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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Throws 42 pitches in rehab start
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 10:13 PM
Jax (elbow) struck out two in a rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in three innings.
Analysis: Jax built himself up to 42 pitches Sunday, taking one step closer to rejoining Tampa Bay's rotation. The right-hander is recovering from right elbow discomfort, and it's possible his next appearance will come in the major leagues. It remains to be seen if the Rays will shift Ian Seymour back to the bullpen upon Jax's return or if they'll instead turn to a six-man rotation. |
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Headed to Triple-A
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 9:23 PM
Bodine was promoted to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Chase Ford of MiLB Central reports.
Analysis: Bodine produced a .316 average with five home runs, 33 RBI, 25 runs scored and four stolen bases over 37 games with Double-A Montgomery. The 22-year-old is now just one step away from making his major-league debut, and he may be on track to do so in 2027. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Up to 37 saves
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:52 PM
Baker earned the save in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Orioles, allowing a run on one hit in the ninth inning.
Analysis: Colton Cowser led off the ninth with a homer off Baker, just the second run he's allowed in his last 19.2 innings, but the right-hander would rebound to retire the next three Orioles and notch his league-leading 37th save this season. Baker's ERA sits at 1.59 across 51 innings with a 0.88 WHIP and 56:16 K:BB. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Rebounds to blank Baltimore
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 3:47 PM
Martinez (13-4) earned the win Sunday over the Orioles, allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: After giving up a season-high six runs across just 3.2 innings against Toronto his last time out, Martinez bounced back with an excellent performance against the Orioles, allowing just one hit en route to his 13th win. The 36-year-old Martinez lowered his ERA to 2.93 across 25 starts (147.2 innings) this season with a 1.10 WHIP and 87:22 K:BB. He's currently slated to face the Padres at home in his next outing. |
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Chris Roycroft Chris Roycroft Loses roster spot
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 10:32 AM
The Rays designated Roycroft for assignment Sunday.
Analysis: Roycroft will give up his spot on the 40-man roster to Manuel Rodriguez (elbow), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. After being acquired from the Cardinals on June 23, Roycroft turned in a 6.52 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB over 19.1 innings during three stints in the big leagues with the Rays. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Ready for 2026 debut with Tampa
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 10:25 AM
The Rays reinstated Rodriguez (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Analysis: Tampa Bay cleared room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for Rodriguez by designating right-hander Chris Roycroft for assignment. Rodriguez served as a high-leverage relief arm for the Rays to begin the 2025 campaign and compiled a 2.08 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while collecting 11 holds over 30.1 innings, but his season came to an early end when he required right flexor tendon repair surgery on Aug. 8. Now just over a year removed from the procedure, Rodriguez has been cleared to rejoin the Tampa Bay bullpen after he completed a month-long rehab assignment during which he submitted a 5.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in eight innings over stops with three different minor-league affiliates. He'll likely be deployed in the middle innings initially, but Rodriguez could quickly work his way up the bullpen pecking order if he looks sharp in his first few appearances with Tampa Bay. |
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Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Seeing more opportunities versus righties
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 10:15 AM
DeLuca will start in right field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: He'll stick in the lineup for a fourth straight game after going 3-for-11 with a double in the prior three contests. With three of DeLuca's four starts coming against right-handed pitching, he looks to have emerged as the Rays' preferred option in right field after Victor Mesa (hamstring) was placed on the injured list Wednesday. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Idle against righty again
Sun, Aug 23, 2026, 10:14 AM
Vilade is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: Vilade will take a seat for the third time in four games, with all three of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. The utility player looked as though he might have a chance at breaking out of his short-side platoon role after Victor Mesa (hamstring) was moved to the injured list Wednesday, but Jonny DeLuca has instead been prioritized ahead of Vilade as the Rays' primary right fielder versus righties. |
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Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Scoreless outing against former team
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 10:36 PM
Wells allowed one hit and no walks in two scoreless relief innings to pick up a hold Saturday against Baltimore, striking out one.
Analysis: Wells is occupying a similar multi-inning role out of the bullpen since being traded to the Rays as he did with the Orioles earlier this year. The right-hander has already recorded three holds with his new team, posting a 2.89 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 9.1 innings for Tampa Bay. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Throws five scoreless Saturday
Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 9:59 PM
McClanahan did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Orioles, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five over five scoreless innings.
