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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Ruled out for ALDS
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:02 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that McClanahan (forearm) will not be included on the Rays' ALDS roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: McClanahan had already been ruled out for the rest of the regular season due to tightness in his left forearm, and although the Rays will get a bye during the Wild Card Series, he still won't be ready to pitch by the time Tampa Bay begins its postseason run. Cash noted that it's still possible McClanahan will be available for the ALCS if the Rays advance, though they will wait to see where the left-hander is at in his throwing progression at that point before making a decision. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz On bench Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:48 PM
Diaz is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Rays are starting most of their regulars, Diaz notwithstanding, even after clinching the division and home-field advantage through the ALCS with a win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Victor Mesa will get a turn in the leadoff spot as Jonathan Aranda starts at DH and Ryan Vilade mans first base against right-hander Gerrit Cole. |
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Alex Cook Alex Cook Sent back to minors
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 12:50 PM
The Rays optioned Cook to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Analysis: He's exiting the roster in order to free a spot for Mason Englert, who will make a spot start Wednesday versus the Yankees. Cook has allowed three runs with a 5:2 K:BB across 5.2 frames out of the Rays' bullpen this season. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Summoned for spot start
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 12:48 PM
The Rays recalled Englert from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Analysis: One day after the Rays clinched the American League East, they have summoned Englert to make a spot start Wednesday against the Yankees. The 26-year-old has made three starts and 11 relief appearances this season, logging a 4.54 ERA and 32:8 K:BB over 35.2 innings. Englert will be pitching on seven days' rest after tossing seven shutout innings on 84 pitches in his last outing with Durham, so he is prepared for a full workload. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Drives in four in division-clinching win
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:04 AM
Diaz went 2-for-5 with four RBI in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Analysis: After going 0-for-4 in the matinee as the Rays got blanked 2-0, Diaz powered a 6-1 win in the nightcap, driving in a pair of runs in both the seventh and ninth innings with singles. With the victory, Tampa Bay clinched the AL East title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The performance ended a 10-game slump in which Diaz had gone just 3-for-40 (.075) with one RBI, but he still hasn't produced an extra-base hit since Sept. 8. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Three hits in Tuesday's nightcap
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:58 AM
Walls went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Analysis: The shortstop led the charge in a 6-1 win for the Rays that clinched the AL East crown, and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Walls is in the lineup for his defense, not his offense, but despite a hip issue that cost him a good chunk of September, he's put together a .289/.364/.342 slash line over 46 plate appearances since Aug. 28 with two doubles, two steals, five RBI and nine runs in 13 contests. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Dazzles in division-clinching win
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:54 AM
Rasmussen (16-5) picked up the win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, allowing one run on one hit and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out 11.
Analysis: With the 6-1 victory, the Rays clinched the AL East crown and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Rasmussen took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but a leadoff double by Heliot Ramos led to New York's only run of the game. The quality start was the right-hander's 18th of the season, while the 11 Ks represented his third outing of the season in double digits, and first since Aug. 1. Unless the Rays decide to get him some work on the final day of the regular season to keep him on turn, Rasmussen wraps up the 2026 campaign with new career bests in innings (172), wins (16), strikeouts (174) and WHIP (0.91), and he seems almost certain to be on the bump for Tampa Bay's first postseason contest Oct. 3. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Produces quality start Tuesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:46 AM
Martinez (15-5) took the loss in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: The right-hander made only one real mistake, but Cody Bellinger put it into the right-field seats in the fourth inning for a two-run homer, accounting for the only runs in the game. The seven strikeouts were a season high for Martinez, while the quality start was his 16th of the season. Martinez has given up three runs or fewer in six straight outings, posting a 2.52 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 35.2 innings over that span. The Rays clinched the AL East title and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win in the nightcap, so it remains to be seen whether Martinez will stay on turn and get the start for the final game of the regular season, on the road Sunday in Philadelphia. |
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Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly Tallies MLB-high 32nd hold
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:40 PM
Kelly recorded the final out of the seventh inning in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, picking up a hold while allowing one hit and no walks.
