| News |
|---|
|
Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Approaching 40-steal mark
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 5:54 PM
Simpson went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Simpson logged his first steal of September in the seventh inning of this contest. He's been putting bat to ball fairly well lately, logging eight multi-hit efforts over his last 14 games. The light-hitting speedster is 39-for-53 on the basepaths this season while batting .308 with a .696 OPS, 31 RBI, 57 runs scored, 14 doubles, six triples and no home runs over 135 games. |
|
Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Chased in fourth inning
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 5:52 PM
Seymour allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out two over three-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Sunday.
Analysis: Seymour has now given up at least three runs in each of his last five games, though he had covered at least five frames in each of those outings prior to Sunday. The southpaw had particular trouble with Jake Burger, who tagged him for a pair of home runs, accounting for three of the runs he surrendered. Seymour is at a 4.33 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 140:33 K:BB through 116.1 innings over 43 games (13 starts) this year. He is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Astros. |
|
Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Taking seat against southpaw
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 1:53 PM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: After starting in each of the last four games, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will retreat to the bench while southpaw MacKenzie Gore toes the rubber for the Rangers. Jonny DeLuca will spell Mullins in center field and will bat sixth. |
|
Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Idle Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 1:52 PM
Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: Walls will hit the bench for the series finale after he went 0-for-6 with a walk while starting in both of the past two contests. Jorge Mateo will cover shortstop in place of Walls. |
|
Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Sitting amidst hot stretch
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:51 AM
Palacios isn't in the Rays' starting lineup versus Texas on Sunday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Palacios has been flashing his power lately, hitting three homers over his past four games. However, he'll spend at least part of Sunday on the bench with the Rangers sending a lefty starter (MacKenzie Gore) to the mound. Ryan Vilade is filling in for Palacios at second base in the series finale. |
|
Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Beginning on bench Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:43 AM
Hicks is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup against Texas, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Hicks started behind the plate both Friday and Saturday, so he'll get a breather for the series finale Sunday. Nick Fortes is getting a turn behind the plate and batting ninth against the Rangers. |
|
Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Spins seven strong innings
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:02 PM
Rasmussen took a no-decision against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Rasmussen continued to deal Saturday, firing at least six innings while giving up two runs or fewer for a third consecutive start. The right-hander has yielded fewer than five hits and three runs in all but of one of his last eight outings as well. He'll bring a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 156:27 K:BB over 153.1 innings into his next scheduled outing versus the Astros. |
|
Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Placed on injured list
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 5:45 PM
The Rays placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Friday with a lower-back strain, retroactive to Thursday.
Analysis: Rodriguez has given up two earned runs and struck out eight batters in 4.2 innings since making his season debut Aug. 24, but he'll now head back to the injured list after tweaking his back. Cole Sulser (back) was reinstated from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move to take Rodriguez's place in the Rays' bullpen. |
|
Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Returns from IL
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 5:42 PM
The Rays reinstated Sulser (back) from the injured list Friday.
Analysis: Out since late July with lower-back spasms, Sulser began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham on Aug. 19 and has since given up two earned runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out seven batters over seven innings. Now fully healthy, he'll reclaim a middle-relief role in Tampa Bay's bullpen and replace Manuel Rodriguez (back) on the active roster. |
|
Oliver Dunn Oliver Dunn Jettisoned from 40-man roster
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 3:34 PM
The Rays designated Dunn for assignment Saturday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The move corresponds with Garrett Cleavinger (forearm) being placed on the 15-day injured list and the Rays selecting Ty Johnson's contract from Triple-A Buffalo. Dunn has spent the majority of the 2026 season in Triple-A, where he is slashing .243/.350/.444 with 18 steals (in 22 attempts), 19 home runs and 63 RBI over 452 plate appearances. |
|
Contract selected by Tampa Bay
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 3:32 PM
The Rays selected Johnson's contract from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Rays filled the spot in their bullpen vacated by Garrett Cleavinger, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to left forearm tightness. Johnson has made 21 appearances (10 starts) in Triple-A this season, where he has a 3.03 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 62.1 innings. His first appearance for the Rays will officially mark his major-league debut. |
|
Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Lands on 15-day IL with forearm tightness
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 3:27 PM
The Rays placed Cleavinger on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to left forearm tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The 32-year-old southpaw may have picked up the injury during Friday's outing against the Rangers, when he allowed two runs on two hits (including a home run) and a walk while failing to record an out. He's eligible to return from the IL on Sept. 20, and he expressed confidence Saturday that he would pitch again this season, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv. Right-hander Ty Johnson had his contract selected from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. |
|
Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Belts solo shot
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:15 AM
Palacios went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Friday's 7-6 win over the Rangers.
