Tampa Bay Rays News

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Ryan Pepiot • SP • Rays

Ryan Pepiot to Throw Bullpen on Friday, on Track to Return Next Week

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot (hip) is throwing a bullpen session on Friday as he continues to work his way back from right hip inflammation that sidelined him to begin the season. The right-hander is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday when the team has its first home game of the season against the Cubs, and the 28-year-old could make his season debut for that start, assuming he does not encounter any setbacks. The former third-round draft pick pitched well for the Rays in 2025, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 15.6 percent K-BB% in 31 starts (167 2/3 innings). The 6-foot-3 hurler looked good in spring action, too, yielding just one earned run in 10 innings of work while recording seven strikeouts, although nine walks were something to keep an eye on.

22 hours ago

Garrett Cleavinger • RP • Rays

Rays Place Garrett Cleavinger on 15-Day Injured List With Calf Tightness

The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Friday that they placed left-hander Garrett Cleavinger (calf) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to March 31) with right-calf tightness and recalled right-hander Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Cleavinger's calf injury could help explain his rough start to the 2026 campaign. The 31-year-old veteran has allowed two earned runs on three hits while walking four and striking out three in just 2 1/3 innings of work over his first three appearances out of the bullpen in Tampa. It remains to be seen how long Cleavinger will be out, but he should have a good chance of returning before the end of April, barring a setback. He entered the season with a chance to have save opportunities, but his poor start and now his injury have hurt his chances in that regard. Cleavinger had a nice 2.35 ERA last year and has eight saves for the Rays over the past two seasons.

Yesterday

Brody Hopkins • RP • Rays

Brody Hopkins Emerging as Deep-League Stash Candidate

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Brody Hopkins is worth viewing as a deep-league stash candidate early in the 2026 regular season. Hopkins is considered the No. 3-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system and the No. 85-ranked overall in the sport, per MLB.com. The 24-year-old spent the entire 2025 campaign with Double-A Montgomery and logged 116 innings to the tune of a 2.72 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. During this stint, Hopkins struck out 141 hitters while walking 60. Given this steady production, the Rays moved Hopkins to Triple-A Durham at the start of the 2026 regular season. In his first outing, Hopkins logged four innings and allowed one run, two hits, and posted a 5:3 K:BB. If he can continue to improve his command, Hopkins may compete for an MLB debut before the All-Star break. His strikeout upside makes him an intriguing target for those in deeper formats.

Yesterday

Griffin Jax • RP • Rays

Griffin Jax Out of the Closer Conversation in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Griffin Jax has gotten off to a nightmare start to the 2026 season. Across two innings (four games), the 31-year-old has allowed five hits, five earned runs, and two walks while recording just one strikeout. With fellow Rays right-hander Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the injured list, Jax opened the year with a chance to emerge as Tampa Bay's preferred ninth-inning option. However, Jax has already blown two saves and may have pitched his way out of high-leverage opportunities. Jax has posted K-BB rates north of 27% in each of the last two seasons, so he has upside if he can settle in and find his prior form. Still, fantasy managers should be aggressive in search for other relief options off the waiver wire, given Jax's poor performance thus far. Rays relievers Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger look like the favorites for saves in Tampa Bay until Uceta returns.

Yesterday

Emmanuel Rodriguez • CF • Twins |

Manuel Rodríguez • RP • Rays

Emmanuel Rodriguez Worth a Deep-League Stash?

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez had a nice showing with the big league club this spring, going 8-for-19 (.421) with two doubles and a pair of home runs in Grapefruit League action. The Twins' fourth-ranked prospect is 5-for-21 (.238) with a home run to begin his 2026 Triple-A campaign, and has displayed tantalizing power and an aptitude to steal bases during his time in the minors, however, he's also become somewhat injury-prone. The Dominican was limited to 47 games in 2022 due to a knee injury, 47 games in 2024 due to a thumb injury, and just 65 games last year due to ankle and hip injuries. Even so, if the left-handed slugger can remain healthy, his debut in the majors may not be far off. With his skillset, fantasy managers in deep redraft leagues should monitor his progress this year, as he could become a top stash candidate before midseason.

