| News |
|---|
|
Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Sitting out Saturday
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 1:02 PM
Mesa (hamstring) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mesa was pulled from Friday's contest due to tightness in his left hamstring, and he'll take a day off Saturday to heal. Jonny DeLuca will fill in as Tampa Bay's right fielder and bat sixth. |
|
Chris Roycroft Chris Roycroft Dispatched to Triple-A
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 12:51 PM
The Rays optioned Roycroft to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: Since coming up from the minors July 29, Roycroft has coughed up six earned runs on eight hits and two walks while fanning two batters in 4.1 innings. His poor performance will now cost him his place in the Rays' bullpen in favor of Joe Boyle. |
|
Joe Boyle Joe Boyle Returns to majors
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 12:48 PM
The Rays recalled Boyle from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: Boyle last pitched in the majors April 8 and has since accumulated a 9.13 ERA and 2.14 WHIP over 47.1 innings at Triple-A. He'll reclaim a spot in the big-league bullpen despite his poor performance, though he'll almost certainly be limited to low-leverage work. Chris Roycroft was optioned to Durham in a corresponding move. |
|
Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Inching towards rehab assignment
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 9:56 PM
Sulser (back) faced hitters Friday, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Sulser is slated for another session Monday and will then be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment, provided all goes well. The right-hander is working his way back from lower-back spasms, which forced him to the injured list in late July, and should be able to rejoin Tampa Bay's bullpen in late August. |
|
Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Dealing with hamstring tightness
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 9:54 PM
Mesa was removed from Friday's game against the Orioles with left hamstring tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Manager Kevin Cash said after the game that he doesn't believe Mesa is dealing with anything serious and can be considered day-to-day. If he ends up having to sit out a game or two, Jonny DeLuca would figure to take over as Tampa Bay's right fielder. |
|
Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Progressing slowly
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 9:52 PM
Uceta (shoulder) is playing catch from 75 feet, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Uceta continues to progress slowly from a right shoulder impingement and subsequent subscapularis strain. The right-hander's timeline for a return to the Rays remains murky at best, and he appears to be unlikely to be an option for Tampa Bay's bullpen until sometime in September with several hurdles still left to climb. |
|
Jake Fraley Jake Fraley Nearing return to game action
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 4:37 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Fraley (hernia) is scheduled to play a few games at the team's complex in Florida before beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Fraley landed on the injured list in May due to a hernia that required surgery, though setbacks have extended his time on the shelf. It's unclear how far away he is from rejoining the active roster, but he's likely to spend a good amount of time in the minors after missing nearly three months. |
|
Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Resumes throwing
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 4:26 PM
Jax (elbow) threw from 120 feet out Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Manager Kevin Cash described Jax's throwing session Friday as "very, very good" and noted that the team is planning out the next stages of his build-up program. The 31-year-old will be eligible to return from the injured list next Friday but may need to spend slightly more time on the shelf before returning to Tampa Bay's rotation. |
|
Trevor Martin Trevor Martin Loses 40-man spot
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 1:30 PM
The Rays designated Martin for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: Martin will cede his spot on the 40-man roster to Jorge Mateo, who officially signed a major-league deal with the Rays on Thursday. The 25-year-old righty has given up four runs in 11.1 innings with Tampa Bay this year and owns a 3.09 ERA through 43.2 frames at Durham, though his inability to limit traffic may deter teams from picking him up via waivers. |
|
Carson Williams Carson Williams Optioned to Triple-A
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 1:26 PM
The Rays optioned Williams to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Analysis: Williams will lose his place with the big club after the Rays signed Jorge Mateo to a major-league deal Thursday. Williams owns a .710 OPS across 358 plate appearances in the minors this year but has been overmatched by big-league pitching, slashing just .108/.154/.216 over 16 games with the Rays. |
|
Michael Grove Michael Grove Relegated to Triple-A
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 1:21 PM
The Rays optioned Grove to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Analysis: After giving up two home runs in two innings Wednesday, Grove will end up as the odd man out of a roster spot to make room for Jesse Scholtens, who was recalled from Durham in a corresponding move. Grove has now given up four earned runs in seven innings with the Rays but could still return to the big leagues down the stretch to provide a fresh bullpen arm. |
|
Jesse Scholtens Jesse Scholtens Recalled from Durham
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 1:18 PM
The Rays recalled Scholtens from Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Analysis: Scholtens owns a 3.82 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 37.2 frames in the majors this year but has fired 10.2 consecutive shutout innings at Triple-A. He'll return to the big leagues presumably to make a spot start during the Rays' upcoming series against Baltimore. Michael Grove was optioned to Durham in a corresponding move. |
|
Moves past back injury
Thu, Aug 13, 2026, 12:15 PM
Blanco (back) has appeared in eight games in the Dominican Summer League, slashing .278/.618/.278 with seven stolen bases.
