Friday Moves

Kevin Kiermaier

The Tampa Bay Rays recalled SS Sean Rodriguez from the Durham Bulls and placed him on the 15-day disabled list with a right hand fracture. This is to make him eligible for the playoffs.

Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier has been assigned to the Durham Bulls from the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

The Bowling Green Hot Rods placed 3B Tyler Goeddel on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to August 29th. If he's healthy, he will be eligible to play on September 5th, which is the Hot Rods first playoff game. In the mean time expect 3B to be manned by Ben Kline, Taylor Motter, and/or Juniel Querecuto.

Keith Castillo

The Bowling Green Hot Rods activated catcher Keith Castillo from the disabled list to fill Goeddel's spot.

The Hot Rods probable starters:

Saturday, September 1st vs. Fort Wayne - LHP Jake Partridge (5-1, 2.53)

Sunday, September 2nd vs. Fort Wayne - LHP Felipe Rivero (8-8, 3.18)

Monday, September 3rd vs. Fort Wayne - RHP Reinaldo Lopez (1-0, 2.08)

That is the end of the regular season. I would expect LHP Ryan Carpenter to start the first playoff game on Wednesday the 5th.

The Rays picked up another outfielder:

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired outfielder Ben Francisco from the Houston Astros in exchange for a player to be named later. He is expected to join the Rays in Toronto tomorrow and a corresponding move for the 40-man roster will be made after tonight’s game.

Francisco, 30, was hitting .247 (21-for-85) with two home runs and five RBI in 31 games with the Astros, who acquired him on July 20 as part of a 10-player trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. He started the year in Toronto and hit .240 (12-for-50) with two RBI in 27 games, missing a month (May 25-June 24) with a left hamstring injury.

The right-handed hitter has spent six seasons in the majors with the Cleveland Indians (2007-09), Philadelphia Phillies (2009-11), Blue Jays (2012) and Astros (2012). For his career, he has a .258 batting average, .328 onbase percentage, 47 home runs and 181 RBI. He has played the majority of his games in left field (212 games) and right field (148).

Albert Suarez

The Rays will add the following players to the active roster after midnight when rosters expand from 25 to 40:

- catcher Chris Gimenez
- infielder Reid Brignac
- outfielder Rich Thompson
- LHP Cesar Ramos

There may be more additions over the holiday weekend.

RHSP Albert Suarez has been designated for assignment. This is the corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster for Ben Francisco.