Tampa Bay Rays Alter Starting Rotation For Final Week of Season

The Tampa Bay Rays have altered their starting rotation for the final week of the regular season to accommodate Aaron Civale, who is sick.

Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on social media:

#Rays are bumping back Civale’s next start since he has been a bit “under the weather,” per Cash. Eflin and Glasnow will face #RedSox. Also avoids #BlueJays and lines them up for 1st 2 wild card games - tho Rays still are hoping to win AL East so could change.

#Rays are bumping back Civale’s next start since he has been a bit “under the weather,” per Cash. Eflin and Glasnow will face #RedSox. Also avoids #BlueJays and lines them up for 1st 2 wild card games - tho Rays still are hoping to win AL East so could change.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 24, 2023

It looks like Civale is lined up to face Toronto in the final series of the regular season.

The Rays enter play on Sunday at 95-61 and in sole possession of the first wild card spot in the American League. But as Topkin mentions, they are only 1.5 games back of the American League East's top spot as well.

Civale was acquired at the trade deadline from the Cleveland Guardians and has enjoyed a nice season overall. The 28-year-old is 7-4 with a 3.43 ERA. In his fifth major league season, he's 31-25 with a 3.91 career ERA. He won a career-high 12 games back in 2021.

The Rays are battling the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon in Tampa. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET.

Blue Jays' lefty Yusei Kikuchi will go up against Rays' rookie Taj Bradley.

Kikuchi is 10-6 this season with a 3.74 ERA, enjoying his most consistent season as a pro. Bradley is 5-7 with a 5.36 ERA and has had to help a rotation decimated by injury.

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