Analysis: Kelly moved into a tie with Toronto's Tyler Rogers for the MLB lead in holds (32). The right-hander has coughed up six earned runs in nine innings this month, but he does have a pristine 12:0 K:BB during that time. He'll be a key component of the Tampa Bay bullpen this postseason, sporting a 2.48 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 62:11 K:BB across 72.2 innings. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson In Game 2 lineup
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 4:55 PM
Williamson (hamstring) will start at second base and bat sixth during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Williamson was scratched from the lineup for Game 1 due to hamstring soreness but seems to be feeling well enough to play in the nightcap after a few extra hours of rest. The 25-year-old spent about six weeks on the injured list due to hamstring problems before returning Sunday. He went 0-for-3 in his first game back. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Sitting during nightcap
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 4:50 PM
Aranda isn't in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Aranda will get a chance to rest during the latter half of Tuesday's festivities after going 1-for-3 with a strikeout in Game 1. Ryan Vilade will fill in as the Rays' first baseman and bat second. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Scratched from Game 1 lineup
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:38 AM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Williamson was scratched from the lineup for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees because his right hamstring is "a littlesore," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The 25-year-old was penciled in at shortstop for Tuesday's matinee but will now begin the contest on the bench. Williamson was just reinstated from the injured list Sunday after missing six weeks with an injury to the same hamstring, so it's worrisome that it's bothering him again. However, Cash believes Williamson could be ready to play during Tuesday's nightcap, so he should be considered day-to-day for now. Jorge Mateo is starting at shortstop for Tampa Bay in Tuesday's afternoon contest. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Expected back this week
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:33 AM
Rodriguez (back) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point this week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez has been shelved since early September with a lower-back strain, but his activation is imminent after he made three rehab appearances for Triple-A Durham. The righty has appeared in only four games for the Rays in 2026, as he got a late start to the season while recovering from flexor tendon surgery. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Exiting lineup for first game
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 9:54 AM
Walls is absent from the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Yankees.
Analysis: The Rays will roll out Ben Williamson at shortstop for Tuesday's matinee. Walls should be back to man the position for the nightcap. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Won't return during regular season
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 8:44 PM
McClanahan (forearm) will not return before the conclusion of the regular season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: McClanahan played catch Friday and manager Kevin Cash described it as a "good" session for the southpaw. McClanahan has been sidelined since Sept. 4 while nursing left forearm tightness, and he will now shift his sights on potentially being available for Tampa Bay during the postseason. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Goes five scoreless in win
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 5:20 PM
Jax (8-10) earned the win against the Red Sox on Sunday, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five over five scoreless innings.
Analysis: Jax was spotted an early lead and ran with it despite throwing just 47 of 74 pitches for strikes. The 31-year-old has now logged consecutive scoreless efforts and owns a 3.57 ERA through four September outings despite yielding six earned runs in his return from the injured list Sep. 2. He'll carry a 3.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 115:35 K:BB across 109.1 innings this year into one final matchup at the Phillies next weekend. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Swipes 46th bag in win
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 5:01 PM
Simpson went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: Simpson drove in two runs on a single and then stole second in the first inning. The 25-year-old has hit safely in seven of his past eight games, tallying seven RBI and five steals in that span. He is now tied with Nasim Nunez for the major-league lead with 46 stolen bases and ranks second in the American League with a .309 batting average while recording 38 RBI and 65 runs scored across 597 plate appearances this season. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 9:50 AM
Aranda is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Aranda is in the midst of a seven-game hit streak, during which he has three homers and a 1.069 OPS, but he'll head to the bench for the series finale versus Boston. Ryan Vilade is starting at first base and batting second against southpaw Patrick Sandoval on Sunday. |
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Jake Fraley Jake Fraley DFA'd by Rays
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 9:32 AM
Tampa Bay designated Fraley for assignment Sunday.
Analysis: After just recently after being reinstated from the 60-day IL earlier this week, Fraley was DFA'd. With Victor Mesa becoming the Rays' everyday right fielder in Fraley's absence, the 31-year-old was unable to regain playing time. The Rays made the move in order to create room for Ben Williamson (hamstring) to return from the IL. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Back from IL
Sun, Sep 20, 2026, 9:25 AM
Tampa Bay reinstated Williamson (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Analysis: Williamson has missed over a month of action since being shelved Aug. 7. Before being sidelined, the 25-year-old slashed .247/.309/.332 with three homers, 26 RBI and eight stolen bases. The Rays designated Jake Fraley for assignment to make room for WIlliamson to rejoin the club. |
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