Austin Meadows is the leadoff hitter for the Rays' all-lefty lineup. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Rays make MLB history with all-lefty lineup

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/11/20

The Tampa Bay Rays made some MLB history even before Friday's game held at Tropicana Field.

Per Juan Toribio of MLB.com, the Rays announced an initial lineup that included only left-handed hitters to face Boston right-hander Andrew Triggs. According to MLB researcher Andrew Simon, it's the first time in league history going back to 1901 that a team has included nine lefty batters in a single game-day lineup:

This would be the first time in MLB history (going back to at least 1901) that a team has started nine LHB in the same game https://t.co/XGWdal9vVN
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) September 11, 2020

Tampa is going one step further in playing the southpaw card by starting left-hander and 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (3-1, 3.74) against the Red Sox.

The Red Sox just can't get to Blake Snell pic.twitter.com/c834VS3pSN
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 11, 2020

Tampa Bay has lost four of the club's past five outings but remains atop the American League East standings at 28-16. Boston, meanwhile, is last in the division at 16-29.

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