Yesterday

Griffin Jax • RP • Rays

Griffin Jax Takes Second Loss of the Season, Continues to Lose Fantasy Value

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Griffin Jax got pummeled by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, allowing three hits and five runs (three earned) without recording an out in his team's 8-2 defeat. Jax is off to a brutal start to 2026, as he's allowed five earned runs while recording just one strikeout across two innings of work in three appearances. With fellow Rays reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the injured list, Jax looked like the favorite to see the majority of the ninth-inning work in Tampa Bay. However, the 31-year-old has already blown two saves, and his overall ineffectiveness is clearly a concern for fantasy managers. With Jax struggling, Rays relievers Garrett Cleavinger and Bryan Baker could be worth targeting on the waiver wire and rostering until Uceta returns.

2 days ago

Gavin Lux • LF • Rays

Gavin Lux to Begin Rehab Assignment at Triple-A Durham

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman/outfielder Gavin Lux (shoulder) will head to Triple-A Durham to begin a rehab assignment. The left-handed hitter has been on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder impingement since the beginning of the season. Per manager Kevin Cash, the former first-round draft pick will make a few consecutive starts with Durham and they'll "see how it goes." Presumably, if all goes well, then the 28-year-old should be able to make his major league debut sometime next week. Once he returns, Lux will likely take over as the team's second baseman, although for fantasy, he's also eligible at third base and outfield in Yahoo! leagues. While that is appealing, he offers little power and speed with a career batting average of .256, so there is not much use for fantasy except in very deep or AL-only leagues.

2 days ago

Jake Fraley • RF • Rays

Jake Fraley Back in Tuesday's Lineup After Shoulder Injury

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder) is starting in right field and batting cleanup for the Rays in his return to the lineup on Tuesday versus Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff at American Family Field, according to MLB.com. Fraley is making his return after being scratched from Sunday's series finale. He was also held out of the first game of the series against the Brewers on Monday. It's not a great matchup for Fraley for DFS purposes, but he's in a great lineup spot to drive in some runs for Tampa. In six career at-bats against Woodruff, Fraley is hitting .167 with a .500 OPS in the small sample size. In his first two games with the Rays in 2026, Fraley has gone 1-for-6 with two strikeouts at the plate. There is plenty of competition at the corner-outfield spots in Tampa this year, so the left-handed-hitting Fraley is going to need to produce and stay healthy to keep a strong-side platoon role in right field.

3 days ago

Kevin Kelly • RP • Rays

Rays Turn to Kevin Kelly for Monday's Save

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Kevin Kelly earned the save after facing one batter during Monday's win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Kelly entered with two outs and a one-run lead in the ninth inning. He threw just five pitches, ultimately getting Blake Perkins to ground into a forceout to end the game. It was Kelly's first save situation of the season, and he now has 1.1 innings of scoreless work with one hit and one strikeout. The Rays don't necessarily have a dedicated closer, especially after Griffin Jax blew a save in each of his first two outings this season, but Kelly could be in the mix to handle more save situations going forward. It's too early to pursue him in fantasy baseball leagues, but he could be a name to monitor if he starts appearing in save situations more frequently.

4 days ago

Wander Franco • SS • Rays

Wander Franco's Re-Trial in Dominican Republic Delayed Again

The re-trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, which was scheduled to start on Monday in the Dominican Republic, has been delayed again and is now set to take place from May 13 to 15, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic back in June of last year and received a suspended two-year prison sentence. The 25-year-old could be subject to further discipline under MLB's domestic-violence, sexual-assault, and child-abuse policies. Franco remains on the restricted list and will be unlikely to obtain a visa to ever return to play for the Rays or another big-league club in the future. A once-promising MLB career has been thrown away due to poor personal choices by Franco. In Tampa, youngster Carson Williams has taken over the shortstop job early in 2026 with Taylor Walls (oblique) on the 10-day injured list.

