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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Drives in Rays' lone run Monday
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 8:28 PM
Palacios went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the Rays' 5-1 loss to the Yankees on Monday.
Analysis: It was a dominant effort on the mound from Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler on Monday, but Palacios put Tampa Bay on the board with a single in the fifth inning that brought Chandler Simpson home. Palacios has driven in at least one run in three of his last four games, going 5-for-12 with one steal, one home run, four RBI and two runs scored in that span. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Fans 10 but takes loss on long ball
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 8:25 PM
Jax (4-6) took the loss against the Yankees on Monday, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out 10 across five innings.
Analysis: Monday's series opener featured a pitching duel between Jax and Cam Schlittler, with the former retiring the first 13 batters he faced. However, Jax walked two-straight batters in the fifth, both of whom came home to score on a back-breaking, three-run home run by Jose Caballero. Jax struck out the next two batters in the frame to tie a career high in punchouts and finished his night with 16 whiffs on just 81 pitches (51 strikes), but he did not receive enough run support from his Rays teammates to avoid the loss. He'll take a 3.60 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 65 innings into his next start, which is lined up for this weekend at home against the Mariners. |
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Steven Matz Steven Matz Ready for rehab assignment
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 4:32 PM
Matz (ankle) will embark on a rehab assignment Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Matz is ready to take the last step in his recovery from a left ankle sprain that caused him to land on the 15-day injured list in late June. He may need just one or two outings in the minors before he's ready to return to the big club, though it's unclear whether his reinstatement from the IL will come before or after the All-Star break. |
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Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Yet to resume throwing
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 2:50 PM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Uceta has yet to resume throwing and will meet with a doctor to have his nagging right shoulder injury examined, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Uceta has been limited to four rehab appearances due to a right shoulder strain and has remained shut down since he suffered a setback in late May. It's unclear whether surgery to address the injury is a possibility, but even if a procedure isn't on the table, Uceta is nowhere close to being ready to pitch in a game. |
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Hunter Feduccia Hunter Feduccia Exiting starting lineup
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 1:47 PM
Feduccia is absent from the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Yankees.
Analysis: The lefty-swinging Feduccia started four of the previous five contests versus right-handed pitching, but he'll take a seat Monday as the Yankees send righty Cam Schlittler to the mound. Nick Fortes will do the catching and bat seventh in the series opener. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Taking seat Monday
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 1:45 PM
Mesa is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Yankees.
Analysis: Mesa started the previous five and nine of the last 10 games for the Rays, but he will exit the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Bronx Bombers. Jonny DeLuca will cover right field and bat fifth. |
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Chris Roycroft Chris Roycroft Joins big club
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 12:12 PM
The Rays recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Analysis: Tampa Bay optioned right-hander Mason Englert to Triple-A to open up a spot on the active roster for Roycroft, who will join the big club for the first time since being acquired via trade with St. Louis on June 23. Roycroft owns a 5.02 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 28.2 innings at the Triple-A level this season and will likely be limited to a low-leverage relief role while he's up with the Rays. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Sent down after spot start
Mon, Jul 6, 2026, 12:10 PM
The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Analysis: Englert will head back to Triple-A after he was summoned from Durham on Sunday to make a spot start while the Rays looked to give the five members of their rotation an extra day of rest. The right-hander was excellent in the Rays' 2-0 loss to the Astros, striking out a career-high nine batters while permitting two runs on five hits and one walk across 5.2 innings. The Rays will open their second-half schedule July 17 with 11 games in a 10-day period, and Englert looks like a good bet to be recalled to make at least one start during that stretch. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Resting Sunday
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 2:02 PM
Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Analysis: Walls will get a breather after he went 10-for-36 (.278 average) with one stolen base, nine runs and two RBI while starting in the Rays' previous 11 games. Ben Williamson will replace Walls at shortstop and will bat sixth in the series finale. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Returning to starting nine Sunday
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 12:04 PM
Simpson (finger) will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Simpson will check back into the starting nine after sore right index and middle fingers kept him on the bench the previous two nights. Before his recent absences, Simpson had recorded at least one hit in 11 of 12 starts, slashing .386/.438/.477 while adding six steals, three runs and two RBI during that stretch. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Promoted to start Sunday
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 9:16 AM
The Rays recalled Englert from Triple-A Durham to start Sunday against the Astros.
