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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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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Bags another win Saturday
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 10:00 PM
Baker (4-2) picked up the win in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Red Sox, giving up two hits in a scoreless ninth inning. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
Analysis: The right-hander still leads the majors with 40 saves, but Baker has been the pitcher of record during the Rays' recent spate of walk-off victories as well -- three of his four wins on the season have come in his last four appearances. Through 60.1 innings, Baker's delivered a 1.49 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 62:21 K:BB in a breakout campaign. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Sharp in Saturday's no-decision
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 9:34 PM
Peralta didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
Analysis: The former Brewer and Met fell just short of his ninth quality start of the season, getting lifted after 97 pitches (59 strikes), and Peralta continues to turn his season around since joining the Rays and making some mechanical tweaks to his delivery. Over his last five starts, he's produced a 0.94 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB in 28.2 innings while going 4-0. Peralta is set to make his final start of the regular season on the road next weekend in Philadelphia. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Getting regular rest
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 1:13 PM
Diaz will sit out Saturday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Diaz was included in the Rays' initial lineup for Saturday's contest before later being removed, though manager Kevin Cash clarified that Diaz is getting a scheduled day off and was never meant to be part of the starting nine. The Rays will use Jake Fraley as their designated hitter while Diaz sits. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Sitting down Saturday
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 12:24 PM
Walls isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Walls will move to the bench after going 1-for-4 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored during his first two games back from the IL. Jorge Mateo will pick up a start at shortstop and bat ninth. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Scratched Saturday
Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 12:21 PM
Diaz was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: It's unclear why the Rays took Diaz out of the starting nine Saturday, but the team should provide more information in the near future. In the meantime, Jake Fraley will fill in as Tampa Bay's designated hitter and bat leadoff. |
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Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Slated for mound work Saturday
Fri, Sep 18, 2026, 9:48 PM
Cleavinger (forearm) is expected to resume mound work Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: If all goes well then, the hope is that Cleavinger will progress to bullpen sessions thereafter. The Rays shut the southpaw down in early September due to left forearm tightness, but he should have a chance to rejoin the Tampa Bay bullpen either before the end of the regular season or at some point during the playoffs. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Takes loss against Boston
Fri, Sep 18, 2026, 9:23 PM
Seymour (9-7) was tagged with the loss against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings.
Analysis: Seymour put the Rays behind immediately after giving up a leadoff homer to Roman Anthony in the first inning. Seymour proceeded to give up three more runs over the next two frames, with two of those runs coming on a bases-loaded single by Anthony in the second. The four earned runs Seymour gave up were his most in a start since July 12 against the Mariners, and he now sports a 4.38 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 127.1 innings this season. He's projected to make his next start against the Yankees next week on the road. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Sitting against left-hander
Fri, Sep 18, 2026, 2:00 PM
Hicks is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: With left-hander Ranger Suarez on the bump for Boston, Hicks will take a seat, and Nick Fortes will start behind the plate while batting seventh. Hicks went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a walk and one run scored in Thursday's 10-1 rout of the Athletics. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Improves to 15-5
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 3:14 PM
Rasmussen (15-5) earned the win Thursday over the A's, allowing four hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: It was another strong outing from Rasmussen, who's given up just five runs over 31 innings in his last five starts. The right-hander's ERA is down to 2.72 across 29 starts (165.1 innings) this season with a 0.93 WHIP and 163:29 K:BB. Rasmussen currently lines up to face the Yankees on the road his next time out. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Idle against left-hander
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:59 AM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With lefty Jeffrey Springs toeing the rubber for the Athletics, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will take a seat for the series finale. Jonny DeLuca will replace Mullins in center field and will bat fifth. |
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Jorge Mateo Jorge Mateo Sitting in Walls' return
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:57 AM
Mateo is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mateo will hit the bench after he had started in eight of the Rays' previous nine games while going 4-for-26 with an 0:11 BB:K, three steals, three runs and two RBI. With Taylor Walls (hip) returning from the injured list Thursday and immediately stepping back into the lineup at shortstop, Mateo will likely be relegated to a utility role moving forward. |
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Finishes season on IL
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 10:31 AM
Overn didn't make any appearances for Double-A Montgomery after Aug. 4 due to an unspecified injury.
Analysis: The 23-year-old outfielder endured an injury-plagued 2026 campaign, hitting the shelf on three different occasions. He was productive when available, however, slashing .309/.395/.565 with 15 home runs and 48 stolen bases across 282 plate appearances for Montgomery. |
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Nick Madrigal Nick Madrigal Sent down to Durham
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 8:57 AM
The Rays optioned Madrigal to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Analysis: Madrigal went 3-for-10 and drove in one run during his brief time on the big-league roster. His roster spot is being absorbed by Taylor Walls (hip), who has returned from the injured list. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Reinstated from injured list
Thu, Sep 17, 2026, 8:53 AM
The Rays activated Walls (hip) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Analysis: Walls required just a minimum 10-day absence as he recovered from a right hip flexor strain. He'll return to a lowly .218/.304/.292 batting line. Nick Madrigal was sent down to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding roster move. |
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