Jonny

DeLuca

Vilade posted an .818 OPS against southpaws during the regular season and will get a chance to face Guardians starter Foster Griffin at Tropicana Field to kick off the best-of-seven showdown. The 27-year-old lefty-masher blasted a solo homer off Yankees ace Max Fried during Tampa Bay’s series-clinching victory last week. Here’s the full lineup: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Vilade (LF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Ben Williamson (2B), Taylor Walls (SS) and Nick Fortes (C).

Rays manager Kevin Cash isn’t making any changes following a series-opening victory where Jonathan Aranda’s solo homer was enough for a nearly-flawless Drew Rasmussen, who took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning. Caminero, who is likely to finish near the top of AL MVP Award balloting, finished a phenomenal regular season with 42 home runs, reaching the lofty 40-homer plateau for the second straight season. Here’s the full lineup: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Liam Hicks (C), Chandler Simpson (LF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Richie Palacios (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

One Ray came to play today, as DeLuca took Zach Wheeler and Alex McFarlane deep for his 10th and 11th homers. He finishes the year at .266/.300/.426 in 370 plate appearances. The only problem for the Rays is that he was better against righties than the lefties he typically started against for most of the year. Depending on how the offseason goes, the Rays could give DeLuca a chance to open next year as their starting center fielder, with Jacob Melton potentially overtaking him later if he can stay healthy.

Simpson is dealing with a sore foot after fouling a ball off his foot during Friday’s win over Philadelphia. He’s considered day-to-day, but day-to-day doesn’t play often in games that mean nothing, and that’s what this one means for Tampa Bay. Jonny DeLuca takes Simpson’s place in the lineup.

Mullins has not started against any of the last five left-handed pitchers the Rays have faced, and they will face Carlos Rodon and Max Fried on Tuesday, which means it’s unlikely that Mullins starts either game. Jonny DeLuca should continue to take his place in center field, but it’s interesting to note that both Chandler Simpson and Victor Mesa Jr. are in the lineup on Tuesday and have started against the last three lefties. They may both be emerging as full-time players for the Rays.

Part of the Rays’ platoon brigade, DeLuca notched two early hits off the Athletics’ left-handed starter Brady Basso and helped Tampa Bay build an early lead. With a .281 batting average against lefties this season, DeLuca consistently hits in the heart of the order against them and is a solid deep league, daily streamer on Friday and Saturday with two more lefties on the schedule.

Mesa Jr. was activated off the injured list on Tuesday and right back in the starting lineup against a lefty. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and is right back in there against a right-handed pitcher. Jonny DeLuca started on Tuesday, and Cedric Mullins is starting in center field and batting seventh tonight, so it appears that those two may be in a platoon.

DeLuca has been playing every day since Victor Mesa Jr. went on the injured list, and he’s gone 19-for-64 (.297) in August with five runs scored, five RBI, and three steals. He could be a deeper league asset in fantasy if he’s going to continue to play this often.

Mesa’s setback last night will shelve him for at least 10 days. Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca will get extra starts against righties while Mesa is out.

DeLuca mostly plays against lefties, but he got a start with Chandler Simpson resting today. He actually has a better OPS against righties than lefties this year (.776 to .731), but the Rays haven’t truly bought in. If typical form holds, he’ll start against the one lefty and probably one of the three righties the Orioles throw in their upcoming four-game series.