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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Extends hit streak in rout
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 4:23 PM
Mesa went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 14-4 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Mesa was a thorn in the Astros' side from the cleanup spot, falling a homer short of the cycle and scoring each time he reached base. The 25-year-old has hit safely in nine straight games, and he owns a ridiculous 1.300 OPS with seven extra-base hits, eight RBI, 12 runs scored and three steals through 12 September contests. For the season, he's slashing .261/.330/.518 with 13 homers, 30 RBI, 32 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 223 plate appearances. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Goes deep in rout
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 4:14 PM
Palacios went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 14-4 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Palacios gave the Rays a 7-0 lead with a three-run homer in the third inning before scoring another run in the seventh. The 29-year-old has been red hot in September, hitting .333 with five home runs, 11 RBI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases through 10 games this month. On the year, he's slashing .235/.330/.379 with 10 long balls, 50 RBI, 50 runs scored and 14 steals across 369 plate appearances. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Homers twice in rout
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 3:38 PM
Aranda went 2-for-4 with two home runs, a walk and three RBI in Sunday's 14-4 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Aranda reached 20 homers in the fourth inning before going deep again in the seventh. The performance continued a strong September for the 28-year-old, who owns a 1.058 OPS with seven extra-base hits and 10 RBI in 11 games this month. On the season, he's slashing .278/.362/.438 with 21 long balls, 89 RBI and 71 runs scored across 630 plate appearances. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Goes five scoreless in win
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 3:33 PM
Peralta (9-11) earned the win against the Astros on Sunday, allowing no hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
Analysis: Peralta was spotted an early lead and held the Astros without a hit despite throwing only 49 of 86 pitches for strikes. The 30-year-old is finding his groove at the right time, winning four straight contests while yielding just two earned runs and posting three quality starts during that stretch. He owns a 3.86 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 33:10 K:BB across 44.1 innings with Tampa Bay and lines up for a home matchup with the Red Sox next weekend. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Out of Sunday's lineup
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 12:21 PM
Mullins is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mullins has gone 2-for-20 across his past seven games and will take a seat Sunday even though Houston is sending out a right-handed starter (Hayden Wesneski). Jonny DeLuca is starting in center field and batting sixth in the series finale. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks Not starting Sunday
Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 12:18 PM
Hicks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Hicks has a .646 OPS through nine games in September and will hit the bench Sunday after starting the first two games of the series versus Houston. Nick Fortes is working behind the plate and batting ninth in the finale. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Picks up MLB-high 40th save
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 8:47 PM
Baker threw 1.1 scoreless innings for the save Saturday against the Astros, allowing one hit and no walks. He struck out one.
Analysis: Baker recorded more than three outs Saturday for just the second time this season. The All-Star closer continues to be dominant, giving up only three earned runs in 27 appearances since the start of July. He has a 1.54 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 62:21 K:BB with a major-league-leading 40 saves (43 opportunities) over 58.1 innings in 2026. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Fans 10 in six strong innings
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 8:40 PM
Seymour didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Astros, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 10.
Analysis: Seymour flooded the zone Saturday, pouring in 58 of his 79 pitches for strikes in a strong start. The southpaw tends to get hurt by the long ball, as he's served up at least one home run in seven of his last eight outings, but he's fanned at least seven on six occasions during that span. He'll bring a 4.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 150:34 K:BB over 122.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the division-rival Red Sox. |
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Michael Grove Michael Grove Jettisoned from 40-man
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 1:48 PM
The Rays designated Grove for assignment Saturday.
Analysis: Grove was sent down to Triple-A on Aug. 13, and he has since surrendered just two earned runs while posting an 11:5 K:BB over 11.1 innings. Despite his recent performance, the Rays will strip him of his 40-man roster spot and award it to Brody Hopkins, who was selected to the major-league roster Saturday. |
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Alex Cook Alex Cook Relegated to Durham
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 1:45 PM
The Rays optioned Cook to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: Cook never made an appearance for the Rays after being recalled from Durham on Sept. 4, and he'll now end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room for Brody Hopkins, who was selected to the active roster Saturday. |
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Brody Hopkins Brody Hopkins Contract selected
Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 11:41 AM
The Rays selected Hopkins' contract from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Hopkins spent most of the season working in the rotation at Durham, but after struggling as a starter, the team moved him to the bullpen in August. Now that he's pitched six consecutive shutout innings at Triple-A as a reliever, the 24-year-old righty will join the big club to help bolster the Rays' bullpen. He'll be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Rehab assignment scheduled
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 9:38 PM
Rodriguez (back) is expected to join Triple-A Durham for a rehab assignment Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez has been on the injured list since Sept. 3 due to a lower-back strain. If all goes well on his assignment, the right-hander should return to Tampa Bay before the end of the season. He's unlikely to be a factor in fantasy leagues at this point but should bolster the playoff-bound Rays' bullpen during the postseason. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Goes seven strong again Friday
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 9:23 PM
Rasmussen did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-1 win over the Astros, allowing one run on eight hits and no walks with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Analysis: Rasmussen allowed a run in the fourth inning but was otherwise strong despite generating just seven swinging strikes on 92 pitches. It was the 31-year-old's fourth straight quality start and seventh overall in 10 second-half outings. He'll carry a 2.81 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 160:27 K:BB across a career-high 160.1 innings this season into a home matchup with the Athletics next week. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Stays hot in win
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 9:18 PM
Mesa went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-1 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Mesa got the Rays on the board with a solo shot in the fifth inning before adding a stolen base in the seventh. The 25-year-old is now riding a modest seven-game hitting streak, delivering three homers, six RBI, six runs scored and three stolen bases during that stretch. For the year, he's slashing .250/.316/.500 with 13 long balls, 28 RBI, 28 runs scored and nine steals across 214 plate appearances. |
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Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Comes up clutch with 40th homer
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 9:12 PM
Caminero went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-1 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Caminero reached the 40-homer mark for the second straight season in dramatic fashion, launching a walk-off blast in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch a playoff berth for the Rays. The 23-year-old slugger has now gone deep in three of his past six games, becoming the first player in the American League to reach 40 long balls this season. Overall, he's slashing .279/.365/.534 with 95 RBI, 90 runs scored and three steals across 643 plate appearances. |
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Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Resumes full activity
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 4:41 PM
Lux (shoulder) has resumed full baseball activity, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Lux has been held out all season by shoulder and ankle injuries, but he seems to be making significant progress in his recovery from left shoulder inflammation that caused him to pause his rehab assignment in mid-July. The Rays still haven't confirmed that Lux will miss the entire 2026 campaign, but with roughly two weeks remaining in the regular season, his chances of returning in time are very slim. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Resumes baseball activities
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 3:54 PM
Williamson (hamstring) has resumed baseball activities, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Out since early August with a right hamstring strain, Williamson will work out with the Rays through the weekend and could then begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham next week. If Williamson is able to rejoin the Rays' active roster later this month, he could be used in a short-side platoon role at second base with Richie Palacios. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Twirls gem in no-decision
Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 1:46 PM
Martinez took a no-decision Thursday against Atlanta, allowing two hits and no walks in 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Martinez was in cruise control, firing 53 of his 68 pitches for strikes and scattering two singles over 6.1 shutout frames. The right-hander extended his streak of quality starts to four, but it's worth noting he saw his second-lowest workload of 2026 on Thursday as the Rays prepare for the postseason. He'll take a career-best 2.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 98:24 K:BB over 166.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance in pitcher-friendly Tampa Bay versus the lowly Athletics. |
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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 making his Rays debut Aug. 14, 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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