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Jorge Mateo Jorge Mateo Stolen base, two RBI in win
Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 9:58 AM
Mateo went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's win against Atlanta.
Analysis: Mateo hit a single in the in the second to bring home two runners and extend Tampa Bay's lead to three versus his old team. The 31-year-old has been getting more playing time with Ben Williamson (hamstring) and Taylor Walls (hip) out with injuries. Since joining the Rays, Mateo has an insignificant .149 batting average with one home run and seven RBI, but he also has seven stolen bases in 19 games. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. First home run since return
Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 9:44 AM
Mesa went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Wednesday's 7-2 win against Atlanta. He was also caught stealing on his one attempt.
Analysis: Mesa popped his first home run since coming off of the injured list (hamstring) at the beginning of September. The left-swinging outfielder has been hot at the plate while hitting .367 (11-for-30) with four RBI since his return, and he's currently sporting a five-game hitting streak. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Sitting out versus southpaw
Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 9:00 AM
Aranda is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: With lefty Martin Perez toeing the rubber for Atlanta in the afternoon tilt, the lefty-swinging Aranda will be given a day to rest. Ryan Vilade is handling first base and will bat second as the Rays try to complete a series sweep. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Effective in win
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 11:20 PM
Jax (7-10) picked up the win Wednesday over Atlanta, allowing one run off of two hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: Jax was still a bit limited this start due to returning from the injured list (elbow), as he only threw 66 pitches (45 strikes), but got through five innings with the only damage coming from a Drake Baldwin homer. The righty improved his ERA to 3.99 and WHIP to 1.24 over 99.1 innings pitched and 20 out of 31 games started. The 31-year-old is slated to pitch next week against the Athletics presumably still on a limited workload. |
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Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Smacks 39th homer of season
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 10:00 AM
Caminero went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 7-1 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Caminero opened the scoring by crushing AJ Smith-Shawver's first-inning fastball a Statcast-projected 455 feet to left-center field. The blast was his 39th homer of the season, moving him into sole possession of the AL lead, and it was the second-longest home run of his career. Caminero now needs one more long ball to become the first player in Rays history with multiple 40-homer seasons. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Moves past illness
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 8:55 AM
Baker (illness) retired the side on nine pitches during the ninth inning of Tuesday's 7-1 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Baker made an early exit in his most recent relief appearance during Friday's 7-6 win over the Rangers while he battled an illness, but he was able to quickly recover from the ailment. The Rays elected to break their top reliever back in in a low-pressure spot Tuesday, with Baker inducing two flyouts and a groundout to finish out the contest. Baker has been a revelation during his first season as a full-time closer, converting 39 of 42 save chances while pitching to a 1.61 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 56 innings. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Wins third straight start
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 8:43 AM
Peralta (8-11) earned the win Tuesday against Atlanta after allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out two over six innings.
Analysis: Peralta navigated a difficult first inning, allowing three consecutive singles before escaping a bases-loaded jam with no further damage than just a run. He settled in from there, retiring 16 of the final 18 batters he faced and completing six innings on 92 total pitches. Peralta has now won three consecutive starts while allowing just two runs across 18 innings during that stretch, continuing his strong turnaround since joining Tampa Bay at the trade deadline. |
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Hunter Bigge Hunter Bigge Designated for assignment
Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 3:22 PM
The Rays designated Bigge for assignment Tuesday.
