ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WWSB) – The Tampa Bay Rays are preparing for Game 3 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, trailing the series 2-0.
The Rays made lineup changes ahead of the game. Jonathan Aranda is out of the starting lineup, with Ryan Belate starting at first base. Ben Williamson is hitting fifth in the lineup after hitting eighth in Game 1 and not starting in Game 2. Yandy Diaz continues to lead off for the team.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team follows Diaz’s lead.
“The leader that he has become and evolved into, it’s taken, it seems like year by year, he makes more progress as being a leader,” Cash said. “And this year has basically been his best work. You know, he’s probably at the brunt of most jokes in that clubhouse. They like to fire at him because that’s how he takes it so well.”
Rays legends gather at the Trop ahead of World Series Game 3
A ceremonial first pitch is scheduled before Game 3, featuring a special guest connected to the Rays’ 2008 World Series run.
Several players in Game 3 have ties to both organizations. Game 2 starter Drew Rasmussen was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2018. Around the same time, the Rays had a first baseman named Jake Bauers, who later moved to the Brewers and was named NLCS MVP in helping Milwaukee reach the World Series.
Bauers spoke about returning to Tropicana Field.
“I think the biggest challenge is the roof is the same color as a baseball,” Bauers said. “It never got easier for me when I was playing home games here. But I think, you know, it goes up as long as you don’t take your eye off it, you’re going to be all right. There’s going to be plenty of time for reminiscing. There’s going to be plenty of time for recapping everything that’s happened over the last, not only season, but eight seasons since I debuted for the Rays.”
Bauers will face Freddy Peralta, the current ALCS MVP and a longtime Brewer.
Fans gathered outside Tropicana Field ahead of Game 3. Sarasota residents interviewed included Judge DeVilbiss, a graduate of one of the first classes at New College, who has been a season ticket holder since the stadium opened. DeVilbiss predicted the Rays would win the series in six games.
DeVilbiss’s daughter, a Cardinal Mooney graduate from Sarasota, also attended. Jim Brandel, also from Sarasota, predicted the Rays would win in seven games.
The Rays previously reached the World Series in 2008 and 2020.
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