Why Ryan Vilade is a Tampa Bay Rays’ MUST-WATCH Player as Opening Day NEARS

Tampa Bay Rays open the season with Ryan Vilade earning a spot as a versatile Swiss Army knife—can his right-handed bat and defensive flexibility ignite the lineup in cold-weather games? Amid tough AL East competition, the Rays look to capitalize early against under-.500 teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago White Sox, hoping a hot start in frigid conditions sets the tone for playoff ambitions. Ulises Sambrano breaks down Vilade’s journey, Kevin Cash’s strategic deployment of right-handed hitters, and the importance of the Rays’ revamped Tropicana Field roof. From infielders testing new turf to outfielders adjusting to improved lighting, the team prepares to maximize home-field comfort. Key discussion points include the critical value of April wins, challenges facing the Rays as they navigate a difficult early road schedule, and roster moves that may shape the 2026 MLB landscape. Will the Rays stay above .500 and stay relevant by June? 00:00 — Ryan Vilade Makes Roster 10:10 — Rays’ Cold Start & Schedule 18:50 — Tropicana Roof Upgrades Follow Kevin Weiss @KevinWeiss_ Follow Ulises Sambrano @SambranoUlises Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts... Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/... Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonrays.supercast.com Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PlayStation This episode of is brought to you by MLB The Show 26. Visit mlbthe.show/lockedon and use code “LOCKEDON” to unlock a pack for use in Diamond Dynasty. Pre-Order now, Available March 17th on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. RATED E FOR EVERYONE. Turbo Tax For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 2