Analysis: The right-hander spent the past few weeks in the minors and will rejoin Tampa Bay to start Sunday's series finale in Houston. It'll be just the second big-league start of the season for Englert, though he was utilized as a long reliever during his most recent stint in the majors in early June, when he made two appearances and allowed one run on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts over nine innings. For the season, the 26-year-old has a 3.96 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 25 big-league innings. |
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Trevor Martin Trevor Martin Moving back to Triple-A
Sun, Jul 5, 2026, 9:15 AM
The Rays optioned Martin to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Analysis: Martin will give up his spot on the 26-man active roster to right-hander Mason Englert, who was recalled from Triple-A to start Sunday's game in Houston. Over six relief appearances with Tampa Bay this season, Martin has yielded five earned runs on 14 hits and four walks while striking out seven across 11.1 innings. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Rare dud in no-decision
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 9:54 PM
Rasmussen took a no-decision Saturday against the Astros, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: Rasmussen was never quite able to fully settle in following a two-run first inning, later giving up three more runs across the fourth and fifth frames. Not only did the two punchouts match a season low, but the 30-year-old right-hander coughed up more runs Saturday alone than he did in his previous five starts altogether, surrendering just three during that stretch. Rasmussen will look to bounce back against the Yankees in his next scheduled start, still holding a strong 2.78 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 96:17 K:BB over 97 innings. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Sitting again Saturday
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 2:52 PM
Simpson (finger) is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Astros on Saturday.
Analysis: Simpson was a late scratch Friday due to sore right index and middle fingers, and those injuries which will keep him out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Victor Mesa, Cedric Mullins and Jonny DeLuca will start in the outfield Saturday from left to right. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Not in Saturday's lineup
Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 2:50 PM
Diaz is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Astros on Saturday.
Analysis: Diaz will get a breather after going 1-fro-12 with two walks over his last three games. Jonathan Aranda will serve as the Rays' designated hitter Saturday while Ryan Vilade draws the start at first base. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Solid again in no-decision
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:39 PM
Martinez did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-1 win over the Astros, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Analysis: Martinez was cruising until he yielded a solo homer to Yordan Alvarez in the sixth inning, departing in a 1-1 tie after allowing a single to the next batter he faced. While he hasn't been able to notch a quality start in either outing, the 35-year-old has yielded just one earned run while pitching into the sixth frame in each of his past two starts. He'll take a 2.61 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB across 100 innings this season into a home matchup with the Yankees next week. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Secures 23rd save
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:33 PM
Baker earned the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Astros, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Baker was called upon to close things out for the second straight game and did so on just eight pitches. It continued an All-Star-worthy campaign for the 31-year-old, who has converted 23 of 26 save chances while posting a 1.83 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 34.1 innings this season. |
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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Raps homer, double in win
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 10:08 PM
Fortes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and an additional RBI in Friday's 3-1 win over Houston.
Analysis: Despite seeing limited action behind the plate, Fortes is making the most out of his playing time recently. Over his last seven games (17 at-bats), the 29-year-old backstop is hitting .412 with the aforementioned two extra-base hits, five RBI, five runs scored and a walk. Fortes should continue battling with Hunter Feduccia for reps behind the dish moving ahead. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. In Friday's lineup for Simpson
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 5:51 PM
Mesa will start in left field and bat sixth against the Astros on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Chandler Simpson was initially slated to start in right field but was scratched from Friday's lineup due to sore right index and middle fingers, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Mesa will now start in right field while Cedric Mullins and Jonny DeLuca man center and left, respectively. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Scratched from Friday's lineup
Fri, Jul 3, 2026, 5:49 PM
Simpson was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Astros due to sore right index and middle fingers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Simpson jammed his fingers while sliding into second base during Thursday's game against the Royals. The move is a precautionary one, meaning Simpson could be available off the bench and be back in the lineup for Saturday's contest. Victor Mesa will take over in left field for Friday's series opener. |
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