C.J. Riefenhauser to the DL, Mahtook Promoted

The Rays took the second game of the series last night against the Red Sox, thanks to a come from behind victory, in which the offense finally managed to come through with runners in scoring position, and also a strong debut from Jake Elmore, who pinch ran and scored, then homered in his first Rays at bat. Tonight they'll send Jake Odorizzi to the mound against Clay Buchholz, who's had an up-and-down beginning to the season.

Steven Souza seems to have shaken off the cramp that caused him to be pulled from last night's game. He's in lineup tonight playing right field

Lineup Thursday vs BOS: DeJesus DH, Souza RF, cabrera SS, Longoria 3B, Jennings LF, Dykstra 1B, Forsythe 2B, Kiermaier CF, Rivera C #Rays

— Steve Carney (@stevecarney) April 23, 2015

Clay Buchholz had a very strong first start as he went seven scoreless innings, only allowing three hits. He also struck out nine and only walked one. His last two starts, however, have been not so well. He couldn't get out of the 4th inning is his second start against New York, in which he allowed 10 runs to score and in his last start he allowed 11 hits, but only two runs crossed the plate during his six innings.

He has been no stranger to the Rays over the years having faced them numerous times. He has a fastball and sinker that he can throw in the low to mid nineties, a cutter in the high eighties, a slow curve, and a change-up in the high seventies.

With his fastball, Buchholz attacks the outer part of the plate to the opposing hitter. Buchholz uses his sinker to dive in on righties feet, while keeping it away from lefties. He uses his cutter to tail away from righties, while also using it jam lefties up and in. Buchholz has a looping curve that starts in the middle of the zone, but eventually falls out and goes below the strikezone. With his last pitch, the change-up, Buchholz attacks the outside corner to lefties, while not really throwing it much to righties.

Buchholz has heavily favored his sinker this year, throwing it almost 40% of the time. He throws his curveball 20%, cutter 15%, change-up 13%, and his fastball 12% of the time

Here's Ian's projections:

Other Rays Notes:

The Rays are sending yet another player to the DL as C.J. Riefenhauser goes down with a shoulder inflammation.. Mikie Mahtook is on his way back up.

ROSTER MOVE: LHP C.J. Riefenhauser placed on 15-day DL (left shoulder inflammation), OF Mikie Mahtook recalled from Durham. #Rays

— Steve Carney (@stevecarney) April 23, 2015

James Loney is finally going to begin his rehab assignment tonight with the Stone Crabs

1B James Loney (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with the #StoneCrabs tonight. He's expected to rejoin the #Rays this weekend.

— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) April 23, 2015

Former Devil Ray short stop, Julio Lugo has gotten himself involved in some unsavory business

Julio Lugo charged with kidnapping, gun posession http://t.co/cPH9cj3C9B pic.twitter.com/CjICAVlsdc

— Danny Russell (@d_russ) April 23, 2015

It's a trio of former franchise players' birthdays today as Jason Tyner (1977), Rich Thompson (1979), and Fernando Perez (1983) all turn a year older today.

Go Rays!