Rays at Reds

Happy Easter!

It’s cloudy here at Ed Smith Stadium, where the Reds are taking batting practice for this afternoon’s game against the Rays.

Looks like rain to me, but I’ve been told by a member of the Reds PR staff that the precipitation is going to hold off and we’ll get this game in.

Still, the clouds are low and thick and awfully dark.

But, I’m just a blogger, not Mr. G with the nightly weather forecast.

I’m Roger Mooney and I’ll be providing updates as they occur during this Easter Sunday matinee.

The Rays didn’t make any cuts this morning, which means Evan Longoria is still with the club, though not in the starting lineup. Third base belongs to Joel Guzman today.

B.J. Upton (bruised left triceps) and Aki Iwamura (stiff lower back) are back in the lineup as the Rays will play six of the eight position players expected to be on the field March 31 when they open the season in Baltimore. No DH today, so Matt Garza gets to hit, and you know that excites him.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
2B Aki Iwamura
LF Carl Crawford
1B Carlos Pena
CF B.J. Upton
RF Eric Hinske
C Dioner Navarro
SS Jason Bartlett
3B Joel Guzman
P Matt Garza

Reds
CF Corey Patterson
1B Joey Votto
RF Ken Griffey, Jr.
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Adam Dunn
3B Edwin Encarnacion
SS Juan Castro
C Javier Valentin
P Johnny Cueto