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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Improves to 15-5
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 3:14 PM
Rasmussen (15-5) earned the win Thursday over the A's, allowing four hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: It was another strong outing from Rasmussen, who's given up just five runs over 31 innings in his last five starts. The right-hander's ERA is down to 2.72 across 29 starts (165.1 innings) this season with a 0.93 WHIP and 163:29 K:BB. Rasmussen currently lines up to face the Yankees on the road his next time out. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Idle against left-hander
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:59 AM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With lefty Jeffrey Springs toeing the rubber for the Athletics, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will take a seat for the series finale. Jonny DeLuca will replace Mullins in center field and will bat fifth. |
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Jorge Mateo Jorge Mateo Sitting in Walls' return
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:57 AM
Mateo is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mateo will hit the bench after he had started in eight of the Rays' previous nine games while going 4-for-26 with an 0:11 BB:K, three steals, three runs and two RBI. With Taylor Walls (hip) returning from the injured list Thursday and immediately stepping back into the lineup at shortstop, Mateo will likely be relegated to a utility role moving forward. |
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Finishes season on IL
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:31 AM
Overn didn't make any appearances for Double-A Montgomery after Aug. 4 due to an unspecified injury.
Analysis: The 23-year-old outfielder endured an injury-plagued 2026 campaign, hitting the shelf on three different occasions. He was productive when available, however, slashing .309/.395/.565 with 15 home runs and 48 stolen bases across 282 plate appearances for Montgomery. |
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Nick Madrigal Nick Madrigal Sent down to Durham
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 8:57 AM
The Rays optioned Madrigal to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Analysis: Madrigal went 3-for-10 and drove in one run during his brief time on the big-league roster. His roster spot is being absorbed by Taylor Walls (hip), who has returned from the injured list. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Reinstated from injured list
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 8:53 AM
The Rays activated Walls (hip) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Walls required just a minimum 10-day absence as he recovered from a right hip flexor strain. He'll return to a lowly .218/.304/.292 batting line. Nick Madrigal was sent down to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding roster move. |
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Cam Booser Cam Booser Posts 11th hold
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:47 PM
Booser struck out one in a clean eighth inning for a hold Wednesday against the Athletics.
Analysis: With Garrett Cleavinger (forearm) sidelined, Booser continues to serve as the top left-handed setup man in the Tampa Bay bullpen. He's given up just four earned runs in 16.2 innings since the start of August. Booser has a career-best 2.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 42:6 K:BB over 38 innings for the Rays in 2026. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Earns save against A's
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 8:29 PM
Sulser was credited with the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics, tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Bryan Baker was used by the Rays' in their 2-1 win over the A's on Tuesday, so Sulser got the call to protect Tampa Bay's one-run lead in Wednesday's tilt. Sulser needed only 12 pitches (eight strikes) to secure his third save of the season and first since May 5 against the Blue Jays. The veteran right-hander has a 4.56 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 11 holds over 51.1 innings this season. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Swipes 42nd bag
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 8:19 PM
Simpson went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a steal during the Rays' 4-3 win over the Athletics on Wednesday.
Analysis: Simpson was one of three Rays batters to smack an RBI double off Brady Basso, and the former showed off his speed with a steal in the third inning of Wednesday's win. Simpson has logged 40-plus steals in back-to-back seasons, and his 42 swiped bags are second-most in the majors behind Nasim Nunez (46). Simpson's .316 batting average also ranks second behind Luis Arraez (.316), and the former is fifth in the majors in hits (167) across 580 plate appearances. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Collects 15th win of 2026
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 8:15 PM
Martinez (15-4) earned the win against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three across five innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Martinez kept the Athletics' bats in check for most of Wednesday's contest, outside of two solo home runs by Tommy White and Henry Bolte in the third inning. Martinez needed only 72 pitches (50 strikes) to get through five innings, and it was the 13th time this season that he did not issue a walk. The veteran right-hander has a 2.94 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 171.1 innings and is up to 15 wins on the year, which is tied for third-most in the majors behind Sonny Gray and Cristopher Sanchez (17 each). Martinez is tentatively slated to face the Yankees on the road next week, though it's not clear whether he'll have another turn in the rotation past that start before the end of the regular season, given that the Rays have already clinched a spot in the postseason and have a good chance of being the top seed in the American League playoffs. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Nearing return from IL
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 3:09 PM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Walls (hip) felt good during his workouts Tuesday and the team is encouraged by the shortstop's progress, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Walls hit the 10-day injured list Sept. 8 with a right hip flexor strain, but it sounds like he will not miss much more than the minimum, with Bass indicating Walls could return as soon as Thursday. Now 30, Walls is a .199/.290/.297 career hitter over parts of six MLB seasons. However, Tampa Bay values his defense, and that aspect of his game has kept Walls in a regular role throughout the season (109 starts). |
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Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Swats another walk-off homer
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:55 AM
Caminero went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the A's.
