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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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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Playing time ticking up
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 1:56 PM
Vilade will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's contest versus the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Most of the right-handed-hitting Vilade's playing time this season has come against lefties, but he could see semi-regular reps versus righties while Victor Mesa (hamstring) is on the injured list. Vilade will be making his third start in the last three contests, and two of them have come versus right-handers. Vilade sports an .868 OPS against lefties in 2026, but he's held his own against righties with a .748 OPS. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Move to IL official
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 1:43 PM
The Rays placed Mesa on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a left hamstring strain.
Analysis: Mesa had missed out on three straight starts on account of tightness in the same hamstring before he made his return to the lineup for Tuesday's 10-5 loss to the Blue Jays. He was unable to finish out the game, however, after he aggravated the injury early in the contest. Mesa will now get some more time off to recover, and though the Rays aren't committing to a timeline for his return, manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that he's hopeful the outfielder will spend the minimum 10 days on the shelf, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca are likely to see most of the reps in right field during Mesa's absence. |
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Jesse Scholtens Jesse Scholtens Sent down after extended relief outing
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:41 PM
The Rays optioned Scholtens to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Scholtens allowed two runs over a four-inning relief outing in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. Since he would have been unavailable to pitch for a few days, the Rays are replacing Scholtens on the roster with a fresh reliever in Chris Roycroft. |
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Chris Roycroft Chris Roycroft Recalled from Triple-A
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:35 PM
The Rays recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Roycroft has been bludgeoned for 14 runs over 17.1 frames out of the Rays' bullpen this season. He will give the Rays a fresh bullpen arm after the team's relievers covered 5.1 innings in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. |
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Kenny Piper Kenny Piper Back in majors as third catcher
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:31 PM
The Rays recalled Piper from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Piper picked up one hit (his first in the majors) in five plate appearances for the Rays earlier this season. He will serve as the team's No. 3 catcher. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Likely headed to injured list
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:29 PM
The Rays are likely to place Mesa (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mesa aggravated a left hamstring injury in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. There's no word yet on the severity, but Mesa will need some time on the IL to recover. Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade could see increased reps in right field while Mesa is sidelined. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Rocked for six runs in loss
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 9:26 PM
Martinez (12-4) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out five across 3.2 innings.
Analysis: The Rays needed a long outing from Martinez after the team heavily leaned on its bullpen during the previous four-game series against the Orioles. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Martinez didn't have his best stuff Tuesday, yielding two runs in the first, third and fourth innings while running his pitch count up to 82 (56 strikes, six whiffs). It was the first time this season that the veteran right-hander failed to complete four innings in a start and the third time in his last four outings that he's given up at least four runs. Martinez will take a 3.05 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 141.2 innings into his next start, lined up for this weekend against the Orioles at Camden Yards. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Another multi-hit game
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 9:17 PM
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a run scored during the Rays' 10-5 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Analysis: Diaz extended his hitting streak to nine games Tuesday, during which he's logged six multi-hit games while going 18-for-40 (.450) with three home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored. He ranks third in the majors with 145 hits, and his .306 batting average is seventh-best among qualified hitters. |
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