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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Smacks two doubles Saturday
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 7:25 PM
Aranda went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored during the Rays' 6-1 win over the Mariners on Saturday.
Analysis: Aranda gave the Rays a 2-1 lead in the third inning after his double brought Chandler Simpson home. Aranda has four multi-hit games over his last four games and 29 for the season. He has gone 11-for-27 (.407) with four RBI over his last seven games. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Career-high four hits Saturday
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 7:19 PM
Williamson went 4-for-4 with an RBI double, one steal and one run scored during the Rays' 6-1 win over the Mariners on Saturday.
Analysis: Williamson put the Rays on the board with an RBI double in the second inning, and he proceeded to reach base safely in each of his next three plate appearances to set a career high in hits. It was the 11th multi-hit game of the season for Williamson, who is slashing .253/.321/.338 with eight steals, two home runs, 23 RBI and 26 runs scored across 219 plate appearances. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Crushes home run as pinch hitter
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 7:16 PM
Vilade went 1-for-1 with a three-run homer in Saturday's 6-1 win over Seattle.
Analysis: Vilade pinch hit for Cedric Mullins in the seventh inning, and the former answered the call by smacking a three-run homer off Gabe Speier to extend the Rays' lead to 5-1. It was the seventh home run of the season for Vilade, four of which have come over his last 11 games. He has a .794 OPS with 31 RBI and three steals across 156 plate appearances this season. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Captures fifth win of 2026
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 7:12 PM
Jax (5-6) earned the win against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three across five innings.
Analysis: Jax's three punchouts were his lowest in a game since May 13 against the Blue Jays (one). However, the right-hander limited the Mariners to just one run and needed only 69 pitches (41 strikes) to get through five innings en route to his fourth win in his last five starts. Jax enters the All-Star break with a 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 71:25 K:BB across 70 innings (25 games, 14 starts). |
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Fourth-round pick by Tampa Bay
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 6:00 PM
The Rays selected Bland with the No. 113 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Bland is a lefty-hitting outfielder listed at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds. The 18-year-old will be a developmental project for the Rays. |
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Third-round selection
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 5:05 PM
The Rays selected Giese with the No. 85 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: An up-arrow right-hander from California, Giese came out this spring showing a low-90s fastball with good spin and a projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. Scouts are also impressed with Giese's strike-throwing ability, and his father pitched three years in the majors. |
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Picked by Tampa Bay
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:50 PM
The Rays selected Blair with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft
Analysis: Blair has a funky delivery and a deep repertoire that keeps hitters off balance. The 6-foot-3 righty from Liberty pumps mid-90s fastballs while mixing in quality secondaries in his cutter, slider and changeup. He logged a 3.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 113 strikeouts and a 4.3 percent walk rate in 94.1 innings as a junior. Blair has a reasonably high floor due to his command of a deep arsenal, and his pitches could improve even more in pro ball, which would give him a high ceiling. |
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Selected by Rays at 33rd overall
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 3:09 PM
The Rays selected Marchand with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Marchand is a 6-foot-2 prep star who flashed incredible athleticism en route to multiple state championships in South Carolina. He was announced as a shortstop, but it's uncertain where he will end up long term. Marchand should be viewed as a developmental project for the Tampa Bay organization. |
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No. 2 overall pick
Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 12:47 PM
The Rays selected Emerson with the second overall pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Analysis: Close to a flawless prep shortstop prospect, Emerson showcases high-end skills on both sides of the ball, and the only real complaint might be that he doesn't have a 70-grade power or speed projection. We've seen Bobby Witt and Konnor Griffin generate similar pre-draft buzz, in part due to their extreme athleticism. That's not Emerson, although he should be at least an above-average runner with 25-homer power. The 6-foot-2 lefty hitter is a very safe bet to hit for average while getting on base at a high clip. He won't have to sell out for power to be a No. 2 or No. 3 hitter in time, and it's possible he'll make quick work of the lower levels of the minors. |
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Steven Wilson Steven Wilson Ready for rehab assignment
Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 9:07 AM
Wilson (back) has been sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League to begin a rehab assignment.
