SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—The Rays need to win two of their last 3 Grape-fruit League games to finish with at least 15 wins for the eighth time in the last 11 seasons…prior to this stretch, they never won at least 15 games in 10 seasons as the Devil Rays (spring high was 14 wins in 1999 and 2000).

Ê The Rays are 4-9 at home and have been outscored, 75-49…on the road, the Rays are 9-6-1 and have outscored opponents, 84-59.

Ê Rays pitchers lead the majors with a .231 opp avg., ahead of the Red Sox (.242), and rank 7th in the majors with a 4.15 ERA (255.2-IP, 118-ER)…the offense is tied for 6th with 10 3B.

Ê A recent study for USA Today ranked Charlotte Sports Park as the No. 1 spring training destination for food-and-drink as well as for family friendliness.

RAYS ON THE TUBE—Today is the third FOX Sports Sun telecast of the spring…Dewayne Staats (play-by-play), Brian Anderson (color), Orestes Destrade (analyst), Doug Waechter (analyst) and Rich Hollenberg (host) return to the FOX Sports Sun telecast and Michelle Margaux is the new in-game reporter…tomorrow’s game at DET will also be televised, airing the FOX Sports Detroit feed…”Tampa Bay Rays 2018 Season Preview” pre-mieres today on FOX Sports Sun, following the conclusion of the Rays vs. Yankees game…throughout the episode, FOX Sports Sun Rays Live analysts Orestes Destrade and Doug Waechter break down the pitching, hitting and defense of the club, as well as their 2018 outlooks.

Ê All 162 regular season games will be televised this season…FOX Sports Sun has announced a 159-game broadcast schedule, and the other 3 games will be nationally televised.

ON THE AIRWAVES—Today’s game vs. NYY will be broadcast on WDAE 620 AM and the Rays Radio Network, with Dave Wills and Andy Freed on the call…field coordinator Rocco Baldelli and OF Carlos Gómez are guests on this weekend’s Countdown to Opening Day radio show, airing today on WDAE 620 AM and the Rays Radio Network at 12:30 p.m.

STEADY IN THE BOOTH—Andy Freed and Dave Wills return to the Rays radio booth for a 14th season together…among all 30 major league broadcast teams, only two have a longer tenured full-season radio broad-cast duo than Dave and Andy: Detroit (Dan Dickerson & Jim Price enter-ing 16th season together) and San Francisco (Jon Miller & Dave Flemming entering 15th season together)…Neil Solondz begins his seventh season on the Rays Radio team as host of the pregame and postgame shows, fill-in play-by-play voice as well as This Week in Rays Baseball.

OPENING DAY PRIMER—This Thursday will be the first time in 50 years that every major league club opens on the same day…the Rays will open at home for the ninth straight year, tied for the longest active streak in the AL…local singer, worship leader, actor and teacher Belinda Womack will perform the national anthem…the ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Rays special assistant, baseball operations Tom Foley…see separate press release for much more Opening Day information.

TICKETS GETTING SCARCE—Limited tickets remain for Opening Day…the Rays have a chance to sell out their home opener for a 13th consecu-tive season, which would extend the longest current home opener sellout streak among the three major sports franchises in Tampa Bay…tickets are available at raysbaseball.com, the Tropicana Field Box Office or by calling 888-FAN-RAYS…the Rays are 55-21 in regular season games since 2008 when playing in front of home crowds of 30,000 or more.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN—The Rays have created a 20th An-niversary logo that will appear as a patch on all Rays jerseys and caps…the home plate-shaped patch features the number 20, a sunburst and a variation of the original fish—all in the Rays modern colors…on March 31 vs. BOS, June 9 vs. SEA, June 23 vs. NYY and Sep 8 vs. BAL, the Rays will wear a white alternate throwback Devil Rays jersey…the Rays will pay tribute to the first game in franchise history on Opening Weekend and the 2008 AL Championship club on Aug 4 vs. CWS.

SEASON BARGAINS—The Rays have announced they will offer ticket promotions for Monday through Friday home games for the 2018 sea-

son…discounts include Salute to Service Monday (for military, teachers and first responders), $2 Kids Tuesdays, Senior Spe-cial Wednesdays, $19.88 Ticket Combo Thursdays and $7.11 tickets on Fridays…single-game tickets for the 2018 season are on sale at raysbaseball.com.

