Rays at Indians: Luis Patino on the mound, Mike Zunino on the bench

The Rays are in Cleveland for a four-game weekend series and will have just-called-up 21-year-old right-hander Luis Patino on the mound for tonight’s opener.

Patino has been up from Triple-A several times this season. This time, the Rays seem willing to give him the opportunity to stick around, manager Kevin Cash saying the team was willing to create a lane for him to have the opportunity for success.

Infielder Vidal Brujan was sent back to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Patino. The Rays on Wednesday also put reliever J.P. Feyerisen on the injured list and called up Chris Mazza.

Catcher Mike Zunino is out of the lineup for a third straight game after leaving Monday’s game with left hip flexor tightness, though he did pinch hit — and draw a walk — on Wednesday. Cash said before the Tuesday and Wednesday games that he expected Zunino back in the lineup the next day.

Cash said Thursday Zunino wanted to play today and “is in a good spot,” but the team wanted to be cautious and take one more day, and plans for him to start on Friday.

Outfielder Manuel Margot (left hamstring) will start a short rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham tonight, and Chris Archer will make another rehab appearance on the mound.

Here is the Rays lineup:

And here is the Indians lineup with Bradley Zimmer scratched due to cold-like symptoms and undergoing a COVID-19 test, and Tampa Gaither High product Oscar Mercado going to centerfield.

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