PT TOMORROW: AL East: Spring battles resolve… or do they?

Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Duffy (3B, TAM) returned to the field March 21 after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury but struck out in each of his three plate appearances. After the game, he sounded like a player resigning himself to opening the year on the injured list, acknowledging that he needs to “be honest” so as to not hurt the team by trying to play before he is fully ready.

When the platoon-happy Rays face a right-handed pitcher, Brandon Lowe (2B, TAM) figures to be in the lineup somewhere, with the options in Duffy’s absence to either have him play second base with Joey Wendle (2B, TAM) shifting over to third base or, as Matt Dodge indicated recently in Playing Time Today, have Lowe DH, which would presumably open third base...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From PT Tomorrow

Michael Conforto is playing more against righties during a hot streak, but the Cubs are trying to keep Moisés Ballesteros in the lineup against them as well
May 15 2026 3:05am
Using BaseballHQ's exclusive Playing Time Metrics to examine usage trends across the NL East.
May 14 2026 11:17am
Isaac Collins has struggled vs. LHP, and it might be time for the Royals to give Jac Caglianone another shot at everyday at-bats. Plus, Sam Antonacci's rise in CHW, Angel Martínez's platoon splits in CLE, an opportunity for Matt Vierling in DET, and why the Twins won't play Ryan Jeffers more.
May 14 2026 3:06am
Vaughn Grissom and Oswald Peraza are forcing the issue to change the platoon situation in Anaheim.
May 13 2026 3:05am
Cedric Mullins' struggles are cutting into his PA totals - could a loss of his job be next? Plus, more looks at how current trends are affecting our Playing Time metrics from around the AL East.
May 12 2026 3:05am

Tools