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Tampa Bay Rays

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Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Set for normal start after break Mon, Jul 14, 2025, 2:32 PM Rasmussen is expected to handle a typical starter's workload when he makes his next turn through the rotation July 22 versus the White Sox in Tampa, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: In an effort to keep his season-long workload under 150 innings after he underwent his third major right elbow surgery in July 2023, Rasmussen was limited to three, two and two innings in his final three starts prior to the All-Star break. In the latter two outings, the Rays deployed Joe Boyle in bulk relief behind him, but Rasmussen looks like he'll be in line for a standalone start in his first appearance of the second half. With Rasmussen sitting at 91.1 innings on the season, the Rays are still likely to manage his workload to some degree over the next two and a half months, but he should remain usable in most fantasy leagues so long as he's covering around five or six frames in his starts. Rasmussen owns a modest 21.7 percent strikeout rate for the season but has provided an excellent 2.86 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while gathering seven wins through 19 outings.
Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Meeting with doctor on tap Mon, Jul 14, 2025, 2:20 PM Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Rodriguez (forearm) has returned to Tampa and is scheduled to meet with a doctor Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Initially placed on the injured list June 11 due to a right forearm strain, Rodriguez was pulled from his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Friday after he experienced right elbow soreness and noticed a stark decline in velocity. The Rays will likely decide on a treatment plan for Rodriguez once he meets with a doctor, but as a result of the setback, he won't be on track to return from the IL coming out of the All-Star break.
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Strikes out three in rehab start Mon, Jul 14, 2025, 2:13 PM McClanahan (triceps) struck out three batters and allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks over 1.2 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Analysis: After kicking off his rehab assignment Tuesday with a one-inning outing in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, McClanahan moved up to the Rays' top affiliate for his second outing. The 28-year-old southpaw needed 36 pitches just to record five outs, but he made use of all four of his offerings and averaged 94 miles per hour with his fastball. McClanahan will stick around with Durham and will likely make at least two more rehab starts before the Rays consider bringing him back from the 60-day injured list. He hasn't pitched in a game in the majors since Aug. 2, 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery later that year and then being shut down this spring due to left triceps nerve irritation.
Hunter Bigge Hunter Bigge Cleared for 'low-effort' activity Mon, Jul 14, 2025, 2:07 PM The Rays announced June 30 that Bigge (lat/face) was cleared to resume "low-effort" baseball activities, MLB.com reports. Analysis: Initially placed on the injured list May 6 due to a right lat strain, Bigge suffered an unrelated setback June 19, when he was struck in the face by a line drive while he was watching a game from the dugout. Bigge sustained multiple fractures as a result of the incident and underwent surgery a day later before being released from the hospital. Though Bigge hasn't been shut down from activity, the Rays haven't indicated when he'll be ready to initiate a throwing program. The reliever still looks to be multiple weeks away from returning from the 15-day injured list.
Ryan Pepiot Ryan Pepiot Suffers seventh loss Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 9:22 PM Pepiot (6-7) took the loss Sunday at Boston, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over six innings with three strikeouts. Analysis: Despite being stuck with the loss, Pepiot managed to notch his third consecutive quality start, pushing his season total to 13. The 27-year-old certainly did not have his sharpest stuff, as he managed to generate a subpar six whiffs out of his 88 total pitches. This performance also snapped a nine-start streak over which Pepiot had conceded five or fewer hits and pitched to a 2.60 ERA in 52 innings. Following this effort, the Tampa Bay right-hander enters the All-Star break with a 3.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 110:37 K:BB across 114.1 total frames.
Ha-Seong Kim Ha-Seong Kim X-rays clean Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 4:21 PM Kim (foot) underwent X-rays, which came back clean, following Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. Analysis: Kim fouled a ball off his left foot in the top of the seventh inning before ultimately striking out in his final at-bat of the day. The 29-year-old was forced to exit the contest as a result, bringing his contest to an end having gone 0-for-3 with the punchout. Manager Kevin Cash said following the game that Kim's X-rays were negative and that they'll "see how he feels tomorrow." The infielder can be considered day-to-day before the All-Star break beginning Monday.
Jose Caballero Jose Caballero Back on bench Sunday Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 10:54 AM Caballero is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. Analysis: After going 0-for-7 while picking up starts in right field and at second base over the past two days, Caballero will retreat to the bench. Though Brandon Lowe (oblique) was recently placed on the injured list, Taylor Walls could end up being prioritized at second base ahead of Caballero, who is regarded as an inferior defender and is slashing just .149/.267/.162 since the beginning of June. Despite his lack of a full-time role of late, Caballero still leads the majors with 31 stolen bases on the season.
Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Filling in at keystone Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 10:50 AM Walls will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. Analysis: Though he looked like he would lose out on playing time when shortstop Ha-Seong Kim was reinstated from the injured list July 3, Walls has proceeded to start eight of the Rays' ensuing 10 games. He initially benefited from Kim missing three straight starts due to a calf issue, but Walls now has opportunities available at the keystone after Brandon Lowe (oblique) was placed on the IL on Friday. Tampa Bay values Walls primarily for his defense, but he hasn't been a total zero at the plate thus far in July. He'll head into Sunday's contest with a .267 batting average, one home run and two steals through his first 10 games of the month.
Danny Jansen Danny Jansen Getting afternoon off Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 10:45 AM Jansen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. Analysis: Matt Thaiss will step in behind the plate while Jansen rests after starting at catcher in the Rays' previous two contests. Unless he's used off the bench Sunday, Jansen will wrap up Tampa Bay's first-half slate with a .207 average, nine home runs, 27 RBI and 24 runs over 66 games.
