PT TOMORROW: AL East—Can Kiermaier, Puello awaken slumbering TAM offense?

Tampa Bay Rays

Before breaking out for six runs in their August 19 loss to the Mariners, the Rays endured a 14-game stretch in which they scored only 24 runs, the worst stretch by an American League team since 2013.

The search for a way to jumpstart the lineup led to a brief experiment with Evan Longoria (3B, TAM) in the number-two slot in the batting order, which has been abandoned.

What seem like will be more enduring changes appear to be having Steven Souza (OF, TAM) hit cleanup, where he may see a few more at-bats and RBI opportunities, and having the newly activated Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TAM) bat leadoff, where he could get chances to steal bases, though the extent to which Kiermaier will run after a two-plus-month layoff with a hip...

Almost!

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