With their proverbial backs to the wall and needing a win, the Rays and manager Joe Maddon have a somewhat different lineup look for this afternoon’s 2:07 ET first pitch against the Rangers:
1. Desmond Jennings LF
2. B.J. Upton CF
3. Evan Longoria 3B
4. Ben Zobrist 2B
5. Johnny Damon DH
6. Kelly Shoppach C
7. Sean Rodriguez SS
8. Casey Kotchman 1B
9. Matt Joyce RF
The first three spots in the order are the same as they were for Game 3 on Monday, but Matt Joyce, who hit cleanup Monday, is being dropped to ninth in the order, perhaps because he’s just 2-for-11 in the series.
Kelly Shoppach, who was inexplicably held out of starting Game 3 despite hitting a pair of home runs in the first two games, is back in the lineup today, hitting sixth, and Sean Rodriguez is back as the starting shortstop, replacing Reid Brignac. Neither Rodriguez nor Brignac has hit much in this series; the Rays probably need to get off to a good start today to tie up the series and extend their season.