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Joe Boyle Joe Boyle Starting rehab assignment
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:44 PM
Boyle (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Boyle has missed more than three weeks with a right elbow strain, but he's progressed to the point that he's ready to test himself in a game setting. The right-hander made three starts for the Rays before getting hurt, posting a 5.17 ERA and 16:6 K:BB over 15.2 innings. He could be reclaim a spot in the Tampa Bay rotation if he looks sharp during his rehab assignment. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Ready for rehab assignment
Mon, May 4, 2026, 3:38 PM
Englert (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The Rays plan to stretch Englert out as a depth option for their rotation, so his rehab assignment will likely be a lengthy one as he builds up stamina. Englert has not been a full-time starting pitcher since 2022, but he did throw 65 pitches in an extended relief outing earlier this season. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Heading to bench Monday
Mon, May 4, 2026, 2:17 PM
Mullins is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With a lowly .415 OPS on the season, Mullins ranks last among baseball's 179 qualified hitters. While Mullins continues to struggle at the plate, the Rays will likely shield him from lefties such as Eric Lauer, who will start Monday's game for the Blue Jays. And unless Mullins shows some signs of life in his future starts, it may not be long until the Rays pull the plug on him as a regular part of the lineup against right-handed pitching. |
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Jake Fraley Jake Fraley Hitting bench against lefty
Mon, May 4, 2026, 2:14 PM
Fraley is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With a lefty (Eric Lauer) on the bump for the Blue Jays, the Rays will go with Ryan Vilade over the left-handed-hitting Fraley in right field. Fraley had started in each of the Rays' last five games, going 3-for-14 with a double, a walk and an RBI over that stretch. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Batting cleanup in return
Mon, May 4, 2026, 1:52 PM
Diaz (side) will start at designated hitter and will bat cleanup in Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Diaz was held out for the Rays' final two games of the weekend after departing Friday's 3-0 win over the Giants early due to left side tightness, but he'll be good to go as Tampa Bay kicks off a seven-game week. He had been running hot at the plate prior to missing time with the injury, batting .355/.429/.548 with two home runs, four RBI and seven runs over his last nine contests. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Walks off Giants in four-hit day
Sun, May 3, 2026, 8:37 PM
Aranda went 4-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
Analysis: All four of Aranda's hits were singles, including the walk-off winner in the 10th inning, and all eight of Tampa Bay's hits as a team Sunday were singles. It was Aranda's first career four-hit game, and he's now slashing .252/.352/.462 with seven home runs, 28 RBI, 17 runs scored and a 19:35 BB:K across 142 plate appearances this season. |
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Steven Matz Steven Matz Cruises through six innings vs. SFG
Sun, May 3, 2026, 8:32 PM
Matz didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Giants, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with one strikeout across six innings.
Analysis: The Giants entered Sunday 29th in OPS as a team, and they managed to scored two total runs in the three-game set with Tampa Bay. Matz was just the latest starter to sit San Francisco down with relative ease. The left-hander has now posted back-to-back quality starts, though he clearly didn't have the strikeout stuff going Sunday. Matz has been solid in his return to starting this season, registering a 4-1 record, 3.86 ERA and 28:13 K:BB across 37.1 innings. He's lined up to start in Boston during next weekend's four-game series. |
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Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Taking seat against right-hander
Sun, May 3, 2026, 12:45 PM
Palacios is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: Though he had started each of the last three matchups with right-handed pitchers, Palacios will give way to Ben Williamson at second base against righty Tyler Mahle. Both Palacios and Williamson are likely headed for reductions in playing time at the keystone with Gavin Lux (shoulder/ankle) drawing closer to a return from the injured list. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Absence continuing Sunday
Sun, May 3, 2026, 10:20 AM
Diaz (side) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Diaz is sitting Sunday for a second straight contest after exiting Friday's game due to tightness in his left side. Jonathan Aranda is receiving a turn at designated hitter in Diaz's place, which opens up first base for Ryan Vilade. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Drives in two runs Saturday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:09 PM
Aranda went 2-for-4 with a two-run single during the Rays' 5-1 win over the Giants on Saturday.
Analysis: Aranda gave the Rays a 4-0 lead in the fifth after his single to center field brought both Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls home. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for Aranda, and his 27 RBI is tied with Yordan Alvarez for most in the American League. |
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Jesse Scholtens Jesse Scholtens Earns win in bulk-relief role
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:05 PM
Scholtens (3-1) earned the win against the Giants on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three across three innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: For a second consecutive game, Griffin Jax served as the Rays' opener while Scholtens followed. Jax set up Scholtens for success after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, and the latter was effective on the mound himself, with his lone blemish coming in the sixth inning after yielding an RBI double to Rafael Devers. Following Saturday's outing, Scholtens sits at a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB across 22.2 innings. He's lined up to face the Red Sox on the road next week, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Jax serve as the opener for that contest. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Effective as Saturday's opener
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:00 PM
Jax did not factor into the decision in Saturday's game against the Giants. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two across 2.2 scoreless innings.
