Tampa Bay Rays Rays Colored Glasses 2019 season preview roundtable

3 of 7

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 24: Tyler Glasnow #20 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch in the first inning against the New York Yankees during the Grapefruit League spring training game at Charlotte Sports Park on February 24, 2019 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

What is the biggest question mark for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019?

Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles): My biggest question mark for the Tampa Bay Rays, is how will the opener work? Have teams taken the offseason to adjust? Is there even any adjustments to be made? What is going to happen when you use two openers in your rotation? Maybe it is just my nervous side, waiting for the other shoe to drop but is this really going to work again? If it was not a team I root for, I would not be this nervous, because I truly believe in the strategy.

Patrick Davenport (@OfficialPatDav): Tyler Glasnow without a doubt. I love the 6′ 8 right hander’s stuff and think he has all the potential in the world, but he still hasn’t shown that he can put everything together consistently. I think 2019 will be a big indicator as to whether he truly has what it takes to be a legitimate big-league starter or not.

Heather Stowe (@Chloeontherocks): Can the Tampa Bay Rays stay healthy? The last few years have seen so many injuries that the team needed to overcome, it would be wonderful to see just what a healthy Tampa Bay Rays ball club can do.

Austin Reimann (@Reimann_Austin): For me, the biggest question mark is first base. Sure, there is Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, and Nate Lowe (eventually) but who will step up? Will it be first base by committee the entire season? Or, will someone run away with the job? It will be an interesting storyline to watch all season.