Rays’ Corey Kluber on the mound for opener against Rangers

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays open their final homestand of the season with Corey Kluber on the mound to face the Texas Rangers.

Kluber is coming off his career-shortest outing last Saturday, getting only two outs and allowing six runs, but said he felt fine physically and it was just a matter of execution. “Aside from a few pitches, it wasn’t as bad as it ended up being,” he said.

The Rangers are starting veteran lefty Martin Perez.

Also:

• Reliever Brooks Raley was activated from the restricted list, where he spent the last four days, missing on out $93,407 of salary, as he is not vaccinated and couldn’t go to Canada. Reliever Kevin Herget was optioned to Triple-A.

• First baseman/outfielder Bligh Madris was claimed on waivers from the Pirates. Madris is a 26-year-old lefty who hit .177 with one HR, seven RBIs and a .509 OPS in 39 games for Pirates. In 71 games at Triple-A, Madris hit .294-7-34-.848.

Here is the Rays lineup:

And for the Rangers:

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