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Alex Cook Alex Cook Sent back to Durham
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 1:22 PM
The Rays optioned Cook to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Analysis: Cook's stint in the big leagues lasted just one day, and he didn't make an appearance. He is clearing off the active roster to make space for the return of Griffin Jax (elbow), who will start Wednesday against the Mets. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Activated before Wednesday's start
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 1:20 PM
The Rays activated Jax (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Jax is set to rejoin the Rays' rotation with a start Wednesday against the Mets at home. The right-hander has been shelved since early August with elbow discomfort but came out of his lone rehab start with no issues. Jax threw only 42 pitches in that outing, so his workload will be limited Wednesday. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Three hits in return to lineup Tuesday
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 10:06 AM
Mesa went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Mets.
Analysis: With Jonny DeLuca getting the nod in center field against southpaw Sean Manaea and Ryan Vilade manning first base in place of Jonathan Aranda, Mesa was the last man standing on the right field depth chart. He made only his second start of the season against a same-handed pitcher and came through with a surprisingly productive effort, tying his season high in hits and crossing the plate in the third and eighth innings. It was Mesa's first game action since Aug. 18 due to a hamstring strain, but he may be able to escape getting pigeon-holed as a platoon player if he keeps it up -- over 48 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching, the 24-year-old has a .302/.348/.465 slash line and just a 14.6 percent strikeout rate. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Revenge game against Mets
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 9:56 AM
Peralta (7-11) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits over six innings in a 6-2 victory over the Mets. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
Analysis: Francisco Lindor's leadoff home run was the only blemish on Peralta's line, as he stymied the team that sent him south at the trade deadline. Peralta needed just 74 pitches (53 strikes) to deliver his second straight quality start and third in six outings for Tampa Bay, after he managed to produce only four in 22 trips to the mound for New York. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which could come either Sunday in Texas or next Tuesday in Atlanta, depending on whether the Rays plan to expand to a six-man rotation once Griffin Jax (elbow) returns from the injured list to start Wednesday's series finale with the Mets. |
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Austin Slater Austin Slater Re-ups with Rays on MiLB deal
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 8:21 AM
The Rays re-signed Slater to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Slater opted out of his minor-league deal with the Rays last week, but he was ultimately re-signed to a new deal. The veteran outfielder has hit .305/.407/.453 in 35 games with Triple-A Durham but has managed just a .231/.311/.277 batting line across 28 contests between three different big-league teams this season. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks On bench vs. lefty
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 5:25 PM
Hicks is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: It's the third straight game against a southpaw starter that Hicks isn't starting, so he appears to be working in the strong side of a platoon at catcher. The 27-year-old has raked in 22 games since being acquired by the Rays at the trade deadline with three homers and a .947 OPS in 80 plate appearances. Nick Fortes is picking up another start behind the plate Tuesday versus New York lefty Sean Manaea. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Taking seat Tuesday
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 5:05 PM
Aranda is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
Analysis: Aranda started the previous nine games and will receive a day off after batting .206 (7-for-34) with two homers during that span. Ryan Vilade will pick up a start at first base against Mets lefty Sean Manaea on Tuesday. |
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Alex Cook Alex Cook Returns to big leagues
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 12:54 PM
The Rays recalled Cook from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Analysis: Cook was called up for his MLB debut in late July and was returned to Durham after giving up three runs with a 2:2 K:BB in two relief appearances. The right-hander has made 38 appearances at Triple-A this year and has a 4.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB across 43.2 innings. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Comes off IL
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 12:46 PM
The Rays reinstated Mesa (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: The 24-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 18 due to a strained left hamstring, but he's ready to rejoin the active roster after going 4-for-18 with two homers during a five-game rehab assignment. Mesa and Jonny DeLuca could operate as a platoon in right field, with Mesa holding the advantage for playing time as a left-handed hitter. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Fans 10 in loss
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 11:21 PM
Seymour (9-6) took the loss Monday against the Mets, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out 10 without issuing a walk over 6.1 innings.
