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Nick Fortes Nick Fortes Smacks solo homer
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 9:42 PM
Fortes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday in a 2-0 win over the Phillies.
Analysis: Fortes made a rare start versus southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, taking the left-hander yard in the second inning. Liam Hicks has taken over as Tampa Bay's primary backstop since the trade deadline, likely leaving Fortes with scant playing time in the playoffs. Through 294 at-bats, Fortes is hitting .262 with six homers, 35 RBI, 12 walks and 33 runs scored. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Earns save against Philadelphia
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 9:09 PM
Baker collected the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Phillies, tossing one scoreless inning without allowing a hit or walk.
Analysis: Baker needed only 11 pitches (eight strikes) to get through the ninth inning, with five of those pitches coming on the final out. The veteran closer has earned the win or save five of his last six outings, and his 41 saves are tied with Cade Smith for most in the majors this season. Baker has a 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 63:22 K:BB over 62.1 innings. |
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Freddy Peralta Freddy Peralta Collects 10th win of season
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 9:02 PM
Peralta (10-11) earned the win against the Phillies on Friday, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out four across 5.1 scoreless innings.
Analysis: Peralta lost six of 11 starts from June 20 to August 21, but the veteran right-hander ended the regular season strongly with five wins over his last six outings. Friday's outing was his fifth start in which he gave up zero earned runs while tossing five or more innings, generating 12 whiffs and seven ground outs in the process. He'll finish the regular season with a 4.42 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 156:63 K:BB over 169 innings. The Rays will enter the playoffs as the top seed, so Peralta will have additional rest before toeing the rubber for the ALDS. |
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Chandler Simpson Chandler Simpson Pulled early with injury
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 7:36 PM
Simpson was removed from Friday's game against the Phillies with an apparent foot injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Simpson initially remained in the game after fouling a ball after fouling a ball off his foot in the sixth inning but was eventually pulled in the seventh. The Rays don't plan to send him in for X-rays, per Topkin, so Simpson appears to have escaped the incident with only a bruise and some mild soreness. Ryan Vilade could be called upon to make an extra start if the Rays sit Simpson as a precaution, but the latter isn't expected to miss extended time. |
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Liam Hicks Liam Hicks On bench Friday
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 5:09 PM
Hicks is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Hicks will give way to Nick Fortes behind the plate against lefty Cristopher Sanchez, which is the norm for Tampa Bay against southpaws. The 27-year-old Hicks is enjoying a breakout campaign, and he's been even better by OPS with the Rays (.804) than he was with the Marlins to begin the year (.795). |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Back from injured list
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:08 PM
The Rays reinstated Rodriguez (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Analysis: After logging a trio of rehab appearances with Triple-A Durham, Rodriguez returns to the big-league bullpen, replacing Jake Woodford. Rodriguez has made just four appearances for the Rays so far this season in between IL stints, after taking the ball 31 times for Tampa Bay last regular season. |
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Jake Woodford Jake Woodford Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:03 PM
The Rays designated Woodford for assignment Friday.
Analysis: Woodford was called up Thursday to provide innings, and he ended up allowing three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two over 1.1 frames in the series finale against the Yankees. Manuel Rodriguez (back) was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move. |
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Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Carves up Yankees on Thursday
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:30 PM
Seymour took a no-decision Thursday against the Yankees, striking out three while allowing one hit and no walks in five shutout innings.
