Bullpen Day Fail: Cubs 9, Rays 2
Apr 7, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Matt Shaw (6) reacts after hitting a RBI double in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Up until Monday afternoon, Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen was the probable starter for tonight’s matchup against the Cubs — probable.
His wife Stevie went into labor early with their second child and the Rays had a bullpen game. A 16-hit day and 9-2 drubbing was the result. Mason Englert, Cole Sulser, and Yoendrys Gomez got things done on the pitching side of things, with the three responsible for covering tonight’s 27 outs.
As far as the bats, the Rays didn’t get their first baserunner until the fifth, when Junior Caminero walked. Chandler Simpson got the first Rays hit of the ballgame off Javier Assad right after. In the eighth, a Jonathan Aranda double would plate Richie Palacios, and a Ryan Vilade single would plate Richie Palacios in front of a promising Tuesday night crowd of 21,377.
For the rubber match of the series, Colin Rea and Joe Boyle are the probable starters, as we go from Tropicana Field at 6:40 PM EST.