5 days ago

Edwin Uceta • RP • Rays

Edwin Uceta Definitely Worth a Pickup for Saves-Needy Managers

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) started the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement, but he threw live batting practice on Friday and could be nearing a return to the Rays' bullpen in early April, barring a setback with his rehab. The 28-year-old carries plenty of strikeout upside at the back end of the Rays' bullpen, and he could have a clear path to lead the team in saves this year, especially after Griffin Jax blew his first two save opportunities in the first two ballgames of the season. Uceta is widely available in fantasy leagues right now, too, and is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues. The Dominican reliever had a tidy 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings with five saves in 2024 and was one of just five relievers to reach the 100-strikeout mark last year in 76 innings pitched. For the strikeout upside alone and potentially plenty of saves/holds, Uceta is probably one of the most attractive relief arms widely available on the waiver wire early in the season because of his shoulder injury.

5 days ago

Yandy Díaz • 1B • Rays

Yandy Diaz Records Five Hits, Drives in Four in Win Over Cardinals

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/designated hitter Yandy Diaz was at his best in the team's 11-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sunday in the series finale, going 5-for-6 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored as the designated hitter out of the leadoff spot. It's a reminder that the 34-year-old Cuban veteran is a pretty darn good hitter. It was his 10th career game with four hits. Diaz is blazing hot at the plate to begin the 2026 season, going 9-for-16 (.563) in the first three games. He might not provide a ton of power -- he's only had 20-plus homers in two of his 10 big-league seasons -- but there is plenty of value in Diaz having the fourth-best batting average in baseball since 2021. Over that same timeframe, Diaz has the sixth-best on-base percentage. He's not incredibly sexy in fantasy leagues, but he's a glue guy for your lineups in OBP leagues, and he'll also provide a stable batting average and plenty of runs scored at the top of Tampa's lineup.

5 days ago

Jake Fraley • RF • Rays

Jake Fraley is Out with Shoulder Soreness

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder) has been scratched from Sunday's lineup versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Fraley suffered a right shoulder injury while attempting to make a diving catch during Saturday's contest. Rays manager Kevin Cash hinted that the injury wasn't serious, so fantasy managers should consider Fraley as day-to-day. Jonny DeLuca will cover right field and bat sixth against right-hander Dustin May on Sunday. Fraley should be back in the mix in a few days, but he doesn't have much fantasy appeal right now anyway.

6 days ago

Edwin Uceta • RP • Rays

Edwin Uceta Expected to Begin Rehab Assignment Soon

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session on Friday and has another one scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, according to MLB.com. If he gets through those unscathed, Uceta should start a minor-league rehab assignment soon after that. The 28-year-old was put on the 15-day injured list on March 22 with right-shoulder soreness. He reported not feeling great in spring training when playing catch on Feb. 19 and received a cortisone injection on Feb. 20. Uceta had a 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 relief innings for the Rays in 2024 and was one of only five relievers in 2025 to have over 100 strikeouts in 76 innings in 2025. Right-hander Griffin Jax entered the 2026 season as the Rays' favorite for saves, but he has blown his first two opportunities. When Uceta is activated from the IL, he could quickly become manager Kevin Cash's go-to man in the ninth inning. He has the most upside of Tampa's high-leverage arms, not only for saves, but also for strikeout potential.

6 days ago

Griffin Jax • RP • Rays

Griffin Jax Already on the Closer Hot Seat?

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Griffin Jax has put himself on the closer hot seat early in 2026 after blowing each of his first two save opportunities as he begins his first full year with the team. In Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Jax blew the save and took his first loss of the year after allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit while walking one in just one-third of an inning. The 31-year-old blew the save on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday and could not get it done on Saturday in the bottom of the 10th inning. Infield prospect JJ Wetherholt delivered the dagger against Jax. The former third-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of Air Force has been manager Kevin Cash's first choice for saves to begin the year, but that could be changing the next time a save situation comes up, with Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger both being options. Edwin Uceta (shoulder) should get ninth-inning duties when he returns from the injured list, and he has the most upside of any Rays high-leverage arm.

