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Mason Englert Mason Englert Goes unused in win
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 10:24 PM
The Rays elected not to deploy Englert, who was expected to work in a bulk relief role Monday against the Red Sox, after Ian Seymour pitched the first four innings, and the rest of the bullpen held up, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Englert was called up to provide length for Tampa Bay during Monday's clash, but the game played out in a way that didn't require skipper Kevin Cash to call on the right-hander. Englert was spotted warming in the bullpen a few times throughout the game, though the Rays' relievers did their jobs, resulting in a 3-1 victory over the Red Sox. Cash failed to mention the plan for Englert going forward. He'll presumably be available to provide either long relief or a start later in the week as needed. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Hangs on for save No. 17
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 9:57 PM
Baker secured the save Monday against the Red Sox, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Analysis: Baker did let the potential tying run get to the plate, but he was able to hold on for the save. The 31-year-old right-hander has established a strong grip as Tampa Bay's closer, successfully converting six save opportunities in a row. Through 26.1 frames, Baker has a 2.05 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB while converting 17 of his 20 save chances. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Excels as starter Monday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 9:33 PM
Seymour took a no-decision Monday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in four innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: With Steven Matz recently moving to the bullpen, Seymour fared very well in his second start of the season Monday. The 27-year-old southpaw, who poured in 37 of his 55 pitches for strikes, turned in his longest outing of the year and fanned a season-high five, which could earn him another look in the rotation over the weekend against the Angels. Through 35 innings, Seymour has a 4.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB. |
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Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Taking BP on Tuesday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:31 PM
Lux (shoulder) is scheduled to take live batting practice against teammate Craig Kimbrel (wrist) on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The Rays announced May 12 that Lux was pulled off his minor-league rehab assignment due to left shoulder inflammation, after it was a right shoulder impingement sustained back in the spring that initially caused him to open the season on the shelf. Lux had been shut down from all baseball activities shortly after experiencing the setback, but the Rays' decision to clear him to face live pitching Tuesday suggests that he's been able to ramp back up over the last week or so. Tampa Bay hasn't provided any indication regarding when Lux might resume his rehab assignment, however, so his return from the 60-day IL shouldn't be viewed as imminent. |
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Craig Kimbrel Craig Kimbrel Facing hitters Tuesday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:19 PM
Kimbrel (wrist) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Kimbrel had made only one appearance for the Rays before going down with a right wrist strain at the end of May. It's unclear whether the club will ask him to make any rehab appearances first, but Kimbrel looks to be on track for activation from the 15-day injured list when first eligible June 12. |
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Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Rehab assignment coming
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:15 PM
DeLuca (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: DeLuca is only two weeks into a projected 6-to-8 week absence with a right hamstring strain, so he appears to be on track to return much sooner than anticipated. He was seeing regular starts in right field before getting hurt, and with Jake Fraley (hernia) out several more weeks, DeLuca should again see plenty of reps once he rejoins the active roster. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. On bench against southpaw
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:08 PM
Mesa is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: With southpaw Connelly Early on the bump for the Red Sox, the left-handed-hitting Mesa will retreat to the bench. While the Rays faced right-handed starters in each of the last seven games, Mesa was included in the lineup for six of those contests and went 3-for-22 (.136 average) with a 3:8 BB:K, two runs and one RBI during that time. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Idle against southpaw
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:06 PM
Palacios is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Red Sox are sending left-hander Connelly Early to the hill in the series opener, so the left-handed-hitting Palacios will give way to platoon mate Ben Williamson at the keystone. Palacios had started in each of the Rays' previous seven games, batting .154 with a 5:4 BB:K, four runs and two RBI over that stretch. |
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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Playing time picking up
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:03 PM
Fortes will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Fortes will stay in the starting nine for the fourth time in five games, with three of those starts having come against right-handed pitching. At least for the time being, Fortes appears to have moved out of the short side of a platoon at catcher and seems to have leapfrogged Hunter Feduccia on the depth chart. |
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Hunter Feduccia Hunter Feduccia Playing time trending down
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:00 PM
