Williams was a first-round pick back in 2021 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the slickest defensive prospects in the minors. With Ha-Seong Kim placed on the injured list due to recurring back issues, Tampa Bay wasted no time giving their young shortstop a shot.

The Tampa Bay Rays finally got the spark they needed Friday night. Now the question is whether or not they can maintain it. Prized shortstop Carson Williams, the Rays' No.

Willson Contreras homered, Alec Burleson's two-run single highlighted a five-run second inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Thursday night. Sonny Gray (12-6) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings,

Crofton’s Caroline Ray missed the last two soccer seasons recovering from bone cancer. Being on the field this fall has extra meaning for her.

The St. Louis Cardinals have fallen further out of playoff contention, hampered by a wave of injuries to key players.

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays look to end their four-game home skid with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Tampa Bay is 61-67 overall and 32-33 at home. The Rays have the eighth-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .313.

The St. Louis Cardinals scratched left fielder Alec Burleson from their lineup on Friday afternoon less than two hours before first pitch of their series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. Burleson's scratch was due to right wrist discomfort after he injured the wrist on an awkward swing in Thursday's win, according to MLB.com's John Denton.

Lars Nootbaar reached base four times, and keyed a decisive five-run rally in the second inning at Steinbrenner Field against a Rays starter with St. Louis ties.