Analysis: Palacios recorded his second homer in the past three games when he launched a solo shot off Kumar Rocker in the fourth inning. The 29-year-old's seven homers this season are a new career high, breaking his previous record of six in 2023 with St. Louis. This year, Palacios is batting .225/.320/.348 with 42 RBI and 11 stolen bases. |
|
Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Rockets homer No. 18
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:11 AM
Aranda went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, an RBI double, two runs scored and two strikeouts during Friday's 7-6 win over Texas.
Analysis: Aranda knotted the score at one in the third inning after launching a solo shot off Kumar Rocker. The 28-year-old Aranda then laced an RBI double to extend Tampa Bay's lead in the fifth. On the season, Aranda is slashing .277/.361/.424 with 18 homers and 82 RBI in 596 plate appearances. |
|
Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Notches sixth save
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:06 AM
Wells registered a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his sixth save of the season in a 7-6 win over Texas.
Analysis: Wells recorded his sixth straight appearance without an earned run allowed, and his 15th in his last 16 outings. The right-hander was called on with no outs and two runners on in the ninth after Bryan Baker (illness) failed to record an out. In 11 games with Tampa Bay, Wells owns a 1.93 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 13:4 K:BB and two saves over 14 innings. |
|
Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Picks up win No. 14
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 9:58 AM
Martinez (14-4) earned the win Friday over Texas, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: Martinez made his 27th start Friday, the most he has ever registered in a single season. The 36-year-old recorded his third straight quality start in a win over the Rangers, continuing a career year. The right-hander now owns a 3.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 95:24 K:BB in 160 innings this season. Martinez is lined up to make his next start Thursday against Atlanta. |
|
Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Battling illness
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 10:27 PM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said after Friday's game against the Rangers that Baker was removed due to illness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: "Nothing physical," Cash stressed, which is music to the ears of Baker's fantasy managers. Baker walked both batters he faced before being removed from a save situation Friday. He leads the majors in saves with 39 this season, four more than anyone else. |
|
Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Leaves game with trainer
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 10:10 PM
Baker left Friday's game against the Rangers with an apparent injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Major League Baseball's saves leader walked both batters he faced before exiting alongside the Rays' head athletic trainer. Tyler Wells took over for Baker in the ninth inning and closed the door for his sixth save of the season and second since joining Tampa Bay at the trade deadline. |
|
Alex Cook Alex Cook Back with Tampa Bay
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 4:23 PM
The Rays recalled Cook from Triple-A Durham on Friday.
Analysis: Just two days after being sent down to Durham, Cook is back with the big-league club Friday. The 25-year-old has made just two starts in the majors, but in Triple-A he owns a 4.64 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 46:15 K:BB over 42.2 innings. With Shane McClanahan (forearm) sidelined for at least 15 days, Cook will take his spot on the 26-man roster. |
|
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Sidelined with forearm tightness
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 4:18 PM
Tampa Bay placed McClanahan on the 15-day injured list Friday with left forearm tightness.
Analysis: McClanahan will make his second trip to the IL in the last three months after allowing four earned runs over five innings Thursday against the Rangers. In his first big-league action since 2023, McClanahan owns a 10-7 record this season with a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 106:39 K:BB over 118 innings. With the 29-year-old on the shelf, the Rays recalled Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham to bolster the bullpen. |
Connect With Us:
