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Tampa Bay Rays

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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Sitting Saturday Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 11:26 AM Diaz isn't in the Rays' lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: After going 2-for-2 with a homer and two RBI in his return from a hamstring injury Friday, Diaz will get a breather for the Rays' penultimate game of the season. Isaac Paredes will shift to first base with Curtis Mead at second base, Junior Caminero at third and Taylor Walls starting at shortstop.
Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Homers in return Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 10:58 AM Diaz went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run Friday against the Blue Jays. Analysis: Diaz had been sidelined after missing two games caused by hamstring tightness. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Diaz is still feeling discomfort and did state some concern about running the bases. With the Rays locked into the playoffs, the team could opt to take it easy with their primary leadoff hitter across the final two games of the regular season.
Erasmo Ramirez Erasmo Ramirez Designated for assignment Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 10:19 AM Ramirez was designated for assignment Saturday. Analysis: Ramirez pitched three innings Friday, allowing four earned on eight hits. He has not had a good September, posting a 6.92 ERA in 12.0 innings. In a corresponding move, Cooper Criswell was recalled from Triple-A.
Cooper Criswell Cooper Criswell Summoned from Triple-A Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 10:10 AM Criswell was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Saturday. Analysis: Criswell is back in the majors for the first time since Aug. 19, when he tossed two innings out of the bullpen while serving as the Rays' 27th man for a doubleheader with the Angels. The right-hander's final appearance in the minors came Tuesday, when he struck out two over two scoreless innings. He could be deployed as a bulk reliever in Saturday's game in Toronto behind Shawn Armstrong, who is set to open the game but is unlikely to cover more than 1-to-3 innings.
Shawn Armstrong Shawn Armstrong Set to open Saturday's game Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 9:35 AM Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Saturday would have been Zack Littell's turn in the rotation, but he ended up covering 1.1 innings in relief in Friday's 11-4 loss. The Rays also deployed another starting pitcher in Taj Bradley for one inning in relief Friday, likely in a deliberate attempt by manager Kevin Cash to keep all of his rotation options available for a possible wild-card round matchup with this same Blue Jays squad. As a result, the Rays look poised to lean on a melange of relievers to cover the final two games of the regular season, with Armstrong leading off Saturday's contest. Armstrong hasn't covered more than three innings in any of his appearances in the majors or minors this season, so he's unlikely to work deep into Saturday's game to qualify for a win.
Taj Bradley Taj Bradley Comes out of bullpen against Jays Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 9:30 AM Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits in an innings of relief. He struck out one without walking a batter. Analysis: The rookie right-hander tossed 21 pitches (16 strikes) in his brief appearance, but this usage doesn't necessarily mean Bradley is shifting to the bullpen for the postseason. With Tampa Bay already locked into the top wild-card spot in the American League and likely to face Toronto to begin the playoffs next week, manager Kevin Cash elected not to give the opposition a good look at any of the starting pitchers the Rays might be using -- Aaron Civale got the start but left the mound after 40 pitches, while Zack Littell also tossed 35 pitches in relief. Bradley finishes the regular season with a shaky 5.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through his first 103.2 big-league innings, but the 22-year-old righty's 129:39 K:BB highlights his upside.
Zack Littell Zack Littell Gets used in relief Friday Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 9:25 AM Littell didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, coughing up three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 relief innings. He struck out one. Analysis: Aaron Civale tossed 40 pitches as the starting pitcher and was charged with the loss during a game in which the Rays never led, but both Littell (35 pitches) and Taj Bradley (21 pitches) also saw action out of the bullpen as manager Kevin Cash wanted to keep all his options open for his playoff rotation, while not giving Toronto -- Tampa's likely opponent in the wild-card round -- a good look at any of them. Littell closes the books on a regular season that saw him post a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 74:12 K:BB through 90 innings split between the Rays and Red Sox.
Aaron Civale Aaron Civale Abbreviated outing Friday Sat, Sep 30, 2023, 9:19 AM Civale (7-5) took the loss Friday as the Rays were routed 11-4 by the Blue Jays, giving up one run on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out three. Analysis: With Tampa Bay already locked into the top wild-card spot in the American League and likely to face Toronto to begin the playoffs next week, manager Kevin Cash elected not to give the opposition a good look at any of the starting pitchers the Rays might be using. Civale got the hook after 40 pitches (21 strikes), while Zack Littell (35 pitches) and Taj Bradley (21 pitches) also saw action out of the bullpen. All three right-handers figure to be available when the AL Wild Card Series begins Tuesday. Civale finishes the regular season with a 3.46 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 116:33 K:BB through 122.1 innings split between Tampa Bay and Cleveland, but his ratios since being acquired by the Rays (5.36 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 45.1 IP) are far less impressive.