Analysis: The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Nick Madrigal. Bigge has looked like a high-leverage reliever at times but has struggled in 2026, posting a 6.98 ERA and 14:14 K:BB over 19.1 innings with the Rays and a 6.14 ERA and 37:20 K:BB over 29.1 frames with Triple-A Durham. The 28-year-old is under team control for several more years and could drawn interest via waivers. |
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Nick Madrigal Nick Madrigal Added to MLB roster
Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 3:15 PM
The Rays selected Madrigal's contract from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The 29-year-old joined Tampa Bay on a minor-league deal in late June and will now get a look with the big club. Madrigal posted a .273/.385/.295 slash line in 52 plate appearances for the Angels earlier this season and was hitting well for Durham with an .818 OPS in 47 contests. He'll provide infield depth to help cover the loss of Taylor Walls (hip) who was placed on the injured list Tuesday. |
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Oliver Dunn Oliver Dunn Sent outright to Triple-A
Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 3:03 PM
The Rays outrighted Dunn to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Analysis: Dunn cleared waivers after being booted off the 40-man roster, and he has accepted an outright assignment. The 29-year-old has spent nearly all of the season at the Triple-A level, putting up a .794 OPS. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Shelved by hip flexor strain
Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 2:58 PM
The Rays placed Walls on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip flexor strain, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Walls didn't play in his team's last game Sunday, so it seems he's been dealing with the injury for a few days. He'll be eligible to return Sept. 18, but it's unclear whether Walls has a chance to be ready on that date. Jorge Mateo will likely handle the bulk of the reps at shortstop while Walls is shelved. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Approaching 40-steal mark
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 5:54 PM
Simpson went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Rangers.
Analysis: Simpson logged his first steal of September in the seventh inning of this contest. He's been putting bat to ball fairly well lately, logging eight multi-hit efforts over his last 14 games. The light-hitting speedster is 39-for-53 on the basepaths this season while batting .308 with a .696 OPS, 31 RBI, 57 runs scored, 14 doubles, six triples and no home runs over 135 games. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Chased in fourth inning
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 5:52 PM
Seymour allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out two over three-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Sunday.
Analysis: Seymour has now given up at least three runs in each of his last five games, though he had covered at least five frames in each of those outings prior to Sunday. The southpaw had particular trouble with Jake Burger, who tagged him for a pair of home runs, accounting for three of the runs he surrendered. Seymour is at a 4.33 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 140:33 K:BB through 116.1 innings over 43 games (13 starts) this year. He is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Astros. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Taking seat against southpaw
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 1:53 PM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: After starting in each of the last four games, the left-handed-hitting Mullins will retreat to the bench while southpaw MacKenzie Gore toes the rubber for the Rangers. Jonny DeLuca will spell Mullins in center field and will bat sixth. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Idle Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 1:52 PM
Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Analysis: Walls will hit the bench for the series finale after he went 0-for-6 with a walk while starting in both of the past two contests. Jorge Mateo will cover shortstop in place of Walls. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Sitting amidst hot stretch
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:51 AM
Palacios isn't in the Rays' starting lineup versus Texas on Sunday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Palacios has been flashing his power lately, hitting three homers over his past four games. However, he'll spend at least part of Sunday on the bench with the Rangers sending a lefty starter (MacKenzie Gore) to the mound. Ryan Vilade is filling in for Palacios at second base in the series finale. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Beginning on bench Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:43 AM
Hicks is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup against Texas, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Hicks started behind the plate both Friday and Saturday, so he'll get a breather for the series finale Sunday. Nick Fortes is getting a turn behind the plate and batting ninth against the Rangers. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Spins seven strong innings
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:02 PM
Rasmussen took a no-decision against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Rasmussen continued to deal Saturday, firing at least six innings while giving up two runs or fewer for a third consecutive start. The right-hander has yielded fewer than five hits and three runs in all but of one of his last eight outings as well. He'll bring a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 156:27 K:BB over 153.1 innings into his next scheduled outing versus the Astros. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Placed on injured list
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 5:45 PM
The Rays placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Friday with a lower-back strain, retroactive to Thursday.
Analysis: Rodriguez has given up two earned runs and struck out eight batters in 4.2 innings since making his season debut Aug. 24, but he'll now head back to the injured list after tweaking his back. Cole Sulser (back) was reinstated from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move to take Rodriguez's place in the Rays' bullpen. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Returns from IL
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 5:42 PM
The Rays reinstated Sulser (back) from the injured list Friday.
Analysis: Out since late July with lower-back spasms, Sulser began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham on Aug. 19 and has since given up two earned runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out seven batters over seven innings. Now fully healthy, he'll reclaim a middle-relief role in Tampa Bay's bullpen and replace Manuel Rodriguez (back) on the active roster. |
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