Monday, 3 a.m.

Perhaps it's time to make Jesse Scholtens a full-time starter.

Scholtens, who has inherited the Bulk role when the Rays go their Opener strategy, was sharp again Sunday as the Rays completed a sweep of Minnesota with a 4-2 victory at Tropicana Field.

Scholtens pitched 4 1/3 innings Sunday and allowed just three hits. He is now 2-0,=.

Bryan Baker earned his sixth save of the season.

Griffin Jax started the game and covered 2 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball. After the game, he suggested there have been discussions about making him a starting pitcher, too.

The Twins lost their ninth game of their last 10. They scored only five runs in their three games against the Rays.

Chandler Simpson got one-third of the Rays' nine hits and is now hitting .321.

The Rays scored all four of their runs in the third. Jonathan Aranda drove in two runs with a single, and Yandy Diaz followed with a two-run homer.

Brooks Lee hit a two-run homer for Minnesota in the seventh.

The Rays move to Cleveland to tplay the Guardians for a three-game series at 6:10 p.m. at Progressive Field. Steven Matz will start for the Rays against Parker Messick.

Sunday, 4 a.m.

Now, it is the time for answers.

The legitimate questions have all been addressed. The nit-picking is complete, too. But, really, all we have is words. Soon, the pads go on, and the proving begins.

The Bucs are no different than any other team. You can plan, and you can expect. The prospects have been analyzed endlessly.

But every player tells his own story. And the truth is the success stories and the busts will be roughy the same percentages they always are.

Soon, we will know if Rueben Bain's short arms are indeed a legitimate issue. First, ask yourself this: Do you know the arm length of anyone else in the NFL? For all the stats in the NFL, who is in charge of sleeve length?

Soon, we will know if Josiah Trotter has yet to discover that football teams can throw passes, too. At least, that's the impression you get from the wildfire criticism. But consider this: Linebackers are always the underdog in coverage against a running back. They're bigger, and as a rule, they're slower. Even the best coverage linebackers can keep up with a back only for so long. Does Trotter, the Missouri grad, have work to do? Of course. But it's not like every other linebacker is a safety in disguise.

With Trotter, the 46th pick, fans would have preferred to trade up three picks and take Jacob Rodriguez, or to take Jake Golday (who went 51st), C.J. Allen (53rd) or Anthony Hill (60th).

Soon, we will know if Ted Hurst's competition while playing for Georgia State will be a roadblock. Hurst's measurables are good enough, and his production is fine. But if you're going to give great players credit for beating good teams, don't you have to consider that Hurst didn't play many?

Soon, we will know if Keionte Scott is sharp enough in coverage. Granted, some analysts love Scott. And he was good enough to help Miami get to the national title game.

Soon, we will figure out if Clemson was at fault for DeMonte Capehart's underproduction in college at Clemson, or if it was Capeheart himself. Capehart's measurables were sufficient, but when a guy that big starts just 12 games in six seasons, there are answers to be found.

Soon, we will find out if Billy Schrauth can provide a little more oomph to the offensive line. After all, Schrauth went to Notre Dame, not the itty-bitty college that Jason Licht often finds his linemen. Schrauth's leg is supposedly okay, so that seems to be okay. And goodness knows, last season proved the Bucs need depth.

Soon, we may know just what the Bucs saw in Bauer Sharp at LSU that convinced them he was worth two draft picks. Is he good enough to crack the tight end room? Is he a special teams savant? What does he bring that wasn't there?

It is the same all over. To this point, it's all words and guesswork. From how on, everything is an exam.

And yes, papers will be graded.

Sunday, 3 a.m.

Now, that's the Shane McClanahan you remember.

McClanahan, still building up his stamina from Tommy John surgery, was sharp in his second win of the year Saturday. He pitched five shutout innings, and he allowed just three hits and struck out seven.

The Rays scored six runs for the second straight day in a 6-1 victory over Minnesota at Tropicana Field.

Jake Fraley started things off with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

From there, infielder Brett Williamson took over. He tripled in a run in the seventh and doubled in another in the eighth. Richie Palacios had a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Nick Fortes singled in a run.

The Rays bullpen allowed just two hits and one run in the ninth.

The Rays, 15-11 on the year, face the Twins again today at 1:40 p.m. at the Trop. Jesse Scholtens will start for the Rays against Simeon Woods Richardson.