncover a way to get him in the zone a small bit a lot more regularly. But his stuff fits truly properly with the back finish of our bullpen …. his two breaking balls that he throws, and the fastball.”

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

Diekman returned immediately after going household 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 permitting two 1-out singles and a stroll to build a save circumstance that Colin Poche, immediately after a bases-loaded stroll and a sacrifice fly, converted.

Rays beginning pitcher Zach Eflin pitches in the 1st inning Thursday at Tropicana Field.

[ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

Lefty Jalen Beeks will be the opener Friday, with correct-hander Cooper Criswell anticipated to function bulk innings. … The Rays are the 1st group with two seven-steal games in the identical season considering the fact that the 1995 Astros. … As the Rays attempt to increase and stabilize their bullpen, they’ve benefited from 4 seven-inning begins (two 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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