Rays Seek Series Win Over Cubs in Return to Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay looks to build on home opener victory after 18 months away from their stadium.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:22pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and colors representing a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, capturing the energy and excitement of the Rays' homecoming.The Rays' return to their refurbished home stadium after an 18-month absence is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration, reflecting the team's resilience and the fans' anticipation.Chicago Today

The Tampa Bay Rays are back home at Tropicana Field after playing their previous 18 months of home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The Rays will look to win their second consecutive series when they host the Chicago Cubs in the middle game of their three-game set on Tuesday night. Tampa Bay won the series opener 6-4 on Monday, led by a three-homer performance from their offense.

Why it matters

The Rays' return to Tropicana Field after extensive renovations following Hurricane Milton's damage in 2024 is a significant moment for the franchise and its fans. The team's ability to maintain success despite the disruption to their home stadium will be closely watched.

The details

In Monday's win, Rays manager Kevin Cash was happy to see former ace Shane McClanahan make his first start at Tropicana Field in nearly 3 years after recovering from Tommy John surgery and a nerve issue. McClanahan struggled early but settled in, retiring his final 7 batters. The Rays' offense was led by Chandler Simpson, who reached base for the 10th straight game to match a team record. The Cubs' offense has been in a rut, though manager Craig Counsell expressed confidence his hitters will break out soon.

  • The Rays hadn't played at Tropicana Field since Hurricane Milton devastated the roof and caused major damage in October 2024.
  • The Rays played their home games at Tampa's Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees, while Tropicana Field underwent renovations.

The players

Kevin Cash

Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Shane McClanahan

Left-handed pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays who made his first start at Tropicana Field in nearly 3 years after recovering from Tommy John surgery and a nerve issue.

Chandler Simpson

Outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays who reached base for the 10th straight game to match a team record.

Craig Counsell

Manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Matt Shaw

Infielder for the Chicago Cubs who hit a home run in the series opener.

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What they’re saying

“I thought the reception for Shane McClanahan when he was announced was pretty spectacular. Just shows how appreciative our fans are of him and what he's meant to us and dealt with.”

— Kevin Cash, Manager, Tampa Bay Rays

“We have very good hitters. Some of them are not succeeding right now. They will, in a big way.”

— Craig Counsell, Manager, Chicago Cubs

“You never want to compound things, so when there's an opportunity to buy a little time, you want to be more cautious, especially while the calendar is still in April. And that's what was portrayed to me as this is trying to do what's best for everything. But, yeah, I'm optimistic of coming out of this normal.”

— Matthew Boyd, Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

What’s next

Drew Rasmussen will take the mound for the Rays on Tuesday, looking to build on his strong start to the season. The Cubs will turn to right-hander Javier Assad, who has not pitched this year but went 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA in 2022.

The takeaway

The Rays' return to their home stadium after an extended absence is a significant moment for the franchise and its fans. The team's ability to maintain success despite the disruption to their home ballpark will be closely watched as they aim to win their second consecutive series against the Cubs.