Analysis: Wilson has been sidelined all season while working his way back from lumbar disc inflammation. He will need some time to knock off the rust, but joining the Rays' bullpen before the end of July is possible if all goes well. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Limps into All-Star break
Thu, Jul 9, 2026, 3:28 PM
Rasmussen (7-5) took the loss Thursday against the Yankees, allowing six runs on seven hits and no walks in 2.1 innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: The third inning was a disastrous one for Rasmussen, who managed just one out and was touched up for each of his season-worst six runs in the frame. The seven hits allowed matched a season high, and the 30-year-old right-hander came away with his shortest outing of the campaign as well. Rasmussen, who has coughed up 11 runs in his two July starts after yielding only three during five June appearances, seems to be heading into the All-Star break at the right time, holding what's still a strong 3.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:17 K:BB over 99.1 innings. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Hitting bench Thursday
Thu, Jul 9, 2026, 12:16 PM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.
Analysis: Mullins will receive a breather for Thursday's matinee after he had started in each of the Rays' last eight games. Victor Mesa will cover center field in place of Mullins and will bat in the cleanup spot. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Drives in three in win
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 9:26 PM
Aranda went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Yankees.
Analysis: Aranda provided all of the game's offense, driving in runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings. It was a much-needed performance for the 28-year-old, who entered Wednesday just 5-for-28 through seven July contests without an extra-base hit or RBI. On the year, he's slashing .284/.384/.448 with 13 homers, 61 RBI and 45 runs scored across 388 plate appearances. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Earns 25th save
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 9:09 PM
Baker earned the save in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Yankees, allowing one hit and no walks with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Baker was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and struck out the side after allowing a leadoff single. It was the second straight night with a save for the 31-year-old, who has now converted 14 consecutive save chances dating back to May 17. He owns a 1.73 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 41:11 K:BB across 36.1 innings this season and is up to 25 saves, one behind major-league leader Cade Smith. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Season-long workload in win
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 9:02 PM
McClanahan (8-5) earned the win against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out five over 6.1 scoreless innings.
Analysis: McClanahan threw 59 of 85 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs while posting his longest outing since June 2023. The 29-year-old will head into the All-Star break having tossed three straight quality starts, including back-to-back scoreless victories. He'll wrap up the first half with a 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 82:28 K:BB across 86 innings in what has been an encouraging comeback campaign. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Exiting starting lineup
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 2:17 PM
Palacios is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Yankees.
Analysis: The lefty-swinging Palacios started the previous four games and six of the last seven versus righty hurlers, but he'll step out of the starting lineup Wednesday. Ben Williamson is covering second base for the Rays. |
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Hunter Feduccia Hunter Feduccia Absent from lineup
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 2:14 PM
Feduccia is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Yankees.
Analysis: Feduccia started at catcher in Tuesday's contest but will begin Wednesday's festivities on the bench. Nick Fortes is behind the dish for the Rays. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Out of Wednesday's lineup
Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 2:10 PM
Mesa is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Yankees.
Analysis: Mesa has now started just one of three games in the series after being in the lineup for nine of the previous 10 contests. Jonny DeLuca will patrol right field and hit fifth for the Rays. |
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Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Tallies 15th hold
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 10:07 PM
Cleavinger picked up a hold Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing one hit and no walks in a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out two.
Analysis: Cleavinger continues to operate as Tampa Bay's primary left-handed setup man for closer Bryan Baker. Through 25.2 innings, the 32-year-old southpaw has a quality 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB to go with 15 holds and two saves in four opportunities. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Homers in win
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 9:44 PM
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Yankees.
Analysis: Diaz drove in a run on a single in the second inning before adding a solo shot in the fourth. It was a much-needed effort for the 34-year-old, who entered Tuesday just 1-for-20 through five July contests. On the season, he's slashing .319/.401/.492 with 13 homers, 55 RBI, 47 runs scored and one steal across 372 plate appearances and recently earned his second career All-Star nod. |
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