New Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Adrian Houser will make his home debut Friday night, but a little bit of the buzz around him was stolen by the arrival of the Carson Williams, the organization's prized farmhand, on Thursday.

In the opener of a three-game series, Tampa Bay dropped its fourth straight contest, falling 7-4 to the visiting Cardinals. St. Louis scored five times in the second inning en route to its third victory in four games during a six-game road trip that started in Miami.

With just four wins in their past 12 games, the Rays could use an offensive injection into their lineup, and maybe that will come from Williams.

A producer of three 20-homer, 20-steal seasons in the minors and rated as an elite defender at shortstop, Williams arrived from Triple-A Durham after the Thursday game started but did not play in the Rays' loss.

With Taylor Walls out due to a groin strain and oft-injured Ha-Seong Kim landing back on the injured list on Thursday to lower back inflammation, the shortstop spot is there for the taking with only rookie Tristan Gray standing in the way.

"At (Carson's) best, he could be an MVP, All-Star-caliber player, in my opinion," said outfielder Chandler Simpson, who has been teammates with Williams since 2023. "He's got all the tools."

In 111 games for Durham this year, Williams, 22, hit .213 with a .318 on-base percentage, a .447 slugging percentage, 23 homers, 55 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. He was the Rays' first-round draft pick in 2021.

Houser (6-4, 2.67 ERA) is 0-2 with a 5.17 ERA in three starts since joining the Rays. The right-hander is 5-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 17 career appearances (14 starts) against the Cardinals.

While it has not helped in the lineup, the Cardinals have had an addition this week in Florida.

In the middle of a disastrous season for an eight-time All-Star who sports 10 Gold Gloves, injured third baseman Nolan Arenado (strained right shoulder) has been out all month but is spending plenty of time in the Sunshine State.

Unfortunately for the National League Central club, it is not playing the hot corner for manager Oliver Marmol.

Arenado, 34, has been taking ground balls, running and doing some light lifting, but he mixed hitting into his rehab this week at the team's training complex in Jupiter, Fla., and joined the team for a game in Miami.

"Obviously frustrated, but at the same time, I see myself getting better," Arenado said this week, according to MLB.com. "I'm just trying to look at the positives and stay positive about those things. I like the way I'm starting to feel. (I'm) hopeful that the pain goes away soon and I can come back and play."

Added Marmol: "Obviously, having him around is always a good thing. If it's two days down here, we'll take it."

Arenado has struggled at the plate, posting career-lows in batting average (.235) and OPS (.660). He has 10 homers and 43 RBIs in 96 games.

In the middle game of the series on Friday, Marmol will send out Miles Mikolas (6-9, 4.99 ERA) for the durable right-hander's 25th start.

A native of Jupiter who gets to return home during spring training, Mikolas has had a difficult August: 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA over three starts. In that span, Mikolas surrendered 10 runs, 15 hits and three homers in 14 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking seven.

Against the Rays, the 36-year-old veteran is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in three career starts.