Analysis: Blanco was held out of action to begin the DSL season while he recovered from a stress fracture in his lower back, but he was cleared to debut July 23. The switch-hitting shortstop hasn't hit for much power, but he's displayed a disciplined plate approach (16:4 BB:K) and has been active on the bases. Blanco hasn't played since Aug. 4, but the Rays haven't revealed whether he's dealing with any sort of setback on the health front. |
|
Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Sparks offense in Wednesday's win
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 10:23 PM
Hicks went 3-for-5 with a double and a three-run home run in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the A's.
Analysis: Hicks' fourth-inning shot off Jack Perkins broke open what had been a close contest, and it gave the former Marlin his second homer in eight games as a member of the Rays. Since coming over to the AL, Hicks has gone 8-for-26 (.308) with three doubles, three runs, nine RBI and an impressive 4:1 BB:K. |
|
Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Collects 12th win
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 10:19 PM
Rasmussen (12-5) picked up the win in Wednesday's 8-4 victory over the A's, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: A two-run third inning by the home side put the only blemish on Rasmussen's line and snapped his scoreless streak at 22.2 innings, and the right-hander left the mound after 84 pitches (57 strikes) with his team comfortably ahead. Rasmussen has reeled off five straight wins since the All-Star break, posting a 1.20 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 35:6 K:BB over 30 innings during that stretch. He'll look to stay locked in for his next outing, which is set to come at home early next week against the Blue Jays. |
|
Jorge Mateo Jorge Mateo Lands with Rays
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 7:15 PM
Mateo signed a major-league contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis: Mateo was cut by Atlanta over the weekend after clearing waivers, but he'll now receive a new opportunity to carve out a role for himself with the Rays. The 31-year-old has slashed .240/.285/.380 across 137 plate appearances this season and figures to bolster the team's infield depth while Ben Williamson (hamstring) is on the injured list. |
|
Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Receiving day off
Wed, Aug 12, 2026, 12:12 PM
Simpson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The fleet-footed Simpson will get a rare day off after he had started in each of the previous 11 tilts. Jonny DeLuca will grab a start in left field while Simpson gets a breather. |
|
Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Set to resume throwing soon
Tue, Aug 11, 2026, 7:17 PM
Jax (elbow) received an injection in right elbow after visiting with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Jax was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort Sunday, and manager Kevin Cash outlined that the injection was to "calm the back of the elbow down." Cash also explained that Jax is "in a really good spot," and that the team will, "take the ball out of his hand for two more days and then get him back throwing." Jax appears to have avoided the worst, and he could be on track for a return to action relatively close to when he's first eligible Aug. 21. |
|
Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Return unlikely this year
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 11:17 PM
Lux (shoulder) is unlikely to return this season, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Lux's most recent setback saw him get shut down in mid-July after receiving an injection in his right shoulder. His initial rehab assignment in April was halted by a sprained left ankle, and the infielder was later pulled off another minor-league stint with left shoulder inflammation. The Rays haven't officially ruled out Lux for the remainder of the year, but his status for the rest of 2026 is in major doubt. |
|
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Goes through simulated game
Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 11:05 PM
McClanahan (back) threw two innings in a simulated game Thursday, per MLB.com.
Analysis: McClanahan is next scheduled to toss three innings in another outing in the next several days, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. The Rays believe the left-hander is dealing with only a minor bout of left mid-back tightness, and McClanahan appears to have a chance of avoiding heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Tampa Bay's rotation. |
Connect With Us:
