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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Brilliant campaign continues
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 9:58 PM
Baker threw a clean ninth inning to notch the save Wednesday against Toronto. He struck out one.
Analysis: The All-Star closer continued his masterful campaign, turning in his 25th consecutive save Wednesday. He's been scored upon just one time in his last 18 outings as well. Baker sports a 1.44 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 56:16 K:BB with an MLB-leading 36 saves in 39 attempts across 50 innings. |
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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Nabs win No. 13 on Wednesday
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 9:52 PM
Rasmussen (13-5) notched the win against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out five.
Analysis: The Rays scored seven runs through four innings, offering Rasmussen plenty of support to get the hurler credited with the win. The five runs allowed were his most since July 9 against the Yankees, but the right-hander still notably registered the win in a sixth straight start. Rasmussen will carry a stellar 3.01 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 138:25 K:BB over 134.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Tigers. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade Playing time ticking up
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 1:56 PM
Vilade will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's contest versus the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Most of the right-handed-hitting Vilade's playing time this season has come against lefties, but he could see semi-regular reps versus righties while Victor Mesa (hamstring) is on the injured list. Vilade will be making his third start in the last three contests, and two of them have come versus right-handers. Vilade sports an .868 OPS against lefties in 2026, but he's held his own against righties with a .748 OPS. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Move to IL official
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 1:43 PM
The Rays placed Mesa on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a left hamstring strain.
Analysis: Mesa had missed out on three straight starts on account of tightness in the same hamstring before he made his return to the lineup for Tuesday's 10-5 loss to the Blue Jays. He was unable to finish out the game, however, after he aggravated the injury early in the contest. Mesa will now get some more time off to recover, and though the Rays aren't committing to a timeline for his return, manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that he's hopeful the outfielder will spend the minimum 10 days on the shelf, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca are likely to see most of the reps in right field during Mesa's absence. |
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Jesse Scholtens Jesse Scholtens Sent down after extended relief outing
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:41 PM
The Rays optioned Scholtens to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Scholtens allowed two runs over a four-inning relief outing in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. Since he would have been unavailable to pitch for a few days, the Rays are replacing Scholtens on the roster with a fresh reliever in Chris Roycroft. |
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Chris Roycroft Chris Roycroft Recalled from Triple-A
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:35 PM
The Rays recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Roycroft has been bludgeoned for 14 runs over 17.1 frames out of the Rays' bullpen this season. He will give the Rays a fresh bullpen arm after the team's relievers covered 5.1 innings in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. |
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Kenny Piper Kenny Piper Back in majors as third catcher
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:31 PM
The Rays recalled Piper from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Piper picked up one hit (his first in the majors) in five plate appearances for the Rays earlier this season. He will serve as the team's No. 3 catcher. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Likely headed to injured list
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:29 PM
The Rays are likely to place Mesa (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mesa aggravated a left hamstring injury in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. There's no word yet on the severity, but Mesa will need some time on the IL to recover. Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade could see increased reps in right field while Mesa is sidelined. |
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Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Rocked for six runs in loss
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 9:26 PM
Martinez (12-4) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out five across 3.2 innings.