Analysis: Seymour generated 19 whiffs on 52 swings while recording his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season. He notched seven of his 10 strikeouts over the first three innings, including coming one pitch away from an immaculate inning in the first. Seymour surrendered a solo homer to Mark Vientos in the seventh before exiting and watching another score from the dugout. He has now delivered a quality start in five of his last eight outings. Despite losing three straight starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) across 17 innings, he's racked up 23 strikeouts during that span. Seymour owns a 4.21 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 138:32 K:BB across 113.1 innings heading into his next scheduled start against the Rangers. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Slated for activation Tuesday
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 3:47 PM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Mesa (hamstring) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mesa played five rehab games with Triple-A Durham, going 4-for-18 with a pair of home runs. The 24-year-old landed on the IL in mid-August with a strained left hamstring. Once back on the active roster, Mesa will likely be mixed and matched with Jonny DeLuca in right field. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Limits Padres in no-decision
Sun, Aug 30, 2026, 10:27 PM
Rasmussen did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Padres, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings.
Analysis: Rasmussen kept San Diego off the board outside of the fourth inning, when Xander Bogaerts delivered a two-run single. It marked the right-hander's first start without a win since July 9, snapping a streak of seven consecutive victories. He's been excellent throughout August, posting a 2.57 ERA with a 37:8 K:BB across 35 innings. Rasmussen is scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Rangers. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Idle against lefty
Sun, Aug 30, 2026, 10:01 AM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Sunday's affair with the Padres.
Analysis: As San Diego sends out southpaw Robbie Ray, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Jonny DeLuca will take over in center field and bat sixth for Tampa Bay. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Aug 30, 2026, 9:59 AM
Hicks is absent from Tampa Bay's lineup for their matchup with San Diego on Sunday.
Analysis: Despite recording at least one hit in five of his last six games, including a multi-hit performance Saturday, Hicks will ride the pine for Sunday's series finale. Nick Fortes will handle the catching duties and bat eighth for the Rays. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Logs quality start in no-decision
Sat, Aug 29, 2026, 9:23 PM
Martinez did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Padres, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts over six innings.
Analysis: Martinez entered the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead before allowing a two-run homer to Ty France. The veteran hurler still notched his fourth quality start in eight turns since the All-Star break and owns a 3.72 ERA over that span despite two six-run outings. He'll carry a 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 91:22 K:BB across 153.2 innings this season into a road matchup with the Rangers next week. |
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Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Homers, extends hit streak in win
Sat, Aug 29, 2026, 9:13 PM
Caminero went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Padres.
Analysis: Caminero tied the game with a 426-foot blast off Walker Buehler in the sixth inning. It snapped a 15-game homer drought for the 23-year-old, and he's now riding an impressive 12-game hitting streak dating back to Aug. 17. For the year, he's slashing .280/.367/.533 with 36 home runs, 86 RBI, 83 runs scored and three steals across 588 plate appearances. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Secures 39th save
Sat, Aug 29, 2026, 8:56 PM
Baker earned the save in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Padres, allowing one walk and no hits with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Baker was summoned to protect a one-run lead and worked around a one-out walk to close the door. The 31-year-old has converted 28 straight save chances dating back to May 13, and his 39 saves on the year lead the majors by four. It's been a dream first season in the closer's role, as he's posted a dominant 1.53 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 59:17 K:BB across 53 innings. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Not in Rays' lineup
Fri, Aug 28, 2026, 2:16 PM
Palacios is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Padres.
Analysis: Padres starting pitcher Casey Mize has reverse splits, as the right-hander has held lefties to a .564 OPS while righties have posted a .768 OPS. That explains why the lefty-swinging Palacios is sitting out in favor of righty Jorge Mateo, who will slot in at second base for the Rays. |
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Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Snags fifth save
Wed, Aug 26, 2026, 4:56 PM
Wells struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Tigers.
Analysis: Bryan Baker is getting an extended breather after working three straight days from Saturday to Monday, so Wells got a chance to pick up his first save for the Rays and didn't squander it. The former Oriole has been scored upon only once in eight appearances for his new team, posting a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB in 10.1 innings since switching AL East jerseys at the trade deadline. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Blanks Detroit for sixth win
Wed, Aug 26, 2026, 4:49 PM
Peralta (6-11) picked up the win Wednesday, scattering two hits over six scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Tigers. He struck out four without walking a batter.
Analysis: Detroit never even got a runner into scoring position against Peralta, who fired 50 of 81 pitches for strikes for his second quality start in four outings with Tampa Bay, and his first win since June 14. Since being dealt to the Rays at the trade deadline, the right-hander has a 3.80 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB over 23.2 innings. Peralta will look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the team that traded him, the Mets. |
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