Tampa Bay Rays News

World Baseball Classic Tiebreaker Rules: How Can USA Advance To Quarterfinals?

Pool B of the World Baseball Classic will go down to the wire with the USA, Mexico and Italy looking to advance to the next round.

14 MINS AGO • FOX SPORTS

World Baseball Classic Tiebreaker Rules: How Can USA Advance To Quarterfinals?

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

Here are the World Baseball Classic up-to-date pool standings and the remaining games in each pool.

21 MINS AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

Steven Matz - Competing for rotation spot Matz allowed one hit and one walk in four shutout innings during Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. He struck out three.

Impact Matz is now up to six scoreless frames covering two Grapefruit League outings. The 34-year-old left-hander is looking to open his first season with Tampa Bay as part of the starting rotation, which could occasionally give him streaming appeal in deep fantasy leagues for home starts at pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field based on matchups. Last regular season, Matz posted a quality 3.05 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 59:11 K:BB over 76.2 innings across time for St. Louis and Boston.

27 MINS AGO • ROTOWIRE

WBC Daily: Why Did Japan Fans Give Czechia's Pitcher Getting A Rousing Ovation?

Catching up on all day's action from the World Baseball Classic.

2 HOURS AGO • FOX SPORTS

WBC Daily: Why Did Japan Fans Give Czechia's Pitcher Getting A Rousing Ovation?

After Rays debut, healthy Lux feels 'like an actual baseball player again' PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Gavin Lux has been with the Rays throughout Spring Training, but it felt a little like he officially joined the team...

6 HOURS AGO • MLB.COM

3 Rays pitchers who have improved their stock during World Baseball Classic As we mentioned in a previous article, the Rays sluggers in the WBC have shown incredible displays of hitting. Jonathan Aranda and Junior Ca...

7 HOURS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

1 Rays veteran proving that he could be even better in 2026 Entering his 8th season with the Rays, Yandy Diaz should finally be considered a veteran for this organization as we can compare his tenure...

12 HOURS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

Rays' Aranda, Caminero display a hitting clinic to start this historic WBC Of the eight members of the Rays organization participating in this year's edition of the World Baseball Classic, six of them are pitchers....

17 HOURS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

Taking in all the action from Monday's full slate of games at the World Baseball Classic.

1 DAY AGO • FOX SPORTS

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

Carson Williams - Pushing for roster spot Williams went 2-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers and is now 7-for-19 with an RBI this spring.

Impact Williams, one of Tampa Bay's top prospects, closed out last season in the major leagues and is now trying to break Rays camp with an Opening Day roster spot. The 22-year-old infielder has hit safely in six of his eight Grapefruit League appearances so far, picking up a pair of doubles as well. He's competing primarily with the switch-hitting Taylor Walls, who has gone 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBI in four spring outings, for regular reps at shortstop, and Williams could still open the new year with Triple-A Durham if Gavin Lux (upper body) and Richie Palacios (back) are healthy.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Liberatore sets sights on Opening Day starter bid with swing-and-miss stuff JUPITER, Fla. -- Left-hander Matthew Liberatore continues to make the case that he should be the Cardinals’ Opening Day starter against the...

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

Ryan set for belated spring debut on Tuesday NORTH PORT, Fla. -- More than two weeks after he was initially scheduled to start, Joe Ryan will make his 2026 Spring Training debut on Tues...