Analysis: The Rays needed a long outing from Martinez after the team heavily leaned on its bullpen during the previous four-game series against the Orioles. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Martinez didn't have his best stuff Tuesday, yielding two runs in the first, third and fourth innings while running his pitch count up to 82 (56 strikes, six whiffs). It was the first time this season that the veteran right-hander failed to complete four innings in a start and the third time in his last four outings that he's given up at least four runs. Martinez will take a 3.05 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 141.2 innings into his next start, lined up for this weekend against the Orioles at Camden Yards. |
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Yandy Diaz Yandy Diaz Another multi-hit game
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 9:17 PM
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a run scored during the Rays' 10-5 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Analysis: Diaz extended his hitting streak to nine games Tuesday, during which he's logged six multi-hit games while going 18-for-40 (.450) with three home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored. He ranks third in the majors with 145 hits, and his .306 batting average is seventh-best among qualified hitters. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Aggravates hamstring Tuesday
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 8:38 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said Mesa aggravated his left hamstring injury Tuesday and could require a trip to the 10-day injured list, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Mesa was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing the previous three contests. He was hit by a pitch in the second inning against Toronto and was lifted for a pinch hitter ahead of his second plate appearance in the fourth. Mesa is slashing .214/.288/.447 across 179 trips to the plate this season and has three multi-hit games this month. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Rehab start on tap
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 2:32 PM
Manager Kevin Cash said Jax (elbow) is expected to make a rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The right-hander threw live batting practice with no issues and is now on the cusp of returning to game action. Jax landed on the injured list Aug. 9 due to the elbow issue and received an injection a couple days later. He was only briefly shut down from throwing and may need just one outing in the minors before being cleared to rejoin Tampa Bay's rotation. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Good to go Tuesday
Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 2:27 PM
Mesa (hamstring) is starting in right field and batting sixth Tuesday against the Blue jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The 24-year-old didn't start the past three games after exiting Friday's contest due to left hamstring tightness, but he's back in action Tuesday against Toronto righty Jose Soriano. Mesa has been performing well at the plate lately with five extra-base hits (two homers) and a .955 OPS across his last eight games. |
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Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Records five-out save
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 8:36 PM
Baker struck out two while allowing one hit and no walks in 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save Monday against the Orioles.
Analysis: In a pivotal American League East matchup Monday, the Rays turned to Baker to record more than three outs for the first time this season. The All-Star right-hander continues to be a lights-out closer, last blowing a save May 13 in Toronto. Through 49 innings, Baker boasts a 1.47 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 55:16 K:BB with an MLB-high 35 saves (38 attempts). |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Rusty in return Monday
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 8:19 PM
McClanahan took a no-decision against the Orioles on Monday, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Making his return from the injured list, McClanahan showed signs of rust on the major-league mound following a one-start rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham. The Rays appeared to have a strict workload limit in place for the left-hander, who threw only 57 pitches (35 strikes), but he should see those restrictions loosen as he becomes further removed from his bout of left mid-back tightness. McClanahan is set to take a 3.25 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 94:35 K:BB over 102.1 innings into a road rematch with Baltimore. |
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Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Taking seat Monday
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 2:10 PM
Walls is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Walls is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, but he'll put it on hold for a night as the Rays give him some rest. Jorge Mateo will step in at shortstop in place of Walls, who is still slashing just .240/.296/.360 since the All-Star break in spite of his recent hot stretch at the dish. |
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Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Remains out Monday
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 2:09 PM
Mesa (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Mesa hasn't started a game since exiting Friday's series opener due to left hamstring tightness, though he appeared as a pinch hitter Saturday. The outfielder is considered day-to-day. Ryan Vilade will handle right field for the Rays on Monday. |
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Joe Boyle Joe Boyle Moves to Triple-A
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 1:21 PM
The Rays optioned Boyle to Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Analysis: Boyle's stay with the Rays lasted two days, with the right-hander striking out five and allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks over 3.1 innings of relief in his lone appearance during Sunday's 10-2 loss to the Orioles. He'll give up his spot on the active roster to left-hander Shane McClanahan (back), who was reinstated ahead of his scheduled start in Monday's series finale. |
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Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Reinstated ahead of Monday's start
Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 1:20 PM
The Rays activated McClanahan (back) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Monday againt the Orioles at Tropicana Field.
Analysis: McClanahan will make his return to the Rays after being shelved for almost three weeks with mid-back tightness. The left-hander fanned two batters over three perfect innings in his lone rehab start with Triple-A Durham last Tuesday. McClahahan threw just 30 pitches in that outing and hasn't reached 50 pitches in a start since July 24, so his workload Monday will be somewhat abbreviated. |
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Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Closing in on return
Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 9:04 PM
Rodriguez (elbow) has a 6.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 7.1 innings during his minor-league rehab assignment.
Analysis: Rodriguez pitched back-to-back days for Triple-A Durham on Friday and Saturday, which is likely the final hurdle that he had left to climb before joining the Rays, per MLB.com. The right-hander is just about fully recovered from right elbow surgery he underwent in August of last year, and Rodriguez could be activated from the injured list as early as this week. |
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