Feduccia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Feduccia will be on the bench while the Red Sox send southpaw Connelly Early to the bump, but the left-handed-hitting catcher had been left out of the lineup in three of the previous four matchups versus right-handed pitchers. Rather than opting for a platoon at catcher, the Rays may be moving toward leaning more heavily on Nick Fortes behind the dish. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Not cleared to start Monday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 1:54 PM
Simpson (thumb) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Rays will hold Simpson out of the starting nine for a third straight game while he manages a sore left thumb, but as was the case in the prior two contests, he's expected to remain available off the bench. Tampa Bay called up Austin Slater from Triple-A Durham on Monday and will have him cover Simpson's usual spot in left field in the series opener versus Boston. |
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Jonathan Heasley Jonathan Heasley Shuttled to 60-day IL
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 1:23 PM
The Rays transferred Heasley (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Analysis: Initially deactivated last Tuesday after being diagnosed with a right elbow stress reaction, Heasley still remains without a clear timeline for a return, but his move to the 60-day IL ensures he'll be shelved through at least July 27. In a corresponding 40-man roster move, the Rays selected outfielder Austin Slater's contract from Triple-A Durham. |
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Austin Slater Austin Slater Officially added to roster
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 1:19 PM
The Rays selected Slater's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Analysis: The Rays are scheduled to face all lefty starting pitchers during their three-game set versus the Red Sox, so the right-handed-hitting Slater should be busy. He's sporting an underwhelming .209/.286/.233 batting line through 49 plate appearances in the majors this season. |
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Oliver Dunn Oliver Dunn Sent back to minors
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 1:17 PM
The Rays optioned Dunn to Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Analysis: Dunn made only one start during his two-plus weeks with the big club and was just 1-for-11 at the plate in nine contests. He's being sent out in favor of Austin Slater. |
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Austin Slater Austin Slater Heading to big leagues
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 10:01 AM
The Rays plan to call up Slater from Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Signed to a minor-league contract in late May, Slater has a 1.160 OPS in six games with Durham. The Rays are slated to face three left-handers in their early-week series versus the Red Sox, so the right-handed-hitting Slater should get some reps in the outfield. Slater has slashed just .209/.286/.233 through 49 plate appearances in the majors this season. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax No-decision vs. Miami
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 4:28 PM
Jax did not factor into Sunday's decision against the Marlins, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four across five scoreless innings.
Analysis: It was a nice bounce-back performance from Jax after allowing three home runs in his last outing against the Tigers this past Monday. He tossed 37 strikes on 62 pitches Sunday while generating nine whiffs, and it was the third time this season that he completed five frames, all of which have come over his last five starts. Jax sits at a 4.15 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB across 39 innings this season, and his next start is slated for next weekend on the road against the Angels. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Working in bulk-relief role Monday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 3:53 PM
Englert will follow Ian Seymour for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Englert was recalled by the Rays from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, and he'll take to the mound Monday after Seymour tosses one or two innings. Englert has spent the majority of the 2026 season in the majors and has a 4.71 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB across 21 innings. His last outing was against the Tigers on the same day he was called up from the minors, when he allowed one run on four hits while striking out three batters across five innings. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Serving as Monday's opener
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 3:45 PM
Seymour will be the Rays' opener for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Seymour will pitch one or two innings before turning things over to right-hander Mason Englert, the latter of whom was recalled by the Rays on Wednesday. Seymour has struggled as of late, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits and seven walks while striking out six in 6.2 innings spanning his last four outings. His recent play on the mound has him sitting at a 5.23 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 31 innings this season. |
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Craig Kimbrel Craig Kimbrel Tosses bullpen session Saturday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:04 PM
Kimbrel (wrist) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is close to facing hitters, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Kimbrel landed on the 15-day injured list May 31 due to a right wrist strain. However, the veteran right-hander expressed confidence Saturday that he'll be ready to be reinstated from the IL when eligible June 12. Kimbrel signed a major-league deal with the Rays on May 26, four days after being designated for assignment by the Mets. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Not in Sunday's lineup
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 10:03 AM
Simpson (thumb) is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Marlins on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Simpson will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game while tending to a left thumb injury that cropped up in Friday's contest. Ryan Vilade, Cedric Mullins and Victor Mesa will start in the outfield from left to right for Sunday's series finale. |
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