Analysis: Just like he did against the Twins last Sunday, Jax was effective as the Rays' opener Saturday, tossing 29 strikes on 45 pitches while generating eight whiffs. That set up Jesse Scholtens to take over in the third, and he proceeded to earn the victory after allowing just one run over three innings' work. The Jax/Scholtens duo seems to be working for the Rays this season, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Tampa Bay roll with that combo again next week on the road against the Red Sox. Over his last seven games, Jax has posted a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB across nine innings. |
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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Resting Saturday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 1:11 PM
Fortes isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus San Francisco, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Fortes will take a seat to begin Saturday's contest after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Friday's series opener. Hunter Feduccia will handle catching duties and bat eighth. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Sitting out Saturday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 1:09 PM
Diaz (side) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Diaz was pulled from Friday's game due to tightness in his left side, and the Rays will hold him out of Saturday's contest to give him time to recover. Jake Fraley will work as Tampa Bay's designated hitter while Diaz sits, opening up right field for Jonny DeLuca. |
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Yoendrys Gomez Yoendrys Gomez DFA'd by Rays
Sat, May 2, 2026, 1:01 PM
The Rays designated Gomez for assignment Saturday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Gomez has gotten off to a poor start this season, logging a 6.23 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with a 13:10 K:BB through 17.1 innings, and he'll now end up as the odd man out of a roster spot following Garrett Cleavinger's (calf) return from the injured list. Gomez, 26, owns a 5.11 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in his MLB career and could end up spending the rest of the season as organizational depth if he clears waivers. |
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Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Activated from IL
Sat, May 2, 2026, 12:55 PM
The Rays reinstated Cleavinger (calf) from the injured list Saturday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Cleavinger's rehab assignment got off to a shaky start, but he was able to clean things up quickly and finished his last four appearances with just one hit and one walk allowed over 3.1 shutout innings. Now fully healthy, the 32-year-old will likely claim a high-leverage role in the Rays' bullpen, though Bryan Baker is still the favorite for saves. Yoendrys Gomez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Doubles, scores in win Friday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 9:03 AM
Walls went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored in Friday's 3-0 win over the Giants.
Analysis: It was Walls' first multi-hit game since April 12 after he went 5-for-41 (.122) with one extra-base hit over his previous 13 games. The shortstop has his average back over the Mendoza Line with a .210/.310/.258 slash line that includes three doubles, four RBI, 10 runs scored, five stolen bases and an 8:21 BB:K across 75 plate appearances this season. |
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Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Swats ninth homer Friday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:58 AM
Caminero went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Friday's 3-0 win over the Giants.
Analysis: The third baseman took Robbie Ray deep for his ninth homer of the season in the fourth inning. Caminero snapped a five-game homerless drought with the long ball and is now slashing .258/.328/.508 with the nine homers, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 13:23 BB:K across 134 trips to the plate. His flyball rate has ticked up to 40.8 percent this season while his bat speed (79.7 mph) is in the 100th percentile. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Notches eighth save Friday
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:54 AM
Baker picked up the save in Friday's 3-0 win over the Giants, firing a hitless and scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout.
Analysis: After blowing a save against the Pirates on April 18, Baker has now tossed four consecutive scoreless innings, recording a save in four straight appearances. With Griffin Jax working on becoming a starter for Tampa Bay, Baker appears to have a stranglehold on the closer gig. He's 8-for-10 in save opportunities and has logged a 2.92 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB across 12.1 innings. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Shuts out Giants over six innings
Sat, May 2, 2026, 8:50 AM
McClanahan (3-2) earned the win Friday against the Giants, scattering five hits and no walks with five strikeouts across six scoreless innings.
Analysis: McClanahan has now blanked the Twins and Giants over 11 total innings in back-to-back starts after he was hammered for four runs on eight hits versus Detroit on April 19. The left-hander has his strikeout stuff working again this season and generated 14 whiffs on 73 pitches Friday night. His fastball velocity sat at 95.3 mph, and McClanahan has lowered his ERA to 3.10 with his latest scoreless outing. His 2.86 FIP suggests McClanahan's stellar results have been legit, and he also owns a 1.17 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB across 29 innings. McClanahan is lined up to take the ball at home against the Blue Jays next week. |
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