The Tampa Bay Rays wrap up their Sunday home slate on September 20, 2026, hosting the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field for a 1:40 PM ET first pitch. Griffin Jax takes the ball for Tampa Bay against left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who makes the trip south for Boston. With the regular season winding down, every game carries added weight, and this one is no different — two AL clubs with plenty to prove squaring off under the dome in St. Petersburg.

Pitching Matchup: Griffin Jax vs. Patrick Sandoval

Jax gets the nod for the Rays in what figures to be a pivotal Sunday start. The right-hander has been part of Tampa Bay's pitching mix this season, and manager-level trust in him for a late-September start speaks to his standing on the staff. Boston counters with Sandoval, a left-hander who brings a different look to opposing lineups. Neither pitcher's current season line is available heading into this one, so the matchup itself will do the talking at first pitch.

Tampa Bay Rays Lineup

• 1. Yandy Díaz — DH
• 2. Ryan Vilade — 1B
• 3. Junior Caminero — 3B
• 4. Jonny DeLuca — CF
• 5. Chandler Simpson — LF
• 6. Ben Williamson — 2B
• 7. Nick Fortes — C
• 8. Victor Mesa Jr. — RF
• 9. Taylor Walls — SS

Boston Red Sox Lineup

• 1. Roman Anthony — LF
• 2. Mickey Gasper — DH
• 3. Adley Rutschman — C
• 4. Trevor Story — SS
• 5. Nick Sogard — 1B
• 6. Caleb Durbin — 3B
• 7. Jarren Duran — CF
• 8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa — 2B
• 9. Nate Eaton — RF

Keys to Watch at Tropicana Field

• Junior Caminero in the three-hole: Batting third, the young third baseman carries significant run-production responsibility. How he handles Sandoval's left-handed arsenal will be a storyline to track all afternoon.
• Yandy Díaz setting the table: Díaz leads off for Tampa Bay, and his ability to work counts and get on base gives the lineup a foundation to build on. Boston's pitching staff will need to navigate him carefully.
• Roman Anthony at the top of Boston's order: The Red Sox leadoff man has the look of a player who can change a game quickly. Jax will need to limit damage if Anthony gets on early and Rutschman follows him up in the three spot.
• Jax's command inside the dome: Tropicana Field's controlled environment eliminates weather as a variable, but the Rays will need Jax to minimize walks and keep Boston's lineup off the bases. A clean first three innings would go a long way.
• The bottom of Tampa Bay's order: Victor Mesa Jr., Taylor Walls, and Nick Fortes batting seventh through ninth means the Rays need production beyond just their top four. Any contributions from that group could prove decisive in a tight game.

Prediction

This is a late-September game between two teams that know the calendar is almost out of pages. Jax has earned this start, and the Rays' lineup — led by Díaz, Caminero, and DeLuca — has enough punch to solve Sandoval at least once or twice through the order. Tropicana Field gives Tampa Bay the familiar surroundings edge, and home comfort matters down the stretch. Rays win a close one, 3-2. Catch the action on Rays.TV locally or tune in on WDAE 95.7 FM.