ROSTER MAKEOVER—Of the 32 players on last season’s Open-ing Day roster or disabled list, only 14 still remain in the or-ganization: pitchers Matt Andriese, Chris Archer, Alex Colomé, Nathan Eovaldi, Kevin Gadea (outrighted), Austin Pruitt and Blake Snell, catch-ers Wilson Ramos and Jesús Sucre, infielders Matt Duffy, Brad Miller and Daniel Robertson, and outfielders Kevin Kiermaier and Mallex Smith…only four players remain from the 2015 Opening Day roster or disabled list, which was Kevin Cash’s first game as Rays manager: Andriese, Archer, Co-lomé and Kiermaier…Archer and Kiermaier are the only players remaining from the 2013 postseason roster (last playoff appearance)…Kiermaier was on the roster for that season’s AL Wild Card Game, but not the ALDS.

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT—In January, Baseball America listed the Rays at No. 5 in its Organizational Talent rankings of minor league prospects, their highest position since 2013 (No. 4)…this rating came before the Feb-ruary acquisitions of SS Jermaine Palacios, LH Anthony Banda and 2B Nick Solak…the publication’s Top 100 Prospects included six Rays, a fig-ure topped only by the Braves (8)…in addition to Baseball America’s rating, the Rays are ranked by MLB.com as the No. 4 farm system in baseball (No. 1 based just on position players), and by ESPN.com at No. 7.

TODAY’S STARTER vs. NYY—RH Andrew Kittredge (2-1, 5.56 ERA) Ê Was with the Rays for four stints last season, his first career major

league action…went 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA (15.1-IP, 3-ER) in 15 apps Ê Named to the International League midseason All-Star Team…went

6-1 with a 1.45 ERA (68.1-IP, 11-ER) in 41 apps (2 starts) with Durham Ê Made his major league debut on July 18 at OAK (0.2-IP, 0-R/ER) Ê Pitched to a 0.87 ERA (10.1-IP, 1-ER) in 10 apps during his final stint

TOMORROW’S STARTER at DET—RH Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 3.38 ERA) Ê Spent the entire 2017 season rehabbing from a second Tommy

John surgery…made 2 rehab apps (1 start) in the MiLB playoffs Ê Is attempting to become the 32nd player to pitch in the majors after

two Tommy John surgeries, and only the 12th pitcher to start a ma-jor league game after doing so…could become the third to pitch for the Rays after two Tommy John surgeries (Al Reyes, Lance Carter)

UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS & BROADCAST SCHEDULEUpcoming Games Time (ET) Probable Pitchers (Rays vs. Opp.) TV & RadioSun., 3/25 vs. NYY 1:05 p.m. Rays: RH Andrew Kittredge, LH José Alvarado FOX Sports Sun, WDAE 620 AM

Yankees: RH Brian Keller, RH Brady Lail, RH Adonis Rosa, LH Trevor Lane, RH Raynel EspinalMon. 3/26 at DET 1:05 p.m. RH Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 3.38) vs. LH Francisco Liriano (1-0, 1.80) FOX Sports SunTues. 3/27 vs. DET 12:35 p.m. RH Jake Faria (1-2, 7.43) vs. LH Matthew Boyd (4-0, 3.86) MLB.com

NEW YORK YANKEES (17-12-1) AT TAMPA BAY RAYS (13-15-1)RH Andrew Kittredge (2-1, 5.56) vs. RH Brian Keller (0-0, 0.00)

Sunday, March 25, 2018 First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. Location: Charlotte Sports Park TV: FOX Sports Sun Radio: WDAE 620 AMSpring Game No.: 30 vs. AL: 10-12-1 vs. NL: 3-3-0 Home: 4-9-0 Road: 9-6-1

Day 40 of Spring Training 4 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, March 29 vs. Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field (4:00 p.m.)

LINEUP vs. NEW YORKNo. Player Pos.

2 Denard Span (L) DH27 Carlos Gómez RF40 Wilson Ramos C44 C.J. Cron 1B

5 Matt Duffy 3B11 Adeiny Hechavarria SS

0 Mallex Smith (L) LF28 Daniel Robertson 2B74 Johnny Field CF36 Andrew Kittredge RHP

DAY-BY-DAY W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP RESULT2/23 at BAL -- 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 W, 6-32/26 vs. TOR W-1 1.1 3 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 W, 7-43/2 vs. PHI -- 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L, 2-93/6 vs. BOS -- 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L, 1-93/9 vs. MIN L-1 1.1 2 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 L, 3-43/14 vs. BOS * -- 2.0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 --3/17 at BOS -- 2.0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 L, 3-43/22 at TOR W-2 2.2 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 W, 5-3

* indicates minor league game

DAY-BY-DAY W-L IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP RESULT2/27 vs. BAL -- 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 L, 1-23/4 at NYY W-1 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 W, 9-13/10 at PHI -- 3.0 4 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 W, 5-33/15 vs. MIN L-1 4.1 6 3 3 0 3 0 0 0 L, 1-83/21 vs. BOS -- 5.1 1 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 --