Joe Boyle Joe Boyle Works behind Rasmussen on Friday Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 8:47 AM Boyle struck out one batter and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks over four innings out of the bullpen in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. Analysis: Boyle was once again used in tandem with Drew Rasmussen, who covered the first two innings. The Rays have made it clear that they intend to limit Rasmussen to around 150 innings this season since he's just two years removed from undergoing the third major elbow operation of his career, and Boyle is expected to piggyback him for at least a few more turns through the rotation. While his results Friday were unremarkable, Boyle has delivered excellent ratios overall between his stops in the majors and at Durham this season, and he'll have improved odds of earning wins while the Rays deploy him in bulk relief. Tampa Bay is listing Rasmussen as its starter for its fifth game of the second half July 22 versus the White Sox, so Boyle's next appearance will presumably come that same day.
Shane Baz Shane Baz Takes tough-luck loss Saturday Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 10:51 PM Baz (8-5) completed 6.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters in a loss to Boston on Saturday. Analysis: Baz was very effective Saturday, allowing just a fourth-inning run despite notching only one 1-2-3 frame. However, opposing hurler Garrett Crochet fired a complete-game shutout, resulting in Baz taking a second consecutive loss. Despite the defeat, this was another strong performance by the right-hander, who has recorded four straight quality starts. He'll head into the All-Star break with a 4.17 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 107:40 K:BB over 110 innings spanning 19 outings.
Pete Fairbanks Pete Fairbanks Loses control in ninth Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 10:44 PM Fairbanks (4-3) took the loss Friday night, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk while recording just one out in the 5-4 defeat to the Red Sox. Analysis: Fairbanks ran into trouble in the ninth. After retiring the first batter he faced, the 31-year-old issued a walk to Roman Anthony before surrendering a walk-off two-run homer that erased the Rays' late lead. It marked just his third blown save of the season, but the right-hander has now allowed multiple runs in three of his last 10 appearances, a stretch that has dented an otherwise solid 2025 campaign.
Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Solid in short start Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 10:20 PM Rasmussen did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to Boston, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out one over two innings. Analysis: Rasmussen surrendered his lone run in the second inning before exiting at the end of the frame. The Rays have been transparent about managing his workload, and this marked his third straight appearance without completing more than three innings. Over that span, the right-hander has allowed six earned runs on 11 hits while striking out five across seven total innings
Ha-Seong Kim Ha-Seong Kim Taking seat Friday Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 4:10 PM Kim is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Kim started the previous three games and will head to the bench Friday after going 4-for-12 with a double, a homer and three RBI. Taylor Walls will step in at shortstop for Tampa Bay.
Curtis Mead Curtis Mead Back in majors Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 2:40 PM The Rays recalled Mead from Triple-A Durham on Friday. Analysis: The 24-year-old was optioned to Durham in early July but will rejoin Tampa Bay for the final three games of the first half with Brandon Lowe (oblique) headed to the injured list. Mead has a .225/.320/.342 slash line with three homers and four steals in 128 plate appearances in the big leagues this season, and he's likely to operate as a reserve infielder while up with the Rays.
Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Lands on injured list Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 2:37 PM The Rays placed Lowe on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to July 8, due to left oblique tightness. Analysis: The 31-year-old hasn't seen the field since suffering the injury Sunday in Minnesota, and he'll spend the final series before the All-Star break on the injured list. Lowe will be unable to take part in the Midsummer Classic as a result, but he'll be eligible to be reinstated for the start of the second half July 18 versus Baltimore.
Ha-Seong Kim Ha-Seong Kim Slugs first homer Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 8:01 AM Kim went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Red Sox. Analysis: Kim opened the scoring for the Rays by blasting his first home run of the season in the fourth inning. He's settled into an everyday role since returning from both shoulder and calf injuries, starting three straight games while hitting fifth or sixth in the lineup. It's a very small sample, but Kim has gone 5-for-15 with two extra-base hits and a stolen base to start his tenure with Tampa Bay.
Taj Bradley Taj Bradley Five Ks in six strong innings Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 2:33 AM Bradley took a no-decision Thursday against the Red Sox, giving up one run on two hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five. Analysis: Bradley was able to hurl at least five innings for a fourth start in a row, as he held the Red Sox to only two singles. The two hits allowed came in the third frame, when Boston scratched a run across. The 24-year-old right-hander still hasn't lived up to the hype that made him one of baseball's top pitching prospects not long ago, and he's recorded an uninspiring 4.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 89:40 K:BB over 103.2 innings this season.
Bryan Baker Bryan Baker Flounders in team debut Thu, Jul 10, 2025, 11:08 PM Baker (3-3) was charged with the loss and a blown in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Boston, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks in the seventh inning. He struck out one. Analysis: Making his Rays debut, Baker was brought on to protect a three-run lead but floundered in the seventh frame. The 30-year-old right-hander should still act as a setup man for closer Pete Fairbanks in Tampa Bay's bullpen moving ahead, although the former has now given up seven runs in his past two outings alone. Baker is now at a 4.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 50:11 K:BB over 39.1 innings in 2025.
Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Taking seat Thursday Thu, Jul 10, 2025, 3:34 PM Mangum isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game versus Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: After starting the month of July, 7-for-28 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored in seven games, Mangum will take a seat against Walker Buehler and the Red Sox. Christopher Morel will fill the open spot in left field and bat seventh.