Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.23) gets the unenviable assignment of trying to outduel Ohtani (6-2, 1.06) at 12:10 PM PT, a getaway-day matinee that closes out a 3-game set the Rays have already lost. McClanahan is coming off his worst start in a while — 4 innings, 4 earned, 8 hits in Anaheim — so the timing is rough.
The bats are the bigger worry. Tampa scored 3 in Monday's opener, got shut out 1-0 on Tuesday, and is now staring down a guy carrying a sub-1.10 ERA into mid-June. The lineup is also patched together with Jake Fraley out post-hernia surgery, Jonny DeLuca on rehab, and Gavin Lux still working through a shoulder issue on the 60-day IL.
On the other side, the Dodgers are 47-27 and rolling at home despite missing roughly a full rotation. Tyler Glasnow hasn't resumed throwing, Blake Snell is only just playing catch, and Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and Landon Knack are all parked on the 60-day. Will Smith is on the 10-day with a neck issue and Teoscar Hernandez is still working back from a hamstring. They keep winning anyway, which is the most Dodgers thing imaginable.
- Day-To-DayAustin Vernon RP — The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.
- Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga RP — no
- 10-Day-ILJonny DeLuca RF — DeLuca (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
- 10-Day-ILJake Fraley RF — Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Fraley (hernia) will require surgery and will face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
- 15-Day-ILJesse Scholtens RP — Scholtens was charged with a blown save and dropped to 5-3 on the season in Monday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles in 13 innings after yielding five runs (three earned) on four hits across 1.1 frames. He struck out one batter.
- 60-Day-ILGavin Lux LF — Lux (shoulder) is scheduled to take live batting practice against teammate Craig Kimbrel (wrist) on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
- 60-Day-ILJonathan Heasley RP — Heasley was returned to the major-league roster and placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow stress reaction.
- 60-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez RP — Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayChris Campos SP
- 10-Day-ILTeoscar Hernandez LF — Hernandez (hamstring) is expected to ramp up his baseball activities this week, and if all goes well, he could be sent out on a rehab assignment by the weekend, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILWill Smith C — The Dodgers will place Smith (neck) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
- 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez 1B — Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks after sustaining a "significant tear" of his left oblique during Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart RP — Stewart (foot) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Ontario on Friday.
- 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow SP — Glasnow (back) has yet to resume throwing, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Diaz RP — Diaz (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILBlake Snell SP — Snell (elbow) began playing catch Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
The path for the Rays is the obvious one — chase Ohtani's pitch count, get into a depleted Dodgers bullpen (no Edwin Diaz, no Evan Phillips, no Brusdar Graterol, no Brock Stewart), and hope McClanahan rediscovers the version of himself from May. The path against them is also obvious: Ohtani has been the best pitcher in baseball this year and the Rays just got blanked by LA's staff 18 hours ago. It's a tough spot, on a tough morning, after a tough series.