* indicates minor league game

PLAYER C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DHAdames 8 38 7Álvarez 3Arroyo 30 16Bauers 39 6 9Boldt 7 6 10Brosseau 3 7Bruján 14Cabrera 4Carrillo 28Casali 10Chester 4 2Ciuffo 6 4Coats 15 52 30Cron 75 25Cronenworth 1 33Duffy 86Field 19 36 22 5Fraley 3 7Fox 11Gómez 61 8Gotta 3 6Gustave 3 2Haley 3Hechavarria 73 13

PLAYER C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DHJohnson 17 9 57Kelly 17Kiermaier 73 19Law 1Lowe, B 8 7Lowe, J 10Lowe, N 8Lukes 5 3 15Maris 15 5 3 2McCarthy 20 5 8 15Miller 33Milone 3 16 1Monell 18 22 8Moore 35 13Olmedo-Barrera 13 6Padlo 16Palacios 7Peña 4Ramos 69 16Rengifo 1Robertson 44 9 32 5 4Rodríguez 6Rondón 2Russell 9 8 4

PLAYER C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DHRutherford 1Sánchez 13 7Schimpf 5 15 7Seibert 1Smith 42 10 5 7Snyder 3 36 6 18 11 9Solak 25 4 8Span 77 10 5Sucre 54 15Sullivan 17 7Tenerowicz 8Velazquez 7 9 31 4 10Walls 4Wendle 84 5 13Whitley 1Williams 4 33Wong 18 66 3 9

2018 SPRING INNINGS PLAYED (“A” GAMES)

SPRING TRANSACTIONSFEBRUARY17 Acquired 1B C.J. Cron from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for a player to be named (INF Luis Rengifo); designated OF/DH Corey Dickerson for assignment.17 Acquired minor league SS Jermaine Palacios from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for RH Jake Odorizzi.20 Acquired LH Anthony Banda and two players to be named from the Arizona Diamondbacks and minor league 2B Nick Solak from the New York Yankees in a three-team trade

in exchange for OF Steven Souza Jr.22 Acquired RH Daniel Hudson, minor league INF Tristan Gray and cash considerations from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for OF/DH Corey Dickerson.MARCH3 Signed OF Carlos Gómez to a one-year contract; designated INF Ryan Schimpf for assignment.5 Traded INF Ryan Schimpf to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations.6 Reassigned INF Grant Kay to minor league camp.7 Released RH Evan Scribner and RH Dustin McGowan.9 Reassigned RH R.J. Alaniz, C Nick Ciuffo, RH Edwin Fierro and RH Forrest Snow to minor league camp; optioned RH Brent Honeywell to Triple-A Durham.10 Reassigned INF Jake Cronenworth and INF Nick Solak to minor league camp.11 Released LH Dan Runzler; reassigned 1B/OF Joe McCarthy, C Brett Sullivan and RH Ryan Weber to minor league camp; optioned INF Willy Adames, INF Christian Arroyo,

1B/OF Jake Bauers, RH Diego Castillo, RH José Mujica, RH Jaime Schultz, OF Justin Williams and RH Hunter Wood to Durham.16 Reassigned LH Vidal Nuño to minor league camp; optioned RH Chih-Wei Hu to Durham.18 Reassigned LH Kyle Bird, C Xorge Carrillo, RH Ian Gibaut, RH Cody Hall, LH Adam Kolarek, C Johnny Monell and RH Colton Murray to minor league camp;

optioned LH Anthony Banda and RH Ryne Stanek to Durham.19 Reassigned INF Andrew Velazquez to minor league camp.21 Signed C Curt Casali to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

RAYS SPRING TRAINING HISTORYYEAR W-L-T ATT.2018 13-15-1 56,7042017 12-16-5 81,7522016 12-13-2 68,5662015 15-13-2 80,4062014 16-7-4 78,2642013 15-17-2 90,935

YEAR W-L-T ATT.2012 10-16-6 87,9162011 15-14-2 95,8592010 20-8-2 97,9712009 15-16-1 103,255 2008 18-8-2 54,9602007 10-19-2 79,044

YEAR W-L-T ATT.2006 13-16-1 70,7562005 13-16-0 61,2612004 11-8-0 43,9162003 8-19-3 51,3242002 10-16-1 49,0432001 12-15-1 57,081

