Opening Day FAQ: Rockies vs. Rays

TAMPA, Fla. -- There is a long, proud history of professional baseball in Tampa. It has been more than 100 years since the Cubs first made this city their Spring Training home and the Tampa Smokers played in the Florida State League.

From Plant Field to Al Lopez Field to George M. Steinbrenner Field, Major League teams have come here to get ready for the regular season, and Minor League players have stayed here to work their way toward the Majors.

On Friday, Major League Baseball’s regular season comes to Tampa. Forced out of Tropicana Field due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton, the Rays will host the Rockies on Opening Day at Steinbrenner Field.

It’s going to be unusual, with a quick but comprehensive makeover to transform the ballpark from the Yankees’ spring facility into the Rays’ regular-season home. But Tampa Bay is up for the challenge as it looks to get back into the postseason after a disappointing 80-82 finish last year.

“They're going to a really good spot. I give our guys a lot of credit. I think it's been dealt head on with positives, rather than negatives,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It's easy to be negative about any situation, but I give them credit that they seem genuinely excited to get over there and start the season.”

Led by stars at shortstop (Ezequiel Tovar) and in center field (Brenton Doyle), the Rockies are looking for signs of progress after six straight losing seasons. They’re hoping to turn the corner this year, which could come as young prospects make their way into the mix.

The Rockies offer an interesting mix. Opening Day starter Kyle Freeland leads a veteran rotation, and designated hitter Kris Bryant, catcher Jacob Stallings and longtime third baseman Ryan McMahon are experienced leaders. But Tovar and Doyle lead a young core that could get younger over the course of the season, with multiple prospects knocking at the door. Will the mix learn to win together quickly?

“I hope it’s getting closer,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “You never know until you play. We’ve got some new faces, and we might have some more. Even though this is the 26-man roster, this is fluid.

“The overall player mentality has to get better. We’ve challenged the players on the mentality that it takes to win. We need that expectation.”

When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET/2:10 MT at Steinbrenner Field on Friday. The game can be viewed on MLB.TV and ROCKIES.TV (more info here). The game will be carried on the KOA Rockies Radio Network, and in the Denver market on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM.

The game will air on the radio in the Tampa Bay area on WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM and the Rays Radio Network, and in the Denver market on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM.

What are the lineups?
Rockies

1. Brenton Doyle, CF
2. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
3. Ryan McMahon, 3B
4. Kris Bryant, DH
5. Michael Toglia, 1B
6. Hunter Goodman, C
7. Nick Martini, RF
8. Kyle Farmer, 2B
9. Jordan Beck, LF

Rays

1. Curtis Mead, 1B
2. Yandy Díaz, DH
3. Brandon Lowe, 2B
4. Junior Caminero, 3B
5. Christopher Morel, LF
6. Danny Jansen, C
7. Josh Lowe, RF
8. Jonny DeLuca, CF
9. Taylor Walls, SS

Who are the starting pitchers?
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland
Freeland will be making his club-record fourth Opening Day start. The spring has seen him develop a new slider with greater downward break, and his old slider now is being called a cutter. Freeland has experienced the highs of two postseason trips and the lows of injuries and the consecutive 100-plus-loss seasons of the past two years. A Denver native who takes the Rockies’ fortunes personally, Freeland is a leader in making sure this team sets and meets a higher performance standard.

Rays: RHP Ryan Pepiot
From the start of camp, Tampa Bay planned for this to be Shane McClanahan’s long-awaited return to a Major League mound. But a nerve issue flared up in his left triceps during his final Spring Training outing, forcing him to start the season on the injured list. So this day will belong to Pepiot, coming off an encouraging first season with the Rays -- and entering his first full season in a big league rotation. Pepiot posted a 3.60 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 130 innings over 26 starts last year, and he picked up right where he left off this spring.

