| News |
|---|
|
Justyn-Henry Malloy Justyn-Henry Malloy Designated for assignment
Sat, May 9, 2026, 1:13 PM
The Rays designated Malloy for assignment Saturday.
Analysis: Malloy has been with Triple-A Durham since the beginning of the season but has struggled mightily, slashing just .128/.273/.266 over 132 plate appearances. His offensive woes will cost him his spot on the 40-man roster as the Rays make room for Aaron Brooks to join the big club. |
|
Mason Englert Mason Englert Optioned to Triple-A
Sat, May 9, 2026, 1:06 PM
The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: Englert pitched 3.1 shutout innings in bulk relief Friday, giving up just two hits and striking out three batters in the process. The 26-year-old righty now owns a 5.63 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 16 big-league innings this year and could be an option for additional long-relief opportunities in the future. Aaron Brooks was selected from Durham in a corresponding move. |
|
Aaron Brooks Aaron Brooks Selected from Triple-A
Sat, May 9, 2026, 12:56 PM
The Rays selected Brooks' contract from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Analysis: Brooks has made two appearances at Durham this season, during which he's given up eight earned runs on 12 hits and five walks while striking out five batters across 8.2 innings. Despite his poor performance, the Rays will bring the 36-year-old up to likely serve in a long-relief role. Mason Englert was optioned to Durham to make room on the active roster, and Justyn-Henry Malloy was DFA'd to clear a 40-man spot. |
|
Jesse Scholtens Jesse Scholtens Allows two homers in loss
Fri, May 8, 2026, 10:10 PM
Scholtens (3-2) took the loss against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Analysis: Scholtens limited the Red Sox to just two hits despite struggling with his command throughout, though both were home runs. It was an improvement from the five-run loss he took in his only other start of the season April 20, and the 32-year-old has now yielded two earned runs or fewer in five of six outings while working mostly in bulk relief. Overall, he owns a 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 27.1 innings. If he draws another start, it would likely come in a road matchup against the Blue Jays next week. |
|
Chase Solesky Chase Solesky Sent to Triple-A
Fri, May 8, 2026, 2:03 PM
The Rays optioned Solesky to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: Solesky was called up for his first taste of the majors this week and will return to Durham without making his big-league debut. The 28-year-old remains on the 40-man roster, but that may not last long given his 6.57 ERA and 1.74 WHIP across 24.2 innings at Triple-A this year. |
|
Mason Englert Mason Englert Reinstated, set to pitch Friday
Fri, May 8, 2026, 1:49 PM
The Rays reinstated Englert (forearm) from the 15-day injured list, and he's expected to pitch in bulk relief Friday against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Analysis: The right-hander has been sidelined nearly three weeks due to forearm tightness but is ready to rejoin the Rays this weekend in Boston. Englert has primarily been used as a reliever this season but is now set to stretch out as a starter. He covered 2.1 frames in his last outing before landing on the injured list and has topped out at 48 pitches this season, so he'll need at least a few outings to get fully stretched out. |
|
Jesse Scholtens Jesse Scholtens Start on tap Friday
Fri, May 8, 2026, 9:18 AM
Scholtens is listed as the Rays' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Scholtens piggybacked Griffin Jax his last time out, but the Rays have elected to separate the two pitchers during this turn through the rotation. Even with Steven Matz (elbow) going on the injured list, it's unclear if Jax or Scholtens will be in line for long looks as starters. Mason Englert (forearm) will be stretched out now that he's off the IL, and Joe Boyle (elbow) could reclaim a starting gig once he's activated, which is expected to happen later this month. |
|
Hunter Bigge Hunter Bigge Picks up first win Thursday
Thu, May 7, 2026, 11:17 PM
Bigge (1-0) was credited with the win Thursday against the Red Sox, striking out one in two clean innings of relief.
Analysis: Bigge is bouncing back nicely from a scary injury in 2025, which occurred when he was struck in the face by a foul ball and carted off the field. Nine of his 11 appearances have been scoreless outings to begin 2026, with the 27-year-old right-hander logging a 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB with four holds across 13 innings. |
|
Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Picks up steal Thursday
Thu, May 7, 2026, 10:08 PM
Mullins went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and one RBI in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: Mullins made a rare start in center field versus a left-handed pitcher (Jake Bennett), but that isn't likely to be the norm moving forward. This was the third lefty the Rays had faced in four days, so Mullins' inclusion in the lineup was likely just to get him some playing time. He was able to swipe a bag for the first time in three tries this month, and he's hitting 4-for-17 (.235) over six games in May. That's not a great mark, but it's better than his .143 average for the season. Mullins has added a .430 OPS, seven steals on 10 attempts, two home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored, two doubles and a triple over 123 plate appearances. Barring a sustained run of good hitting, Mullins is trending toward a part-time role. |
|
Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Logs fifth steal
Thu, May 7, 2026, 10:04 PM
DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: DeLuca was in the lineup for the third time in four games since the Rays have faced three left-handed starters in that stretch. The outfielder is firmly in a short-side platoon role, but he offers a bit of speed and decent contact skills when he plays. He's batting .284 with a .762 OPS, two home runs, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, seven doubles and five steals on six attempts over 86 plate appearances. He has appeared in all seven of the Rays' games in May so far, going 6-for-21 (.286) for the month. |
|
Junior Caminero Junior Caminero Reaches 10-homer mark
Thu, May 7, 2026, 10:01 PM
Caminero went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and a second run scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
Analysis: This was Caminero's first multi-hit effort since April 24 versus the Twins. He's cooled down a bit in recent weeks -- after that April 24 game, he was batting .270 on the year, but he's at .259 with an .846 OPS for the year. Just two of his homers have come over his last 12 contests as well. The third baseman still offers plenty of power in the heart of the Rays' order, as he's at 10 homers, 18 RBI, 23 runs scored, three doubles and no stolen bases through 37 games. |
|
Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Stretches out to four innings
Thu, May 7, 2026, 9:57 PM
Jax allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out three over four innings in a no-decision versus the Red Sox on Thursday.