Analysis: McClanahan was efficient, generating 10 swinging strikes on 74 pitches and departing in line for a potential win the Rays' bullpen couldn't secure. It was a strong rebound for the southpaw, who struggled through a 57-pitch outing in his return from the injured list Monday. He'll carry a 3.10 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 99:36 K:BB across 107.1 innings this season into a home matchup with the Padres next weekend. |
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Kenny Piper Kenny Piper Clubs first major-league homer
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 10:28 PM
Piper went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer during the Rays' 5-3 loss to the Orioles on Friday.
Analysis: Piper gave the Rays a 3-1 lead in the second inning by smacking a two-run homer to center field off Trevor Rogers. It was the first major-league home run of Pipers' career in just his second game in the big leagues. He's unlikely to see much more playing time for Tampa Bay, given that Liam Hicks and Nick Fortes are both ahead of Piper on the depth chart. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Yields five runs in loss
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 10:24 PM
Peralta (5-11) took the loss against the Orioles on Friday, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six across seven innings.
Analysis: Peralta fell to the Orioles on Friday for a second consecutive start, giving up seven runs over his last 11.2 frames against Baltimore. He kept the Orioles to two runs through four innings but allowed three baserunners to cross home in the fifth frame, highlighted by a two-run homer by Pete Alonso. Peralta has given up at least five earned runs six times this season, three of which have come over his last five outings. He hasn't been credited with a win since June 14 against Atlanta, and in four starts with the Rays, the veteran right-hander has a 7.17 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 21.1 innings. Peralta is slated to take on the Tigers on the road next week. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Getting night off Friday
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 3:58 PM
Aranda is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: It appears to be a routine night off for the first baseman, as Liam Hicks will shift to first base and bat eighth against Orioles lefty Taylor Rogers. Aranda has been in an extended slump, slashing just .244/.283/.290 since the All-Star break. He has just one home run, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored and a 7:39 BB:K across 138 plate appearances during that span. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Plagued by long ball in fourth loss
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:01 PM
Seymour (9-4) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out eight.
Analysis: Seymour had trouble keeping the ball in the park Thursday, serving up a season-high three home runs. The left-hander didn't quite last long enough to push for what could've his fourth straight quality start, but he's now recorded at least seven punchouts in four straight outings on a positive note. Seymour will try to reduce the hard contact in Detroit his next time out, carrying a 4.17 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an especially strong 123:32 K:BB over 101.1 innings. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Rehab assignment begins
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 11:54 AM
Sulser (back) threw a clean inning for Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Sulser started a minor-league rehab assignment, the final step before rejoining Tampa Bay's bullpen. The right-hander is recovering from lower-back spasms and should make his return before the end of August, barring any setbacks. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Absent from lineup
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 9:19 AM
Walls is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Blue Jays.
Analysis: He'll get a day off after starting the first two games of the series. Jorge Mateo will cover shortstop for the Rays in Walls' stead. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Exiting starting lineup
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 9:18 AM
Vilade is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Vilade had started three of the past four contests in right field, but he'll take a seat in Thursday's series finale. It will be Jonny DeLuca in right field for the Rays. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Absent from Tampa Bay lineup
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 9:15 AM
Hicks is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Hicks started at catcher in each of the last three games, so he will be given some rest during Thursday's afternoon tilt. Nick Fortes will do the catching in the rubber match. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Brilliant campaign continues
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 9:58 PM
Baker threw a clean ninth inning to notch the save Wednesday against Toronto. He struck out one.
Analysis: The All-Star closer continued his masterful campaign, turning in his 25th consecutive save Wednesday. He's been scored upon just one time in his last 18 outings as well. Baker sports a 1.44 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 56:16 K:BB with an MLB-leading 36 saves in 39 attempts across 50 innings. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Nabs win No. 13 on Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 9:52 PM
Rasmussen (13-5) notched the win against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The Rays scored seven runs through four innings, offering Rasmussen plenty of support to get the hurler credited with the win. The five runs allowed were his most since July 9 against the Yankees, but the right-hander still notably registered the win in a sixth straight start. Rasmussen will carry a stellar 3.01 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 138:25 K:BB over 134.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Tigers. |
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