YEAR W-L-T ATT.2000 14-17-0 67,0891999 14-14-1 59,2301998 12-18-0 66,781

278-300-38 1,498,609

2018 TAMPA BAY RAYS SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULEDAY DATE OPPONENT SITE R/TV TIME/SCORE W-L-T WINNER LOSER ATT.Fri. Feb 23 Pittsburgh Charlotte County M W, 6-3 1-0-0 Pruitt (1-0) McRae (0-1) 5,141

@Baltimore Sarasota W, 6-3 2-0-0 Chirinos (1-0) Wright (0-1) 5,203Sat. Feb 24 @Boston Fort Myers W L, 3-4 2-1-0 Elias (1-0) Faria (0-1) 9,466Sun. Feb 25 @Minnesota Lee County W/F L, 4-5 2-2-0 Jaye (1-0) Schultz (0-1) 5,461Mon. Feb 26 Toronto Charlotte County M W, 7-4 3-2-0 Kittredge (1-0) Dermody (0-1) 3,627Tues. Feb 27 Baltimore Charlotte County M L, 1-2 3-3-0 Araujo (1-0) Pruitt (1-1) 2,762Wed. Feb 28 @Minnesota Lee County W, 3-1 4-3-0 Yarbrough (1-0) Slegers (0-1) 3,689Thurs. March 1 Baltimore Charlotte County M L, 2-5 4-4-0 Mesa (1-1) Schultz (0-2) 2,819Fri. March 2 Philadelphia Charlotte County M L, 2-9 4-5-0 Nola (1-1) Colomé (0-1) 3,560Sat. March 3 @Detroit Lakeland W W, 7-4 5-5-0 De León (1-0) Soto (0-1) 6,482Sun. March 4 @New York-AL Tampa W/F W, 9-1 6-5-0 Eovaldi (1-0) Chapman (0-1) 10,303Tues. March 6 Boston Charlotte County M L, 1-9 6-6-0 Velázquez (1-0) Hu (0-1) 5,353Wed. March 7 Baltimore Charlotte County M L, 2-7 6-7-0 Mesa Jr. (2-1) Banda (0-1) 3,035Thurs. March 8 @Boston Fort Myers T, 6-6 6-7-1 -- -- 9,911Fri. March 9 Minnesota Charlotte County M L, 3-4 6-8-1 Berríos (1-0) Kittredge (1-1) 3,643Sat. March 10 @Philadelphia Clearwater W W, 5-3 7-8-1 Jennings (1-0) Neris (0-1) 8,302Sun. March 11 Minnesota Charlotte County W/F L, 5-6 7-9-1 Slegers (1-0) Faria (0-2) 4,417Tues. March 13 @Philadelphia Clearwater L, 3-6 7-10-1 Casimiro (1-0) Pruitt (1-2) 8,286Wed. March 14 @Pittsburgh Bradenton W, 9-3 8-10-1 Chirinos (2-0) Nova (0-2) 6,218Thurs. March 15 Minnesota Charlotte County M L, 1-8 8-11-1 Gibson (1-1) Eovaldi (1-1) 4,547Fri. March 16 @Minnesota Lee County W, 11-1 9-11-1 Faria (1-2) Berríos (1-1) 5,702Sat. March 17 @Boston Fort Myers W L, 3-4 9-12-1 Barnes (1-0) Stanek (0-1) 9,903Sun. March 18 Detroit Charlotte County W W, 10-5 10-12-1 Archer (1-0) Lewicki (0-1) 6,912Mon. March 19 @New York-AL Tampa W W, 4-2 11-12-1 Colomé (1-1) Warren (0-1) 9,951Tues. March 20 @Baltimore Sarasota W CANCELLED—RAINWed. March 21 Boston Charlotte County M/F L, 3-8 11-13-1 Walden (1-0) Yarbrough (1-1) 6,134Thurs. March 22 @Toronto Dunedin W, 5-3 12-13-1 Kittredge (2-1) Barnes (0-1) 4,356Fri. March 23 Toronto Charlotte County M W, 6-5 13-13-1 Kolarek (1-0) Fisk (0-1) 4,754

@Baltimore Sarasota L, 1-6 13-14-1 Bundy (2-2) Murray (0-1) 6,192Sat. March 24 @Pittsburgh Bradenton W L, 5-7 13-15-1 Neverauskas (1-1) Pruitt (1-3) 6,146Sun. March 25 New York-AL Charlotte County W/F 1:05 p.m.Mon. March 26 @Detroit Lakeland F 1:05 p.m.Tues. March 27 Detroit Tropicana Field M 12:35 p.m.Home Games shaded gray RADIO: WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM (W), MLB.com (M) TELEVISION: FOX Sports Sun (F)