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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Tallies three hits Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 8:12 PM
Vilade went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored during the Rays' 4-3 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday.
Analysis: Vilade crossed home in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Cedric Mullins, the first run for the Rays in Tuesday's win. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for Vilade, two of which have come over his last four games. He's in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and over that span he has gone 9-for-21 (.429) with a steal, five RBI and three extra-base hits. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Collects 18th save
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 8:05 PM
Baker earned the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox after tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Baker was brought out for a second-straight night to close things out for the Rays, and he needed just 13 pitches (seven strikes) to do so Tuesday. He's converted seven-straight save opportunities, and his 18 saves are tied with Mason Miller for second-most in the majors behind Cade Smith (21). Given that he's come out of the bullpen in two-straight games, it's unlikely that Baker will be deployed for Wednesday's series finale against Boston. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Quality start vs. Boston
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 7:58 PM
Martinez (6-2) earned the win against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two across seven innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Martinez was dominant through his first seven innings, yielding just one run while tossing only 67 pitches. He was brought back out for the eighth inning but proceeded to give up three-straight hits, including a two-run double to Marcelo Mayer, before being pulled. Still, Martinez came away with his eighth quality start of the season, four of which have come over his last five starts. He'll take a 2.43 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 77.2 innings into his next start, which is slated for next week on the road against the Dodgers. |
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Sidelined at Single-A
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 2:27 PM
Pierce is on the 7-day injured list at Single-A Charleston due to an undisclosed injury.
Analysis: He missed time earlier this season with a calf strain, per Ian Cundall of Baseball America, so it could be an aggravation of that injury. Pierce, the No. 14 overall pick in last year's draft, is hitting .252 with four home runs, six steals and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate in 34 games at Single-A. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Not in lineup Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 2:07 PM
Walls is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Walls has dealt with a hamstring issue this month, but this seems to be a routine day of rest. Ben Williamson will draw the start at shortstop for the Rays. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Exiting starting lineup
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 1:57 PM
Aranda is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Red Sox.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Aranda has been an everyday player for the Rays this season, but he'll begin this one on the bench as the Red Sox send southpaw Payton Tolle to the bump. Ryan Vilade will play first base and bat cleanup for Tampa Bay. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Returning to lineup Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 1:54 PM
Simpson (thumb) will start in left field and bat third in Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Simpson missed the past three games while battling left thumb soreness, but he appeared in Monday's contest as a pinch runner and is feeling well enough to give it a go Tuesday in a full-time capacity. The speedster is in the midst of a 1-for-21 slide at the plate. |
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Shelved at Single-A
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 11:36 AM
Single-A Charleston placed Gray on its 7-day injured list June 1 due to an unspecified issue.
Analysis: Gray's move to the IL temporarily halts what's been a magnificent first season in the professional ranks for the 18-year-old, who has settled in at first base after being listed as a catcher when he was selected in the third round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft. Prior to hitting the shelf, Gray produced a .286/.406/.474 slash line with a 16.8 percent walk rate and 21.9 percent strikeout rate over 192 plate appearances with Charleston. |
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Shelved at High-A
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 10:05 AM
High-A Bowling Green placed Brito on its 7-day injured list May 23 due to an unspecified issue.