6 days ago

Chandler Simpson • CF • Rays

Chandler Simpson Absent From Opening Day Lineup

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson will start Opening Day on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals on the bench, according to MLB.com. The Rays will roll with Ryan Vilade (batting second) in left field, Cedric Mullins (batting eighth) in center field, and Jonny DeLuca (batting sixth) in right field against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Simpson, 25, bats from the left side and will have to wait to make his first start in 2026. In his first year in the big leagues in 2025, Simpson hit .299 (32-for-107) against southpaws, as opposed to a .293 (9-for-307) average versus righties. The former second-rounder in 2022 slashed an impressive .295/.326/.345 with a .671 OPS, no homers, 26 RBI, 53 runs scored, and 44 stolen bases in his first 109 big-league games. He gives fantasy managers virtually zero power, and when he is in the lineup, he'll likely be down at the bottom of the order, limiting his counting-stat upside. Still, Simpson is useful in all leagues for his elite speed in Tampa.

Mar 26

Ryan Pepiot • SP • Rays

Ryan Pepiot Expected to Resume Throwing This Weekend

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot (hip) saw a doctor on Wednesday about his right-hip inflammation and is "in a really good spot," according to Ryan Bass. Pepiot will rest for a few days and should resume throwing this weekend. He is starting the season on the 15-day injured list and won't be with the team for their first road trip, but the expectation is that he'll rejoin the starting rotation during the first homestand, which starts on Monday, April 6, against the Chicago Cubs. Pepiot's injury has opened the door for right-hander Joe Boyle to join the team's Opening Day rotation. In his second year with the Rays in 2025, Pepiot went 11-12 with a career-high 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 167:61 K:BB in 167 2/3 innings over a career-high 31 starts. Pepiot mostly relies on his fastball/changeup mix to fool hitters and has a 25.3% strikeout rate in his four MLB seasons. Fantasy managers should consider him a decent No. 4/5 hurler who could benefit from the move back to Tropicana Field.

Mar 25

Nick Martinez • SP • Rays

Nick Martinez's Season Debut Pushed Back Due to Hamstring Issue

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (hamstring) will have his first start of the 2026 season pushed back to Game 4 due to a minor hamstring issue, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Right-hander Joe Boyle will now start the second game of the season for the Rays, with Ryan Pepiot (hip) landing on the 15-day injured list. The 35-year-old Martinez will make his first start for the Rays on Monday, March 30, in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues and in DFS should be looking to avoid Martinez next week in a bad matchup, especially since he has allowed 18 runs in just 7 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League in his last two starts. Since returning from a four-year stint in Japan in 2022, Martinez has a 3.67 ERA (3.96 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 433 strikeouts and 141 walks in 61 outings (26 starts). Martinez doesn't walk many, but he lacks the strikeout upside to make him intriguing outside of shallow-mixed fantasy leagues.

Mar 24

Joe Boyle • SP • Rays

Joe Boyle Joins the Rays' Starting Rotation

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Joe Boyle will open the season as the team's No. 2 starter, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Boyle was originally projected to start the year in Triple-A, but he'll now shift to the big-league rotation after Ryan Pepiot (hip) was placed on the 15-day injured list. At a minimum, Boyle will make two starts, but there's a strong chance that he could stay in the rotation longer. His third start would be scheduled for April 8, which is the same day that Pepiot is eligible to be activated. If Pepiot misses the minimum amount of time, Boyle will likely head back to the bullpen or minors after two starts. Otherwise, he'd be on track for three-plus. The 26-year-old is no stranger to longer appearances, as nine of his 13 outings last year were starts. Across 52 total innings, he posted a 4.19 FIP with 10.04 K/9 and 4.85 BB/9. He also brought his ground ball rate up to a career-high 43.8% mark.

Mar 24

Carson Williams • SS • Rays

Carson Williams Makes Roster as Starting Shortstop

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Carson Williams has made the Opening Day roster, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Williams will be the team's starting shortstop. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut just last season, appearing in 32 games. He definitely offered more value in the field than at the plate, slashing just .172/.219/.354 with a 41.5% strikeout rate and 54 wRC+. At Triple-A prior to his promotion, he had a mere .213 batting average but offered power and speed with 23 homers and 22 stolen bases. In his first full season at the major league level, we wouldn't be shocked to see Williams continue to hit right around the Mendoza line while still offering solid power, impressive speed, and above-average defense. The 2026 ZiPS projections have Williams launching 21 homers, stealing 16 bags, and posting 91 wRC+. Now that he's penciled into the starting role, he should handle enough playing time to get on the fantasy radar, especially in deeper leagues.

Mar 24

Tampa Bay Rays News

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