Rays-Royals postponed; twin bill set for today

KANSAS CITY -- The Rays and Royals were rained out Tuesday, and the two teams will play a straight doubleheader on Wednesday, with the first game scheduled for 1:15 p.m. ET and the second game starting 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

Ryne Stanek, who has yet to allow a run over 10 2/3 innings of work in his seven starts this season, will open the first game against the Royals, while Blake Snell gets the nod for the second game. Snell, who was orginally scheduled to start Tuesday, is looking to bounce back after going just 3 1/3 innings in his last start against Kansas City.

The Royals said they will call up right-hander Glenn Sparkman from Triple-A Omaha as the 26th man to start one of the games. Right-hander Jakob Junis (2-2, 5.57 ERA), the scheduled starter for Tuesday, will start the other game of the doubleheader. The Royals had not yet decided which game either Sparkman or Junis will start.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said the decision to have Stanek open the first game and have Snell slot over into the second game was mostly decided just so Snell doesn’t have to rush for a start earlier in the morning. With the 45 minutes between games, Snell should be on more of a regular routine. The rainout doesn’t affect anything for Thursday’s series finale, as Charlie Morton is still scheduled to pitch for Tampa Bay.

The Rays haven’t decided who will be the 26th man on the roster for the doubleheader, but Cash said that it will definitely be a pitcher to help in the bullpen.