Analysis: Brito, a 21-year-old righty, had submitted a 3.34 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB in 32.1 innings over his first eight starts with Bowling Green before landing on the shelf. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Goes unused in win
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 10:24 PM
The Rays elected not to deploy Englert, who was expected to work in a bulk relief role Monday against the Red Sox, after Ian Seymour pitched the first four innings, and the rest of the bullpen held up, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Englert was called up to provide length for Tampa Bay during Monday's clash, but the game played out in a way that didn't require skipper Kevin Cash to call on the right-hander. Englert was spotted warming in the bullpen a few times throughout the game, though the Rays' relievers did their jobs, resulting in a 3-1 victory over the Red Sox. Cash failed to mention the plan for Englert going forward. He'll presumably be available to provide either long relief or a start later in the week as needed. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Hangs on for save No. 17
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 9:57 PM
Baker secured the save Monday against the Red Sox, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: Baker did let the potential tying run get to the plate, but he was able to hold on for the save. The 31-year-old right-hander has established a strong grip as Tampa Bay's closer, successfully converting six save opportunities in a row. Through 26.1 frames, Baker has a 2.05 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB while converting 17 of his 20 save chances. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Excels as starter Monday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 9:33 PM
Seymour took a no-decision Monday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in four innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: With Steven Matz recently moving to the bullpen, Seymour fared very well in his second start of the season Monday. The 27-year-old southpaw, who poured in 37 of his 55 pitches for strikes, turned in his longest outing of the year and fanned a season-high five, which could earn him another look in the rotation over the weekend against the Angels. Through 35 innings, Seymour has a 4.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB. |
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Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Taking BP on Tuesday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:31 PM
Lux (shoulder) is scheduled to take live batting practice against teammate Craig Kimbrel (wrist) on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The Rays announced May 12 that Lux was pulled off his minor-league rehab assignment due to left shoulder inflammation, after it was a right shoulder impingement sustained back in the spring that initially caused him to open the season on the shelf. Lux had been shut down from all baseball activities shortly after experiencing the setback, but the Rays' decision to clear him to face live pitching Tuesday suggests that he's been able to ramp back up over the last week or so. Tampa Bay hasn't provided any indication regarding when Lux might resume his rehab assignment, however, so his return from the 60-day IL shouldn't be viewed as imminent. |
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Craig Kimbrel Craig Kimbrel Facing hitters Tuesday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:19 PM
Kimbrel (wrist) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Kimbrel had made only one appearance for the Rays before going down with a right wrist strain at the end of May. It's unclear whether the club will ask him to make any rehab appearances first, but Kimbrel looks to be on track for activation from the 15-day injured list when first eligible June 12. |
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Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Rehab assignment coming
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:15 PM
DeLuca (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: DeLuca is only two weeks into a projected 6-to-8 week absence with a right hamstring strain, so he appears to be on track to return much sooner than anticipated. He was seeing regular starts in right field before getting hurt, and with Jake Fraley (hernia) out several more weeks, DeLuca should again see plenty of reps once he rejoins the active roster. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. On bench against southpaw
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:08 PM
Mesa is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: With southpaw Connelly Early on the bump for the Red Sox, the left-handed-hitting Mesa will retreat to the bench. While the Rays faced right-handed starters in each of the last seven games, Mesa was included in the lineup for six of those contests and went 3-for-22 (.136 average) with a 3:8 BB:K, two runs and one RBI during that time. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Idle against southpaw
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:06 PM
Palacios is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Red Sox are sending left-hander Connelly Early to the hill in the series opener, so the left-handed-hitting Palacios will give way to platoon mate Ben Williamson at the keystone. Palacios had started in each of the Rays' previous seven games, batting .154 with a 5:4 BB:K, four runs and two RBI over that stretch. |
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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Playing time picking up
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:03 PM
Fortes will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Fortes will stay in the starting nine for the fourth time in five games, with three of those starts having come against right-handed pitching. At least for the time being, Fortes appears to have moved out of the short side of a platoon at catcher and seems to have leapfrogged Hunter Feduccia on the depth chart. |
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Hunter Feduccia Hunter Feduccia Playing time trending down
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:00 PM
Feduccia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Feduccia will be on the bench while the Red Sox send southpaw Connelly Early to the bump, but the left-handed-hitting catcher had been left out of the lineup in three of the previous four matchups versus right-handed pitchers. Rather than opting for a platoon at catcher, the Rays may be moving toward leaning more heavily on Nick Fortes behind the dish. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Not cleared to start Monday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 1:54 PM
Simpson (thumb) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Rays will hold Simpson out of the starting nine for a third straight game while he manages a sore left thumb, but as was the case in the prior two contests, he's expected to remain available off the bench. Tampa Bay called up Austin Slater from Triple-A Durham on Monday and will have him cover Simpson's usual spot in left field in the series opener versus Boston. |
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