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Alex Cook Alex Cook Back with Tampa Bay
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 4:23 PM
The Rays recalled Cook from Triple-A Durham on Friday.
Analysis: Just two days after being sent down to Durham, Cook is back with the big-league club Friday. The 25-year-old has made just two starts in the majors, but in Triple-A he owns a 4.64 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 46:15 K:BB over 42.2 innings. With Shane McClanahan (forearm) sidelined for at least 15 days, Cook will take his spot on the 26-man roster. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Sidelined with forearm tightness
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 4:18 PM
Tampa Bay placed McClanahan on the 15-day injured list Friday with left forearm tightness.
Analysis: McClanahan will make his second trip to the IL in the last three months after Thursday's rocky outing against Texas. The left-hander lasted just five innings, allowing four earned runs. In his first MLB season since 2023, McClanahan owns a 10-7 record with a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 106:39 K:BB over 118 innings. With the 29-year-old on the shelf, the Rays recalled Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham to bolster the bullpen. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Sitting Thursday
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 4:32 PM
The Rays don't have Mesa in the lineup Thursday against the Rangers.
Analysis: Mesa has gone 3-for-8 across the two games he's played in since returning from a strained left hamstring Tuesday. He'll get some rest Thursday while Jonny DeLuca gets the start in right field and bats fifth. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Idle Thursday
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 4:28 PM
Walls is not in the lineup against the Rangers on Thursday.
Analysis: Walls had started in the Rays' last six games, in which he went 7-for-20 with two RBI and two stolen bases. He's getting a breather Thursday while Jorge Mateo starts at shortstop and bats seventh. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Absent from lineup Thursday
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 4:23 PM
Hicks is not in the lineup against the Rangers on Thursday.
Analysis: Hicks went 2-for-8 with an RBI in the Rays' last series against the Mets that concluded Wednesday. The catcher is set to get some rest Thursday while Nick Fortes starts behind the plate and bats ninth. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Cracks two-run homer Wednesday
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 8:56 PM
Palacios went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during the Rays' 10-4 loss to the Mets on Wednesday.
Analysis: Wednesday's game turned out to be a blowout loss for the Rays, but Palacios' two-run homer in the fourth inning cut Tampa Bay's deficit to 6-4. It was his first home run since Aug. 3 against the Rockies and his first runs driven in since Aug. 19 against Toronto. His home run could be what Palacios needs to break out of his slump, as he entered the game having gone 1-for-25 over his eight prior outings. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Struggles in return from IL
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 8:51 PM
Jax (6-10) took the loss against the Mets on Wednesday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one batter across 2.2 innings.
Analysis: Jax was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's start after a one-month absence due to elbow discomfort. He put the Rays on the back foot early by allowing three runs in the first inning before allowing three more runs to score in the third frame on a bases-clearing double by Brett Baty. It wasn't the outing that Jax was hoping for, and he'll look for better results in his next outing, which lines up for next week on the road against Atlanta. |
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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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