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Tampa Bay Rays

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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Sitting out against left-hander Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 3:20 PM Simpson is absent from the lineup Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians. Analysis: With left-hander Foster Griffin toeing the rubber for Cleveland, the left-handed-hitting Simpson will begin the festivities on the bench. The Rays will roll out Ryan Vilade in left field. Simpson is a good bet to eventually enter Monday's contest after the Guardians turn to their bullpen.
Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Taking seat against southpaw Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 3:17 PM Palacios is not in the lineup Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS versus the Guardians. Analysis: The lefty-swinging Palacios started all three games of the ALDS against the Yankees, including versus southpaw Max Fried. However, he will be on the bench Monday as the Guardians send lefty Foster Griffin to the hill. Ben Williamson will handle second base for the Rays.
Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Exiting lineup versus lefty Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 3:13 PM Hicks is absent from the lineup Monday for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians. Analysis: Hicks went just 1-for-10 at the plate in the ALDS sweep of the Yankees. With the Guardians turning to southpaw Foster Griffin in Game 1, the left-handed-hitting Hicks will yield to Nick Fortes at catcher for the Rays.
Brody Hopkins Brody Hopkins Included on ALCS roster Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 9:58 AM Hopkins has been included on the Rays' roster for the ALCS, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports. Analysis: He will take the roster spot of Garrett Cleavinger, as the Rays will swap out a righty for a lefty in their bullpen. Hopkins made six appearances out of the bullpen down the stretch for the Rays, allowing three runs with a 7:6 K:BB in 5.1 frames. The 24-year-old has electric stuff, but manager Kevin Cash might not feel comfortable using Hopkins in high leverage due to his control problems.
Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Left off ALCS roster Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 9:47 AM Cleavinger will not be on the Rays' ALCS roster, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports. Analysis: Cleavinger returned from a forearm injury in time to be part of the ALDS roster, but the southpaw did not make an appearance against the Yankees. He's roster spot will be absorbed by Brody Hopkins.
Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Confirmed for Game 1 Sun, Oct 11, 2026, 12:49 PM The Rays named Rasmussen as their starting pitcher for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Tampa Bay's three-game sweep of the Yankees made it easy to set up their ace to start Game 1 of the ALCS, so this announcement is hardly a surprise. Rasmussen dominated New York in the division series, striking out 10 with just one hit and two walks allowed across eight scoreless innings.
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Out through playoffs Sun, Oct 11, 2026, 12:45 PM McClanahan (forearm) won't be available to pitch during the rest of the postseason, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: It would have been a great story for the left-hander to rejoin the Rays during their playoff run after going down with forearm soreness in early September, but it's not a major surprise he's been ruled out given that there's been no indication he's close to game ready. McClanahan also spent time on the IL earlier in the season due to a back issue, limiting him to 24 starts. He posted a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 106:39 K:BB across 118 innings this season and is entering his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility in 2027. Manager Kevin Cash indicated that McClanahan should be fully ready for the start of spring training, per Topkin.
Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Blasts decisive homer Wed, Oct 7, 2026, 11:11 PM Mesa went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday. Analysis: The 25-year-old went 1-for-6 with a walk and a stolen base in the first two games of the series, but he found his power stroke Wednesday with a sixth-inning homer that broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the difference in the outcome. Mesa is coming off a productive rookie campaign that saw him post an .825 OPS with 14 homers, nine steals, 34 RBI and 37 runs in 79 regular-season games.
Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Not starting against Fried Wed, Oct 7, 2026, 3:18 PM Simpson is out of the lineup Wednesday for ALDS Game 3 versus the Rays. Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Simpson was predominately an everyday player for the Rays this season, but he'll begin this one on the bench as the Yankees send southpaw to Fried to the bump. Ryan Vilade is getting a start in the outfield in place of Simpson, who is 1-for-8 at the plate in the first two games of the series.
Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Limits Yanks to one run Mon, Oct 5, 2026, 11:19 PM Peralta didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Monday, giving up a run on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk across 4.2 innings. Analysis: Peralta served up a solo homer to Ben Rice during the fourth inning but was otherwise able to keep New York off the board. It continued a strong run of form for the right-hander, who has now surrendered one or no runs in each of his past seven starts dating back to late August. Peralta has a 0.93 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB over 38.2 innings during that span.
Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Getting ball for Game 3 of ALDS Mon, Oct 5, 2026, 7:37 PM Martinez will start Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Martinez will make his 2026 postseason debut in New York after the Rays took the first two games of the series. The crafty right-hander posted arguably the best regular season of his big-league career in 2026, accruing a 3.10 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 109:26 K:BB across 180.0 innings, and he'll look to carry that momentum into Game 3.
Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Taking over in center field Mon, Oct 5, 2026, 3:28 PM DeLuca will start in center field and bat seventh Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Analysis: Cedric Mullins was the Rays' primary center fielder versus righties during the regular season. However, it's been DeLuca at the postion for each of the team's first two playoff games, despite the Yankees starting a right-hander in both contests. DeLuca went hitless in three plate appearances in Game 1.
Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Out of lineup again for Game 2 Mon, Oct 5, 2026, 3:24 PM Mullins is not in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Yankees. Analysis: Despite the Yankees starting a righty again in Cam Schlittler, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will begin the contest on the bench. Jonny DeLuca is manning center field again for the Rays, and it seems he'll be manager Kevin Cash's preferred option at the position in the playoffs.
Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Starting Game 2 of ALDS Sat, Oct 3, 2026, 8:55 PM Peralta is slated to face the Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Peralta will look to guide the Rays to a 2-0 lead in the series after Tampa Bay took Game 1 on Saturday by a score of 1-0. The right-hander struggled throughout most of the regular season, but he had a resurgence in September, when he was the American League Pitcher of the Month by posting a 0.96 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 28 innings while going 4-0 over five starts. In his lone start versus the Yankees during the regular season, Peralta gave up three runs on two hits while walking six batters and striking out four on May 17 while with the Mets.
Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Sitting out Game 1 Sat, Oct 3, 2026, 2:00 PM Mullins isn't in the lineup Saturday for Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Analysis: Mullins ended the regular season with a five-game hitting streak, but he'll begin the postseason in the dugout while Jonny DeLuca starts in center field, batting seventh.
Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Cleared for ALDS Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 1:00 PM Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Cleavinger (forearm) has been cleared to be part of the ALDS roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Cleavinger was unavailable for almost all of September as he dealt with left forearm tightness, but he's been throwing for a couple weeks and will be available for the ALDS. The veteran southpaw was officially reinstated from the injured list Monday after the completion of Tampa Bay's regular season. Cleavinger had an up-and-down 2026 campaign, finishing with a 4.79 ERA and 54:22 K:BB over 41.1 frames.
Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Ready to go for ALDS Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 12:57 PM Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Simpson (foot) is good to go for the ALDS against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Simpson was held out of the last couple regular-season games as he battled a sore right foot, but he feels fine after a week of rest. The speedy outfielder slashed .306/.333/.356 with 46 stolen bases for the Rays this season and will be deployed in left field by the American League East champs.
Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Ready to roll for ALDS Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 12:21 PM Wells (forearm) said Friday that he'll be ready to go for the ALDS against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Wells went down with right forearm tightness in mid-Sedptember, but he's bounced back quickly and doesn't appear to be in any danger of missing out on ALDS play. The tall right-hander was officially activated from the 15-day injured list Monday after the Rays finished the regular season. Wells has collected a 2.38 ERA and 72:18 K:BB over 72 frames between the Orioles and Rays in 2026.
Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Looks good in throwing session Wed, Sep 30, 2026, 2:34 PM Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Wells (forearm) "looked really good" in a throwing session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Wells has been sidelined for the pat two weeks with right forearm tightness, but he has a good chance to be cleared to be on the Rays' ALDS roster. The righty reliever has been excellent this season in 57 appearances between the Orioles and Rays, logging a 2.38 ERA and 72:18 K:BB over 72 frames.
Jake Woodford Jake Woodford Outrighted by Rays Mon, Sep 28, 2026, 5:35 PM The Rays outrighted Woodford to Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Analysis: Woodford passed through waivers after being booted off the 40-man roster. The righty is set to become a minor-league free agent this offseason after posted a 7.81 ERA across 19 relief outings between the Brewers, Cubs and Rays in 2026.