• Rockies-Rays Opening Day starting pitchers: Freeland vs. Pepiot

How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Rockies: Bullpen problems were part of the team’s struggles at the start of last season, but Black believes there are more weapons at the start of this campaign even though the closer is a “fluid” situation. Right-hander Victor Vodnik has shown the best combination of fastball power and hard slider consistency, and he likely will get the first crack at the ninth, but Black feels good about the pitch mixes of veteran righty Tyler Kinley and rookie righty Seth Halvorsen. Righty Angel Chivilli and lefties Scott Alexander and Luis Peralta showed plus stuff in camp. Righty long reliever Bradley Blalock and righties Jimmy Herget and Jake Bird round out the ‘pen.

Rays: Before pitching two innings in his final spring tuneup Sunday, Pepiot worked six innings in a Minor League game in Spring Training, so he is stretched out to work as deep into the game as he can. But the Rays should feel comfortable going to their bullpen because they want to, not because they need to. That’s how deep and talented the group is. Pete Fairbanks has been a traditional closer. After a breakout second half last year, right-hander Edwin Uceta should be a top setup man along with dazzling lefty Mason Montgomery. Tampa Bay has plenty of depth from the right side (Manuel Rodríguez, Kevin Kelly and Hunter Bigge) and left (Garrett Cleavinger), plus a multi-inning option in righty Mason Englert.

Any injuries of note?
Rockies: New second baseman Thairo Estrada sustained a right wrist fracture when he was hit on the arm by a pitch, and he will miss up to eight weeks. Lefty Austin Gomber was slowed by left shoulder soreness and will miss at least the first two starts.

Rays: The Rays had enjoyed a mostly healthy spring, but a few issues caught up with them near the end of camp. McClanahan is sidelined to start the season. Reliever Alex Faedo (right shoulder) is also sidelined. Infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios (fractured right ring finger) went on the IL on Wednesday, retroactive to Monday, despite trying to play through his injury late in camp. Also, as expected, free-agent addition Ha-Seong Kim is still recovering from the right shoulder surgery that ended his 2024 season early. The good news is that catcher Danny Jansen (intercostal) got through Wednesday’s intrasquad scrimmage “feeling good,” Cash said, and the Rays are “very confident” he’ll be fine for the start of the season.

Who’s hot and who’s not?
Rockies: Martini batted .390 and posted a .500 on-base percentage to make the team as a non-roster invitee, as the Rockies -- often challenged by the measurable atmospheric differences between home and road -- emphasized that they need to take better at-bats. The switch-hitting Toglia led the team with five Cactus League home runs and was in a good spot as camp broke. Beck had his position threatened with his struggles early in camp, but he finished with four home runs and found his swing during the final week of spring play. Bryant hit .129, but he did most of his work in Minor League games and in live batting practice as he remained cautious to take care of his back.

Rays: Few players had a hotter spring than Mead, who earned a spot on the Opening Day roster as he slashed .524/.608/.619 in Grapefruit League play. Josh Lowe really caught fire near the end of camp, slashing .429/.491/.633 overall, and Brandon Lowe hit four homers while getting on base at a good clip. Montgomery and Cleavinger also put together scoreless springs. On the flip side, Morel struck out 16 times in 48 at-bats this spring, and Caminero -- though he went deep four times -- slashed just .149/.200/.447.

Anything else fans might want to know?
? This game is being played a day later than the other Opening Day matchups so the Rays can move in and make all the necessary adjustments at Steinbrenner Field, where the Yankees played their final Spring Training game (against the Rays, coincidentally) on Sunday.

? The Rockies hosted the Rays for their home opener last April. Colorado won the first game on a walk-off grand slam by McMahon, then Tampa Bay won the next two games.

? Pepiot made one of the best starts of his young career at Coors Field on April 7, 2024. The right-hander allowed only three hits over six scoreless innings, struck out 11 and didn’t walk a batter.

? Since their first meeting in 2002, the Rays have won 16 games and the Rockies have won 11. Since 2013, Tampa Bay has gone 11-4 in the clubs’ matchups.