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

Cedric Mullins - On track to play Tuesday Rays manager Kevin Cash said he expects Mullins (back) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mullins hasn't played since last Tuesday while managing a sore back, but the Rays never viewed the injury as a long-term concern. Assuming he's able to check back into the lineup Tuesday, Mullins should have plenty of time to pick up at-bats during spring training in advance of Opening Day. The 31-year-old appears likely to open the season in the strong side of a platoon in center field.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Chandler Simpson - Expected to play Tuesday Rays manager Kevin Cash said that he expects Simpson (hamstring) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Simpson hasn't played since last Tuesday after experiencing renewed soreness in his left hamstring, which had previously been bothering earlier in camp. After a week-long layoff, Simpson is feeling better and ready to return to game action. Despite being limited to just four spring appearances thus far, Simpson should still have plenty of time to stockpile plate appearances in preparation for the start of the regular season.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jake Fraley - Strong start in Grapefruit League Fraley went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Impact Fraley is off to a nice start this spring, having gone 4-for-13 (.308) with four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base covering seven Grapefruit League outings. The 30-year-old is lined up for a strong-side platoon role in right field to start his first season with the Rays, but he'll likely lose at-bats to Jonny DeLuca versus left-handed pitching. Last regular season, Fraley hit .241 with just six home runs, 23 RBI and four stolen bases across 191 at-bats for Cincinnati and Atlanta.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dom Keegan - Sent to minors The Rays optioned Keegan to minor-league camp Sunday.

Impact Keegan played in seven Grapefruit League games but never got going at the plate, as he finished 1-for-11 with six strikeouts. He should return to Triple-A Durham, where he posted a .735 OPS with 10 homers in 69 games during 2025.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Alex Cook - Optioned to minors The Rays optioned Cook to minor-league camp Sunday.

Impact The 24-year-old was added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster in November but was always a longshot to crack the Opening Day roster. Cook missed some time in 2025 due to injuries but pitched well for Double-A Montgomery when available, finishing with a 2.30 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 15.2 innings.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Díaz day to day with sore hand; Mullins, Lux nearing returns PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Add another injury to the list in Rays camp: Veteran designated hitter Yandy Díaz is dealing with a sore left hand....

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

How can defensive wizard Walls stay healthy? Working smarter, not harder PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Assessing the Rays’ shortstop situation back at the Winter Meetings in December, president of baseball operations Er...

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

RHP Zack Littell agrees to 1-year contract with the Washington Nationals, AP source says

Zack Littell has a new home after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Nationals in agreement on contract with ex-Reds, Rays 3.81 ERA righty veteran | Sporting News This is a nice depth rotation addition for the Nationals this spring.

2 DAYS AGO • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Victor Mesa Jr. - Ready for spring debut Mesa (hamstring) will make his Grapefruit League debut Sunday against Atlanta, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The 24-year-old has apparently been dealing with a hamstring injury but is ready for spring action Sunday. The Rays acquired Mesa from the Marlins in early February, and he's likely to serve as organizational outfield depth and open 2026 at Triple-A Durham.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cedric Mullins - Resumes on-field work Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Mullins is "doing better" in his recovery from back tightness and will take part in an on-field workout Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times...

Impact Mullins last played Tuesday before succumbing to the back injury, but the veteran outfielder looks to be making good progress and is being viewed as day-to-day. Assuming he's able to move past the back issue and play in at least a few more games before the end of the Grapefruit League slate, Mullins should be in good position to begin the season in the strong side of a platoon in center field.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Yandy Díaz - Nursing sore hand Manager Kevin Cash said that Diaz has been out of the Rays' Grapefruit League lineup since Tuesday due to a sore left hand, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cash downplayed any concern about the injury, noting that Diaz is expected to rest for a couple more days before he begins swinging a bat again Tuesday. If all goes well once he starts swinging, Diaz could check back into the spring lineup later in the week.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect

What's happened and what's in store at the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, March 8.

2 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

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World Baseball Classic Tiebreaker Rules: How Can USA Advance To Quarterfinals?

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

WBC Daily: Why Did Japan Fans Give Czechia's Pitcher Getting A Rousing Ovation?

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

RHP Zack Littell agrees to 1-year contract with the Washington Nationals, AP source says

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect

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INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

World Baseball Classic Tiebreaker Rules: How Can USA Advance To Quarterfinals?

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

WBC Daily: Why Did Japan Fans Give Czechia's Pitcher Getting A Rousing Ovation?

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

RHP Zack Littell agrees to 1-year contract with the Washington Nationals, AP source says

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect