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Jonathan Heasley Jonathan Heasley Outrighted to Triple-A
Sat, May 30, 2026, 1:10 PM
Heasley cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Heasley had a brief stint with the big-league club this week, allowing five runs over four innings in an appearance May 27. He was DFA'd on Friday and is now back with Durham. Heasley has a career 6.04 ERA over 143 major-league regular-season innings, so he's likely to serve as bullpen depth for when the big club needs an extra arm. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Back in lineup Saturday
Sat, May 30, 2026, 11:39 AM
Walls (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth for the Rays on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Walls missed each of Tampa Bay's past three games due to a hamstring issue, but he's feeling well enough to return to action Saturday. Three different players started at shortstop for the Rays while Walls was sidelined, and Ben Williamson -- who played the position Friday -- is sliding over to second base for Saturday's matchup. |
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Hunter Bigge Hunter Bigge Relegated to Durham
Sat, May 30, 2026, 10:58 AM
The Rays optioned Bigge to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: The 27-year-old will end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room in the bullpen for Cole Sulser (back), who returned from the injured list Saturday. Bigge owns a 6.98 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 19.1 innings with the Rays this season and gave up three earned runs without recording an out during his last appearance Friday. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Returns from IL
Sat, May 30, 2026, 10:55 AM
The Rays reinstated Sulser (back) from the injured list Saturday.
Analysis: Sulser didn't play in any rehab games while recovering from a lower-back strain, but he has been facing live hitters over the past few days and will now rejoin the Rays' bullpen following a minimum-length IL stay. The 36-year-old righty will presumably reclaim a setup role after posting a 3.68 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 22 innings on the year. Hunter Bigge was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Throwing bullpen sessions
Fri, May 29, 2026, 11:14 PM
Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez is tossing bullpen sessions, but the Rays seem to be taking a cautious approach with his throwing program. The right-hander underwent surgery to repair a right elbow flexor strain back on Aug. 8 of last year, and the hope remains that Rodriguez will still be able to return to action at some point in June or July. |
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Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Closing in on return
Fri, May 29, 2026, 11:09 PM
Manager Kevin Cash says Sulser (back) should return to the Rays "pretty soon," MLB.com reports .
Analysis: Sulser has been facing hitters in live batting practice and is progressing well from a lower-back strain. It sounds like the 36-year-old right-hander will be able to dodge a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Through 22 innings, Sulser has a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB. |
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Steven Wilson Steven Wilson Targeting bullpens in early June
Fri, May 29, 2026, 11:03 PM
The Rays hope Wilson (back) will be able to start bullpen sessions June 8, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wilson is only playing catch at this point, but Tampa Bay is optimistic he'll be able to advance his throwing program early next month. The right-hander has been sidelined since the spring due to lumbar disk inflammation as well as an appendectomy. Last regular season, Wilson posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings with the White Sox. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Escapes jam for 15th save
Fri, May 29, 2026, 10:18 PM
Baker collected the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Angels, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: The Rays put up seven of their eight runs in the seventh inning, and the team brought Baker out for the ninth to protect its three-run lead. It was by no means an easy outing, as he loaded the bases while logging two strikeouts before securing the save by getting Vaughn Grissom to pop out. Baker is up to 15 saves (on 18 chances) this season, which is third most in the majors behind Cade Smith (20) and Mason Miller (17). Baker has a 2.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB across 23.1 innings this season. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda Another multi-hit game
Fri, May 29, 2026, 10:13 PM
Aranda went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during the Rays' 8-5 win over the Angels on Friday.
Analysis: Aranda contributed to the Rays' seven-run seventh inning with a solo home run that gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead. It was his 10th deep ball of the season, and he's close to matching his 14 home runs in the 2025 regular season (across 422 plate appearances). Aranda has logged at least two hits in four consecutive games and is on a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 12-for-25 (.480) with two home runs and seven RBI. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Two-homer day vs. Halos
Fri, May 29, 2026, 9:57 PM
Diaz went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI during the Rays' 8-5 win over the Angels on Friday.
Analysis: Diaz put the Rays on the board early, taking the second pitch he saw from Walbert Urena deep to right field for a leadoff home run. Diaz proceeded to kick-start the Rays' seven-run seventh inning with a two-run blast, marking his first multi-homer game since Aug. 2 against the Dodgers. He's up to 10 home runs on the season, six of which have come in 21 games since May 1. Diaz's .313 batting average leads the American League, and he also ranks sixth in the AL in OBP (.392) and seventh in both slugging percentage (.523) and hits (61) across 222 plate appearances. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Another quality start
Fri, May 29, 2026, 9:50 PM
Martinez (5-1) earned the win against the Angels on Friday, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five across seven innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Martinez allowed at least two baserunners in three of the first five innings of his start. However, he minimized the damage to two runs and stretched his start through the seventh inning to secure his seventh quality start of the season, which is tied for fourth most in the American League. Martinez sits at a 1.62 ERA over 66.2 innings, which is second best in the majors among qualified starters this season, only behind Cam Schlittler (1.50). Martinez's next start is slated for next week at home against the Tigers. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson X-rays negative
Fri, May 29, 2026, 9:06 PM
X-rays on Williamson's left hand came back negative following his removal from Friday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Williamson took a 98.6-mph sinker off his left hand in the sixth inning of Friday's contest, but he seemingly escaped the incident without any severe damage. Manager Kevin Cash added that the 25-year-old could play Saturday, though the Rays may err on the side of caution and give him a day off to recover. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Exits after HBP
Fri, May 29, 2026, 7:46 PM
Williamson was removed from Friday's game against the Angels after getting hit on the hand by a pitch, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Williamson had been making his return from a back strain that sent him to the injured list last week, but he was pulled from Friday's contest immediately after taking a 98.6-mph sinker off his left hand in the sixth inning. He'll presumably head in for X-rays to determine whether he suffered a fracture, and Tampa Bay may have more information on his status after the game. |
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Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Suffers setback with shoulder
Fri, May 29, 2026, 3:14 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Uceta (shoulder) suffered a setback and received a PRP injection, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Uceta is now in wait-and-see mode, according to Cash. The 28-year-old Uceta has been on the injured list all season with a right shoulder impingement and now appears to be looking at an even lengthier absence. Uceta went 10-3 across 70 appearances out of the Rays' bullpen last season, logging a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 103:27 K:BB in 76 innings. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Remains out of lineup Friday
Fri, May 29, 2026, 2:07 PM
Walls (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Despite the off day Thursday, Walls still isn't ready to return to the lineup and will miss a third straight start. Ben Williamson, just activated from the injured list Friday, will start at shortstop and bat sixth for Tampa Bay. |
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Jonathan Heasley Jonathan Heasley DFA'd by Tampa Bay
Fri, May 29, 2026, 12:46 PM
The Rays designated Heasley for assignment Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Tampa Bay is bringing up a fresh arm in Andrew Wantz, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Heasley threw 64 pitches across four innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Orioles, allowing five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. |
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Andrew Wantz Andrew Wantz Promoted to Tampa Bay
Fri, May 29, 2026, 12:45 PM
The Rays selected Wantz's contract from Triple-A Durham on Friday.
Analysis: Wantz will join a big-league squad for the first time since 2024 after missing all of last season coming off elbow surgery. With Triple-A Durham, Wantz posted a 7.04 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB in 23 innings. Tampa Bay optioned Carson Williams in order to make room for Wantz on the active roster. |
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Carson Williams Carson Williams Sent back to Triple-A
Fri, May 29, 2026, 12:42 PM
The Rays optioned Williams to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With Ben Williamson (back) returning from the injured list, Williams will head back to the minors. The 22-year-old has really struggled at the plate across his first 139 big-league trips to the dish, slashing a paltry .155/.204/.302 with five homers, 15 RBI, 17 runs scored, two stolen bases and an 8:55 BB:K. He's hit .100 with a .290 OPS across 33 plate appearances this season. |
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Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Activated from injured list
Fri, May 29, 2026, 12:39 PM
The Rays activated Williamson (back) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With Williamson returning from his lower-back strain, Carson Williams is being sent back to Triple-A Durham. Williamson last played May 12 and has slashed .268/.349/.339 with zero homers, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 14:24 BB:K across 127 plate appearances this season while mainly seeing action at second base. |
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Steven Matz Steven Matz Tagged for six runs during loss
Wed, May 27, 2026, 11:25 PM
Matz (4-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over three innings.
Analysis: Things unraveled quickly for Matz in the opening inning. After issuing a leadoff walk, the left-hander surrendered a two-run homer to Gunnar Henderson before allowing five of the next six batters to reach base, leading to a five-run frame. Matz managed to complete just two more innings afterward, and the six runs allowed marked a season high. After he had held opponents to two or fewer earned runs in six of his previous eight starts, the southpaw now owns a 4.67 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB across 44.1 innings. Matz is scheduled to face Detroit next. |
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