Analysis: Jax stretched out to four innings and 59 pitches (38 strikes) as he continues to build up to being a rotation option. This was his first time allowing runs in an appearance he's started this year, and he's added a 7:3 K:BB across nine innings over his three starts. Jax has a 5.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB across 14 appearances spanning 18 innings overall. The right-hander is still at least two outings away from approaching a full starter's workload, and it could be longer if the Rays are cautious with him. Jax is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Blue Jays his next time out. |
|
Joe Boyle Joe Boyle Needs more time on rehab assignment
Thu, May 7, 2026, 11:32 AM
Boyle (elbow) struck out four over two scoreless innings in his first rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Durham.
Analysis: Boyle made his first game appearance in nearly a month while he works his way back from a right elbow strain. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times relays that the Rays won't rush Boyle back from the 15-day injured list, so expect the club to proceed slowly with his rehab. Boyle threw 31 pitches in Wednesday's outing and will continue to build up his stamina from there. |
|
Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca Handling short-side platoon role
Wed, May 6, 2026, 11:13 PM
DeLuca went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Toronto.
Analysis: DeLuca doubled off Blue Jays southpaw Patrick Corbin for his seventh two-bagger of the year. While DeLuca tends to sit versus right-handed pitching, he's been effective in his part-time role for the Rays. Over 34 at-bats against left-handers, the righty-hitting outfielder is batting .294 with two home runs, four doubles and nine RBI. |
|
Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly Records sixth hold
Wed, May 6, 2026, 11:06 PM
Kelly picked up a hold Wednesday against Toronto, allowing two hits and no walks in a scoreless inning of work.
Analysis: Although the 28-year-old right-hander hasn't received a save opportunity since early April, he's still been a key part of Tampa Bay's bullpen despite falling out of favor in the Rays' closer picture. Kelly sports a 3.45 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB across 15.2 innings, also collecting six holds. |
|
Ian Seymour Ian Seymour Notches first career save
Wed, May 6, 2026, 4:27 PM
Seymour struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his first save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis: Bryan Baker got the call in the eighth inning to face the 9-1-2 hitters, including Toronto's hottest bat in Kazuma Okamoto, but that still left the heart of the order for Seymour in the ninth. The southpaw didn't blink, firing nine of 11 pitches for strikes to collect his first career save and striking out Vladimir Guerrero along the way. Seymour has eight holds and a win in his 16 appearances in addition to Wednesday's save, but his 5.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings don't immediately mark him as a reliable high-leverage option. |
|
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Blanks Jays for fourth win
Wed, May 6, 2026, 4:21 PM
McClanahan (4-2) picked up the win Wednesday, scattering two hits and a walk over 5.2 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out four.
Analysis: The southpaw extended his scoreless streak to 16.2 innings in a surprisingly short outing that saw McClanahan get the hook after just 69 pitches (47 strikes), one out shy of his second quality start of 2026. Both hits off McClanahan were doubles, but in neither case did the Toronto runner even advance to third base. He'll take a 2.60 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 34:14 K:BB through 34.2 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road early next week in a rematch with the Jays. |
|
Gavin Lux Gavin Lux On track for weekend return
Wed, May 6, 2026, 12:29 PM
Lux (shoulder/ankle) is tracking toward a return during the Rays' series in Boston this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Lux initially went on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement and was later delayed by a left ankle sprain. He's fully recovered now but has not done much on his rehab assignment, slashing .169/.329/.288 with one home run and a 14:20 BB:K over 17 contests. Lux is poised to be the Rays' primary second baseman against righties and will be making his team debut when he gets into a game. |
|
Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Slated to start Thursday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 10:37 AM
Jax is in line to start Thursday's game against the Red Sox in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: With the team's starting pitching depth having been tested by injuries in recent weeks, Jax has begun the process of getting stretched out as a potential rotation open. Jax has served as an opener for the Rays in both of his last two appearances, covering 2.1 innings April 26 against the Twins and then 2.2 innings Saturday against the Giants. Jax is likely to expand on that workload Thursday, though he probably won't hit the five innings he would need to qualify for a win. Assuming he isn't needed out of the bullpen during Wednesday's series finale versus the Blue Jays, Jesse Scholtens could work in bulk relief behind Jax and would have some appeal as a streaming option after scooping up wins in both of Jax's last two starts. |
|
Mason Englert Mason Englert Candidate to start Friday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 9:42 AM
Englert (forearm) could start Friday in Boston in place of the injured Steven Matz (elbow), Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The Rays had sent Englert to Triple-A Durham to begin a rehab assignment. However, Englert was spotted in the clubhouse Wednesday, suggesting the club could have him fill in for Matz instead. Englert has been used in relief this season, but the Rays intend to stretch him out as a rotation option. He hasn't pitched in more than two weeks and is not stretched out, so it would be an abbreviated start if Englert does indeed take the ball Friday. |
Connect With Us:
