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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Expected to play Tuesday
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 9:12 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said after Monday's 10-9 loss to the Tigers that Simpson (mouth) is expected to play Tuesday against Detroit, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Simpson was removed from Monday's contest after he sustained a busted lip when his helmet fell off and came up to strike him in the mouth. Simpson required stitches but is otherwise fine. He went 1-for-2 with a single prior to leaving Monday. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Being cautious with injury
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 7:11 PM
Walls (hamstring) was removed from Monday's game against the Tigers in the third inning for precautionary reasons due to tightness in his left hamstring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Tampa Bay removed Walls from the series opener Monday against Detroit for precautionary reasons regarding his left hamstring. The Rays are being cautious with Walls because he missed two games last week due to the same injury. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Leaves game Monday
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 6:54 PM
Simpson was removed from Monday's game against Detroit due to a cut on his mouth, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He went 1-for-2 with a single prior to leaving the game.
Analysis: Simpson was advancing to second base when his helmet fell off and struck his mouth, causing the laceration and left him bloodied. Ryan Vilade replaced Simpson in left field and in the fifth spot of the lineup. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Pulled from Monday's game
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 6:32 PM
Walls (undisclosed) was removed from Monday's game against the Tigers in the third inning, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Walls missed time last week due to a left hamstring injury, but it's unclear whether his removal from Monday's game is related to that same issue. Oliver Dunn will operate at shortstop in place of Walls for the rest of the contest. The Rays should provide an update on Walls during or shortly after the game. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Sitting in second straight game
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 2:58 PM
Vilade is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: After a stretch of three straight starts in which he went 0-for-10 with a walk and three RBI, Vilade will hit the bench for a second straight day. Both of Vilade's absences have come against right-handed pitching, so he still appears to be stuck in a short-side platoon role even though the Rays' outfield depth has been further tested with Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) recently joining Jake Fraley (hernia) on the injured list. |
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Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Reaches base four times in win
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:02 PM
Caminero went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two walks in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Angels.
Analysis: Although Caminero hasn't homered in 10 straight games, he has picked up multiple hits in three consecutive outings. The slugging third baseman has also hit safely in 12 of his last 13 contests. Through 247 plate appearances (56 games), Caminero is slashing a potent .278/.377/.500 with 13 home runs, eight doubles, 28 RBI and 34 runs scored. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Earns sixth win
Sun, May 31, 2026, 5:18 PM
McClanahan (6-2) earned the win against the Angels on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five innings.
Analysis: McClanahan mostly cruised through five frames, throwing 51 of 70 pitches for strikes and generating eight whiffs. While workload restrictions will continue to limit his ceiling, the southpaw has now yielded one earned run or fewer in six of 11 outings this season while holding opponents to a .184 batting average. He'll carry a 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 53:19 K:BB across 55 innings into a road matchup against the Marlins next weekend. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Converts 16th save
Sun, May 31, 2026, 5:10 PM
Baker earned the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Angels, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth innings.
Analysis: Baker was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and did so on just 11 pitches. The 31-year-old will finish May with nine saves in 10 opportunities while keeping opponents off the board in 12 of 14 appearances. He ranks third in the majors with 16 saves to go along with a 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB across 24.1 innings. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Ready to start Monday
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:34 AM
Jax (back) is listed as Tampa Bay's scheduled starter for Monday's series opener against Detroit, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander departed his last outing Tuesday in Baltimore after being struck in the back by a line drive, but it appears he's good to go. After struggling as the Rays' closer to begin the campaign, Jax has pitched well since being moved to the starting rotation in late April, posting a 1.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 21 innings. |
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Andrew Wantz Andrew Wantz Designated for assignment
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:19 AM
The Rays designated Wantz for assignment Sunday.
