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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Closing in on return
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:04 PM
Rodriguez (elbow) has a 6.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 7.1 innings during his minor-league rehab assignment.
Analysis: Rodriguez pitched back-to-back days for Triple-A Durham on Friday and Saturday, which is likely the final hurdle that he had left to climb before joining the Rays, per MLB.com. The right-hander is just about fully recovered from right elbow surgery he underwent in August of last year, and Rodriguez could be activated from the injured list as early as this week. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Goes deep in three-hit game
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 8:54 PM
Vilade went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 10-2 loss to the Orioles.
Analysis: Vilade recorded his first homer of the month of August on Sunday. The utility player is playing a part-time role, but he's been an effective weapon for the Rays versus left-handed pitching. Vilade sports an .863 OPS in 114 at-bats against left-handers as opposed to a .682 OPS in 66 at-bats against righties this season. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Falls to Baltimore
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 6:58 PM
Peralta (5-10) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: After Peralta held Baltimore scoreless through his first four innings, the Rays turned to the bullpen with two outs and two on in the fifth. Garrett Cleavinger would then give up back-to-back hits, allowing both inherited runners to score and sticking Peralta with his 10th loss of the year. Through three starts with Tampa, Peralta has given up 12 runs across 14.1 innings. Overall, his ERA sits at 5.27 with a 1.48 WHIP and 123:53 K:BB across 25 starts (128 innings) between the Rays and Mets this season. Peralta is currently in line for a rematch with the Orioles on the road his next time out. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Making return from IL on Monday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 2:37 PM
McClanahan (back) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's series finale versus the Orioles at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: McClanahan has received the green light to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation after he struck out two batters over three perfect innings during his lone rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Durham. Considering that McClanahan tossed just 30 pitches in that outing, he'll likely be in line for a restricted workload Monday, when he'll be making his first start for the Rays since July 30 before hitting the shelf with left mid-back tightness. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Idle against southpaw
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:19 AM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: The Rays will keep Mullins and fellow left-handed hitters Liam Hicks, Richie Palacios and Victor Mesa (hamstring) on the bench while southpaw Trevor Rogers toes the rubber for the Orioles. Jonny DeLuca will cover center field and bat sixth. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Shielded from lefty
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:18 AM
Palacios is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: Lefty Trevor Rogers is toeing the rubber for the Orioles, so Palacios will give up his spot at second base to Jorge Mateo. Palacios has logged just 41 plate appearances versus lefties all season, slashing .189/.268/.270 with a 26.8 percent strikeout rate in that split. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Omitted from lineup Sunday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:09 AM
Mesa (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: Mesa exited Friday's 6-5 loss after seven innings due to left hamstring tightness and will be left out of the starting nine for a second straight day. According to MLB.com, manager Kevin Cash labeled Mesa as day-to-day and said that the young outfielder is "going to be OK," so Mesa appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list. Mesa was able to make a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday's 4-3 extra-inning loss, which suggests that his absence Sunday may have more to do with a lefty (Trevor Rogers) starting for the Orioles than the hamstring injury. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Idle Sunday
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:05 AM
Hicks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: Hicks will be given a rest after he started behind the plate in each of the Rays' last four games. Nick Fortes will handle catching duties Sunday. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Strikes out nine in no-decision
Sat, Aug 15, 2026, 9:12 PM
Seymour did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts over six innings.
Analysis: Seymour yielded two homers but was otherwise impressive, throwing 69 of 93 pitches for strikes with 16 whiffs. The 27-year-old has now logged three straight quality starts to open August, tallying 25 punchouts during that stretch. He'll take a 4.11 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 115:31 K:BB across 96.1 innings this season into a home matchup with Toronto next week. |
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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. |
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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: After coming up from the minors July 29, Roycroft 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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