Osleivis Basabe Osleivis Basabe Pulled with sore shoulder Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 9:13 PM Basabe was removed from Friday's loss to the Blue Jays with left shoulder soreness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Basabe fell hard on his shoulder while diving for a ball at third base and it's unclear what his availability might be for the Rays' final two regular-season games. The 23-year-old was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts prior to his early exit Friday at Toronto.
Josh Lowe Josh Lowe Sitting versus lefty Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 3:11 PM Lowe is not in the lineup Friday against the Blue Jays. Analysis: Randy Arozarena, Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez will start across the outfield as the Rays roll with an all-right-handed lineup versus Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. The lefty-swinging Lowe has slashed just .220/.270/.390 in 63 plate appearances this year against southpaws.
Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Sitting amid slump Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 3:08 PM Walls is absent from the lineup Friday at Toronto. Analysis: Junior Caminero is playing shortstop and batting sixth as Curtis Mead handles second base and hits third. Walls, 27, has slashed just .125/.250/.208 with 21 strikeouts over his last 57 plate appearances dating back to Sept. 7.
Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Back in lineup Friday Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 3:05 PM Diaz (hamstring) is back in the lineup Friday against the Blue Jays. Analysis: Diaz will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and leadoff man after missing two straight games because of right hamstring tightness. Isaac Paredes is playing first base Friday with Osleivis Basabe covering third.
Josh Lowe Josh Lowe Swats homer No. 20 Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 9:53 AM Lowe went 3-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Red Sox. Analysis: His second-inning shot off Brayan Bello proved to be the only offense Tyler Glasnow and the Tampa Bay bullpen would need. Lowe has hit safely in nine straight starts, batting .389 (14-for-36) over that stretch to boost his season slash line to .290/.333/.496 with 20 homers, 32 steals, 69 runs and 81 RBI in 133 contests.
Tyler Glasnow Tyler Glasnow Blanks BoSox for 10th win Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 9:50 AM Glasnow (10-7) picked up the win in Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the Red Sox, allowing two hits and a walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out nine. Analysis: The southpaw left the mound after just 70 pitches (45 strikes) with the postseason in mind, but Glasnow was dominant before his exit, generating an incredible 31 called or swinging strikes. Whiffs have come easily for him in September even if nothing else has, and Glasnow has a 4.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 48:10 K:BB through 33.1 innings on the month. The 30-year-old figures to start the first game of the playoff for the Rays, but as yet it's not clear when that will happen or who their opponent will be, as they could still catch the Orioles for the AL East title and a first-round bye.
Aaron Civale Aaron Civale Lined up for Friday Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 3:52 PM Civale (illness) is scheduled to start Friday's series opener versus the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Civale needed a couple extra days of rest between starts after coming down with an illness earlier this week. The 28-year-old has registered a 5.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 55:9 K:BB in 43.2 innings (nine starts) for the Rays since being acquired from the Guardians just before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Luke Raley Luke Raley Nears swinging workouts Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 3:34 PM Raley (neck) is hoping to resume swinging a bat over the weekend, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. Analysis: Raley is recovering from a cervical strain and can probably be ruled out for a return in the regular season, but there's a chance he might be ready for the Rays' first postseason series. The 29-year-old had delivered an .824 OPS with 19 homers and 14 steals in 118 games prior to being diagnosed with the injury last week.
Jose Siri Jose Siri Ready for baseball activities Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 3:29 PM Siri (hand) is scheduled to resume baseball activities Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. Analysis: Siri suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand earlier this month when he was hit by a pitch, but he is aiming to be ready for the beginning of postseason play. The 28-year-old outfielder had registered a .761 OPS with 25 homers and 12 steals in 101 games for the Rays prior to landing on the injured list Sept. 12.
Rene Pinto Rene Pinto Takes seat Wednesday Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:12 PM Pinto is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Red Sox. Analysis: Pinto contributed a two-run homer to the Rays' 9-7 win at Boston on Tuesday, but he'll grab a breather during Wednesday's series finale as Christian Bethancourt starts behind the plate.
Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Out again with tight hamstring Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:09 PM Diaz (hamstring) remains out of the lineup Wednesday at Boston. Analysis: Diaz made an early exit from Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays due to right hamstring tightness and is now on the bench for a second straight game. Isaac Paredes will play first base for the Rays on Wednesday versus the Red Sox as Junior Caminero covers third base.
Randy Arozarena Randy Arozarena Back in lineup Wednesday Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:06 PM Arozarena (quadriceps) is back in the lineup Wednesday at Boston. Analysis: Arozarena will start in left field and bat third versus the Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello after missing three straight games because of right quad tightness. The 28-year-old has tallied 23 homers, 83 RBI, 22 steals and 92 runs scored across 148 games this season for Tampa Bay.