Analysis: The right-hander just had his contract selected by Tampa Bay on Friday but will lose his place on the roster after giving up five runs across 1.2 innings Saturday against the Angels. Wantz seems unlikely to garner much interest on the waiver wire given that he posted a 7.04 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 23 innings for Triple-A Durham prior to the promotion. |
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Trevor Martin Trevor Martin Back with Tampa Bay
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:05 AM
The Rays recalled Martin from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Analysis: Tampa Bay designated right-hander Andrew Wantz for assignment to clear room in the bullpen for Martin, who will be up with the big club for the third time this season. Over his previous two stints with the Rays, Martin made four appearances and logged a 3.68 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB in 7.1 innings. |
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Cam Booser Cam Booser Available for Tampa Bay debut
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:03 AM
The Rays recalled Booser from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Analysis: Booser was added to the Rays' 40-man roster at the end of spring training after he had attended camp as a non-roster invitee, but he remained in the minors for the first two-plus months of the season. The 34-year-old southpaw is likely to work in middle relief for Tampa Bay after accruing a 1.80 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 24:5 K:BB across 20 innings in 23 appearances for Durham. |
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Craig Kimbrel Craig Kimbrel Lands on IL with wrist issue
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:01 AM
The Rays placed Kimbrel on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right wrist strain.
Analysis: Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Kimbrel showed no sign of injury while tossing a scoreless inning of relief in his Rays debut Tuesday in Baltimore, but his wrist began bothering him Friday. After consulting with team doctors, Kimbrel and the Rays came to a mutual decision for the veteran right-hander to go on the shelf, though he could be ready for activation when first eligible June 12. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Jumped early in second loss
Sat, May 30, 2026, 9:40 PM
Rasmussen (4-2) took the loss Saturday against the Angels, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The Angels got to Rasmussen right away, as Wade Meckler hit a grand slam in the opening frame to put the Rays in an early 4-0 hole. The 30-year-old right-hander at least managed to settle in a bit with three innings of one-run ball the rest of the way, but he still gave up a season-worst five runs in his second-shortest outing of the year. Rasmussen, who still sports a 3.36 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB over 59 innings, will be trying to get back on track next weekend against the Marlins in Miami. |
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Jonathan Heasley Jonathan Heasley Outrighted to Triple-A
Sat, May 30, 2026, 1:10 PM
Heasley cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Heasley had a brief stint with the big-league club this week, allowing five runs over four innings in an appearance May 27. He was DFA'd on Friday and is now back with Durham. Heasley has a career 6.04 ERA over 143 major-league regular-season innings, so he's likely to serve as bullpen depth for when the big club needs an extra arm. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Back in lineup Saturday
Sat, May 30, 2026, 11:39 AM
Walls (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth for the Rays on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Walls missed each of Tampa Bay's past three games due to a hamstring issue, but he's feeling well enough to return to action Saturday. Three different players started at shortstop for the Rays while Walls was sidelined, and Ben Williamson -- who played the position Friday -- is sliding over to second base for Saturday's matchup. |
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Hunter Bigge Hunter Bigge Relegated to Durham
Sat, May 30, 2026, 10:58 AM
The Rays optioned Bigge to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: The 27-year-old will end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room in the bullpen for Cole Sulser (back), who returned from the injured list Saturday. Bigge owns a 6.98 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 19.1 innings with the Rays this season and gave up three earned runs without recording an out during his last appearance Friday. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Returns from IL
Sat, May 30, 2026, 10:55 AM
The Rays reinstated Sulser (back) from the injured list Saturday.
Analysis: Sulser didn't play in any rehab games while recovering from a lower-back strain, but he has been facing live hitters over the past few days and will now rejoin the Rays' bullpen following a minimum-length IL stay. The 36-year-old righty will presumably reclaim a setup role after posting a 3.68 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 22 innings on the year. Hunter Bigge was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Throwing bullpen sessions
Fri, May 29, 2026, 11:14 PM
Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez is tossing bullpen sessions, but the Rays seem to be taking a cautious approach with his throwing program. The right-hander underwent surgery to repair a right elbow flexor strain back on Aug. 8 of last year, and the hope remains that Rodriguez will still be able to return to action at some point in June or July. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Closing in on return
Fri, May 29, 2026, 11:09 PM
Manager Kevin Cash says Sulser (back) should return to the Rays "pretty soon," MLB.com reports .
Analysis: Sulser has been facing hitters in live batting practice and is progressing well from a lower-back strain. It sounds like the 36-year-old right-hander will be able to dodge a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Through 22 innings, Sulser has a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB. |
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