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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Stuck in short side of platoon
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 2:45 PM
Fortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Fortes still looks to be part of a platoon at catcher with the left-handed-hitting Hunter Feduccia. After making four straight starts -- all against left-handed pitching -- to begin the week, Fortes has hit the bench for the last two games in favor of Feduccia while the Rays have opposed right-handed starters. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Stuck in platoon role
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 2:43 PM
Vilade is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Vilade recently wrap up a stretch of five consecutive starts -- four against lefties, one against a righty -- during which he went 5-for-15 with two walks, a double, a stolen base, a run and an RBI, but he'll be on the bench for a second straight game. Both of those absences have come versus right-handed pitching, so the Rays still seem to be viewing Vilade as a short-side platoon player. |
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Hunter Feduccia Hunter Feduccia Making second straight start
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 2:40 PM
Feduccia will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Feduccia will stick behind the plate for a second straight game, following a recent four-game stretch in which Nick Fortes received the starting nod at catcher in each of those contests. All four of Fortes' starts came while the Rays faced left-handed pitching, so Feduccia still looks to be occupying the strong side of a platoon. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Filling in for Walls on Sunday
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 2:38 PM
Williamson will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Williamson will draw his fifth start in six games, this time filling in for a resting Taylor Walls at shortstop. Each of Williamson's previous four starts came against left-handed pitching, and he still appears to be occupying the short side of a platoon with Richie Palacios at second base. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Getting break Sunday
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 2:36 PM
Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: The Rays will give Walls a rest after he started at shortstop each of the past three days while going a collective 4-for-8 with two walks, two stolen bases, one run and one RBI. Ben Williamson will cover shortstop in Walls' stead in the series finale. |
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Casey Legumina Casey Legumina Working as opener
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 1:12 PM
Legumina will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Legumina will make his first start of the season after posting a 2.04 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 17.2 innings since the Rays acquired him from the Mariners in late April. The right-hander will likely cover an inning or two Sunday before giving way to the bullpen, with Ian Seymour likely to work as the Rays' primary pitcher. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Likely to follow opener
Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 1:07 PM
Seymour won't start Sunday's game against the Angels but is expected to work behind opener Casey Legumina, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Seymour made his second start of the season in his previous appearance Monday versus Boston, where he allowed just one run while setting season highs in pitches (55) and innings (four). The left-hander is expected to fill the bulk role Sunday, though the Rays haven't officially confirmed those plans and could go in a different direction. It's been an up-and-down campaign for Seymour, who has a 4.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB over 35 innings. |
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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Sitting out Saturday
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 6:41 PM
Fortes is not in the lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Angels, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Analysis: Despite picking up five hits and scoring five runs in his past two starts, including going 4-for-4 on Wednesday against Boston, the Rays will elect to sit Fortes on Saturday. Hunter Feduccia will start at catcher in place of Fortes and bat eighth in the lineup. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Shuttled back to minors
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 5:36 PM
Tampa Bay optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: In his most recent stint with the Rays, Englert pitched in two games, allowing just one run on four hits with a 6:2 K:BB over nine innings. He threw 65 pitches while covering four frames Friday against the Angels, so he was likely going to be unavailable for a few days, and Tampa Bay decided to send him down to make room for Craig Kimbrel (wrist) to return from the injured list. Englert could be back with Tampa Bay the next time the team needs a reliever capable of covering multiple innings on the big-league roster. |
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Craig Kimbrel Craig Kimbrel Returns from IL
Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 5:31 PM
The Rays activated Kimbrel (wrist) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.
Analysis: Kimbrel landed on the IL due to a right wrist strain in late May, and he ended up needing only the minimum amount of time on the shelf. The veteran reliever will now resume his low-leverage role in Tampa Bay's bullpen. He has pitched in just one game since joining the team off waivers May 26, tossing a scoreless inning against Baltimore. |
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Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Notches second save
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 3:48 PM
Cleavinger gave up one run on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Red Sox. He struck out one.
Analysis: A solo shot by Caleb Durbin accounted for the damage off Cleavinger, who got the call in a save situation with Bryan Baker having pitched the prior two days. The long ball was only the second Cleavinger has served up this season, and through 15.1 innings he's produced a 4.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB in 15.1 innings while recording one win and eight holds over 17 appearances, in addition to his two saves. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Career-high 13 Ks in win
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 3:44 PM
Rasmussen (6-2) picked up the win Wednesday, scattering two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings during a 7-5 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out 13.
Analysis: The right-hander set a career high in strikeouts while recording 20 whiffs among his 97 pitches (66 total strikes). Rasmussen has held the opposition off the board in three of his last four trips to the mound, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 32:4 K:BB in 25 innings over that sizzling stretch. He faces a tough test in his next start, which is set to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Keeps rolling Wednesday
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 3:08 PM
Diaz went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-5 win over Boston.
Analysis: Diaz turned in his seventh game of the season with at least three hits Wednesday. The 34-year-old designated hitter is raking of late, hitting safely in seven consecutive outings while collecting eight RBI during that stretch. For the year, Diaz is slashing a potent .331/.404/.536 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 46 RBI over 272 plate appearances. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Receiving nod at keystone Wednesday
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 9:44 AM
Williamson will start at second base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Williamson suffered an injury scare back on May 29, when he was hit on the left hand by a pitch and needed to be removed from a game against the Angels. After X-rays returned negative, Williamson was back in the lineup a day later, and he's now drawn eight starts out of the middle infield in the Rays' last 12 games. Four of those starts have come against left-handed pitchers, and two of the starts against righties came while Taylor Walls was out of the lineup due to a hamstring injury, so the Rays may still be viewing Williamson largely as a short-side platoon player. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Idle again Wednesday
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 9:27 AM
Mesa is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Mesa will remain on the bench for the third time in as many days while the Rays have faced off against left-handed starting pitchers in all three games of their series with the Red Sox. The Rays will go with Austin Slater in right field in place of Mesa, who is batting just .176 with one home run, three RBI and four runs in 12 games for Tampa Bay since being promoted from Triple-A Durham on May 24. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Exiting lineup Wednesday
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 9:24 AM
Simpson is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Red Sox.
Analysis: Simpson returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing three starts with left thumb soreness. He went hitless in that contest and the left-handed hitter will now sit out Wednesday's matinee versus Boston southpaw Jake Bennett. Ryan Vilade will cover left field for the Rays. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Tallies three hits Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 8:12 PM
Vilade went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored during the Rays' 4-3 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday.
Analysis: Vilade crossed home in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Cedric Mullins, the first run for the Rays in Tuesday's win. It was the seventh multi-hit game of the season for Vilade, two of which have come over his last four games. He's in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and over that span he has gone 9-for-21 (.429) with a steal, five RBI and three extra-base hits. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Collects 18th save
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 8:05 PM
Baker earned the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox after tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis: Baker was brought out for a second-straight night to close things out for the Rays, and he needed just 13 pitches (seven strikes) to do so Tuesday. He's converted seven-straight save opportunities, and his 18 saves are tied with Mason Miller for second-most in the majors behind Cade Smith (21). Given that he's come out of the bullpen in two consecutive games, it's unlikely that Baker will be deployed for Wednesday's series finale against Boston. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Quality start vs. Boston
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 7:58 PM
Martinez (6-2) earned the win against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two across seven innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Martinez was efficient through his first seven innings, yielding just one run while tossing only 67 pitches. He was brought back out for the eighth inning but proceeded to give up three-straight hits, including a two-run double to Marcelo Mayer, before being pulled. Still, Martinez came away with his eighth quality start of the season, four of which have come over his last five starts. He'll take a 2.43 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 77.2 innings into his next start, which is slated for next week on the road against the Dodgers. |
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Sidelined at Single-A
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 2:27 PM
Pierce is on the 7-day injured list at Single-A Charleston due to an undisclosed injury.
Analysis: He missed time earlier this season with a calf strain, per Ian Cundall of Baseball America, so it could be an aggravation of that injury. Pierce, the No. 14 overall pick in last year's draft, is hitting .252 with four home runs, six steals and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate in 34 games at Single-A. |
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