Analysis: Seymour cruised Thursday, holding the Yankees to an innocuous single in a dominant start. With Shane McClanahan (forearm) ruled out for the American League Division Series, Seymour's presence on the postseason pitching staff has become ever more important. It's worth noting Seymour fared slightly better out of the bullpen as opposed to the rotation -- the southpaw ends the regular season with a 3.90 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 55.1 innings as a reliever versus a 4.44 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 77 innings as a starter. |
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Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Resting up Thursday
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 3:43 PM
Mullins isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Mullins will get a chance to rest his legs during Thursday's series finale after going 1-for-4 with a solo homer during Wednesday's contest. Jonny DeLuca will take over in center field and bat sixth. |
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Jonathan Aranda Jonathan Aranda On bench Thursday
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 3:40 PM
Aranda isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: After going 1-for-8 with four strikeouts over the first three games of the series, Aranda will grab a seat on the bench to begin Thursday's finale. Ryan Vilade will fill in at first base and bat eighth. |
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Jake Woodford Jake Woodford Contract selected
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 2:09 PM
The Rays selected Woodford's contract from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Woodford will provide some bullpen protection after the Rays' relief corps was needed for 4.1 innings during Wednesday's loss to the Yankees. He's collected a 7.18 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 23 strikeouts across 26.1 innings in the big leagues this season between stops with the Brewers and Cubs. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Sent to Durham
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 2:05 PM
The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Englert was knocked around for eight runs over 3.2 innings during a spot start Wednesday against the Yankees. He's being scrubbed from the active roster in order to make space for Jake Woodford, who will provide the Rays with a fresh bullpen arm. |
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Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Three hits, two steals in loss
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 6:26 AM
DeLuca went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees.
Analysis: DeLuca was one of Tampa Bay's few bright spots in the loss, as he matched a season high with three hits. He'd also swipe a pair of bases, after logging just one steal in his previous 33 games. Overall, the outfielder is slashing .263/.292/.415 across 352 plate appearances this year with nine homers, 47 RBI, 41 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Hit hard in spot start
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 6:04 AM
Englert (0-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing eight runs on nine hits and a walk across 3.2 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: It was a rough night for Englert, who was recalled from Triple-A prior to the game for a spot start. The right-hander gave up four homers in the defeat, highlighted by a Ryan McMahon grand slam in the third inning. Englert will likely finish the regular season with a 5.95 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB across 39.1 innings at the major-league level. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Ruled out for ALDS
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:02 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that McClanahan (forearm) will not be included on the Rays' ALDS roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: McClanahan had already been ruled out for the rest of the regular season due to tightness in his left forearm, and although the Rays will get a bye during the Wild Card Series, he still won't be ready to pitch by the time Tampa Bay begins its postseason run. Cash noted that it's still possible McClanahan will be available for the ALCS if the Rays advance, though they will wait to see where the left-hander is at in his throwing progression at that point before making a decision. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz On bench Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:48 PM
Diaz is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The Rays are starting most of their regulars, Diaz notwithstanding, even after clinching the division and home-field advantage through the ALCS with a win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Victor Mesa will get a turn in the leadoff spot as Jonathan Aranda starts at DH and Ryan Vilade mans first base against right-hander Gerrit Cole. |
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Alex Cook Alex Cook Sent back to minors
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 12:50 PM
The Rays optioned Cook to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Analysis: He's exiting the roster in order to free a spot for Mason Englert, who will make a spot start Wednesday versus the Yankees. Cook has allowed three runs with a 5:2 K:BB across 5.2 frames out of the Rays' bullpen this season. |
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Mason Englert Mason Englert Summoned for spot start
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 12:48 PM
The Rays recalled Englert from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Analysis: One day after the Rays clinched the American League East, they have summoned Englert to make a spot start Wednesday against the Yankees. The 26-year-old has made three starts and 11 relief appearances this season, logging a 4.54 ERA and 32:8 K:BB over 35.2 innings. Englert will be pitching on seven days' rest after tossing seven shutout innings on 84 pitches in his last outing with Durham, so he is prepared for a full workload. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Drives in four in division-clinching win
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:04 AM
Diaz went 2-for-5 with four RBI in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Analysis: After going 0-for-4 in the matinee as the Rays got blanked 2-0, Diaz powered a 6-1 win in the nightcap, driving in a pair of runs in both the seventh and ninth innings with singles. With the victory, Tampa Bay clinched the AL East title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The performance ended a 10-game slump in which Diaz had gone just 3-for-40 (.075) with one RBI, but he still hasn't produced an extra-base hit since Sept. 8. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Three hits in Tuesday's nightcap
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:58 AM
Walls went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Analysis: The shortstop led the charge in a 6-1 win for the Rays that clinched the AL East crown, and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Walls is in the lineup for his defense, not his offense, but despite a hip issue that cost him a good chunk of September, he's put together a .289/.364/.342 slash line over 46 plate appearances since Aug. 28 with two doubles, two steals, five RBI and nine runs in 13 contests. |
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