Analysis: For the second time in five days, Caminero walked it off for the Rays, this time by getting hold of a 100.4-mph fastball from Elvis Alvarado and driving it the other way to clear the fence in the right-field corner. Caminero is up to 41 homers on the season, first in the American League and third in the majors behind the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber (45) and the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong (42), and the 23-year-old needs four more RBI to reach 100 for the second straight year. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Nabs third win
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:51 AM
Baker (3-2) picked up the win Tuesday, working a perfect ninth inning without a strikeout in a 2-1 victory over the A's.
Analysis: With the game tied 1-1 and a save situation off the table at home, Baker was called in for the top of the ninth and needed just seven pitches (three strikes) to set down the 2-3-4 hitters for the A's. The right-hander then got rewarded when Junior Caminero walked it off with a solo shot. Baker has been scored upon in only one of his last nine appearances, picking up two wins and three saves during that stretch with a 1.08 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, but a lackluster 6:5 K:BB. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Blanks A's in Tuesday's no-decision
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 9:47 AM
Jax didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two hits over five scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over the A's. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
Analysis: The right-hander was dominant over 67 pitches (46 strikes), but an early hook from manager Kevin Cash nearly cost the Rays when Ty Johnson gave up the tying run in the top of the sixth inning. Jax has been held under 70 pitches in all three of his September starts following a month-long absence due to elbow discomfort, but the strict workload limit appears to be working, as he's given up just one run in 10 innings over his last two trips to the mound with a 9:1 K:BB. Jax will look to stay stingy in his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Red Sox. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Starting rehab assignment
Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 1:31 PM
Williamson (hamstring) reported to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The 25-year-old landed on the shelf in early August due to a strained hamstring, but he's been cleared for game action after recently resuming baseball activities. Williamson has a .247/.309/.332 slash line with three home runs and eight steals in 84 games this season, and he may only need a few games in the minors before rejoining the Rays. |
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Kenny Piper Kenny Piper Dispatched to Durham
Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 1:09 PM
The Rays optioned Piper to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Analysis: Piper has served as Tampa Bay's third catcher for nearly a month, but he received just one start and six plate appearances during that stretch. |
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Jacob Melton Jacob Melton Out for season
Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 1:08 PM
The Rays recalled Melton from Triple-A Durham and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday due to a right hamstring strain.
Analysis: The 26-year-old missed most of August due to a right hamstring strain and appears to have aggravated the injury, which will bring an early end to his 2026 campaign. Melton was acquired from the Astros last winter and was limited to 45 games during his first year in the Rays organization. However, he was productive for Triple-A Durham when available, finishing with a .253/.346/.475 slash line, seven homers and 26 stolen bases. |
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Alex Cook Alex Cook Recalled from Durham
Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 1:05 PM
The Rays recalled Cook from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Analysis: In two appearances out of the Rays' bullpen this season, Cook has allowed three runs with a 2:2 K:BB covering 3.2 innings. The 25-year-old holds a 4.53 ERA and 48:16 K:BB in 43.2 frames during his time with Durham this season. |
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Jake Fraley Jake Fraley Reinstated from 60-day injured list
Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 1:03 PM
The Rays activated Fraley (hernia) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: Fraley is finally ready to return after completing his rehab from May hernia surgery. Victor Mesa has emerged as the Rays' primary right fielder, leaving the 31-year-old Fraley without a clear path to regular playing time. |
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Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Shelved by forearm tightness
Tue, Sep 15, 2026, 1:00 PM
The Rays placed Wells on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right forearm tightness.
Analysis: It's a big blow to the Rays' bullpen, as Wells has been lights out since landing in Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, logging a 1.50 ERA and 19:5 K:BB over 18 innings. He will not be eligible to return before the end of the regular season, but Wells expects to be active for the postseason after imaging came back negative, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv. |
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