ANDREW KITTREDGE NEWS

Judge delivers in 9th, Yanks clinch playoff spot in final AB

Aaron Judge drove home the winning run with a one-out single in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees clinched a playoff berth on the last day of the regular season by beating...

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sloppy in save Kittredge allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two in one inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Yankees.

Impact Kittredge ran into trouble in the ninth inning, but he was able to make a three-run lead hold. The right-hander has been a bit shaky lately, allowing seven runs (six earned) in his last 9.2 innings. He's collected eight saves and seven holds while logging a 1.88 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 77:15 K:BB in 71.2 innings overall as a high-leverage arm for the Rays.

OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Astros walk twice with bases loaded in 9th, beat Rays 4-3

Rays reliever JT Chargois walked two Houston batters with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, propelling the Astros to a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay that snapped a four-game skid and...

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returns from injured list Kittredge (neck) was reinstated from the injured list Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Kittredge wound up missing the minimum 10 days with neck tightness, an injury which never sounded particularly severe. The Rays were able to rest one of their best relievers as they coast into the playoffs, and he'll now get the chance to stay fresh with an appearance or two in the final week of the season as the team prepares for more important games on the horizon.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stiffness 'pretty much gone' Kittredge (neck) threw a bullpen session Saturday and manager Kevin Cash noted afterwards that the reliever's stiffness was "pretty much gone," the team's official site reports.

Impact The right-hander was put on the injured list retroactive to Sept. 18 as a largely precautionary measure, as the Rays were intent on not having him pitch through any discomfort and worsen a relatively minor issue. That strategy seems to be paying off as the season enters its final week, and it appears Kittredge, who's posted an excellent 1.55 ERA over 54 appearances, will be at full health for the postseason.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Baz scheduled to start as Tampa Bay hosts Miami

The Marlins will start Jesus Luzardo on Sunday and the Rays are expected to counter with Shane Baz

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cabrera scheduled to start for Marlins at Rays

The Marlins will start Edward Cabrera on Friday while the Rays are expected to counter with David Robertson

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Makes progress Wednesday Kittredge (neck) threw from 60 feet off flat ground Wednesday, the Associated Press reports.

Impact The veteran reliever is hoping to spend a minimal amount of time on the injured list with the neck tightness that landed him there, and Wednesday's activity level was encouraging in that regard. Kittredge is eligible to return as early as Monday, and if he's able to continue upping his activity level without setbacks over the next few days, he could have a good chance of a minimum stay.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kiermaier hit after scouting report flap; Rays to playoffs

Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch after scooping up a Toronto scouting report two days earlier, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a postseason berth with a 7-1 victory over the Blue...

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Patino expected to start for the Rays against the Blue Jays

The Rays will send Luis Patino to the mound Wednesday and the Blue Jays will give Julian Merryweather the start

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rasmussen scheduled to start as Tampa Bay hosts Toronto

The Blue Jays will start Alek Manoah on Tuesday and the Rays are expected to counter with Drew Rasmussen

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shane Baz wins MLB debut, Rays cut Blue Jays' wild-card lead

Shane Baz pitched two-hit ball for five innings to win his major league debut and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays cut Toronto’s lead in the wild-card chase, holding off the Blue...

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Out with neck tightness Kittredge landed on the 10-day injured list with neck tightness Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The initial diagnosis doesn't sound too severe, so this could simply be the Rays looking to give one of their best relievers a bit of rest as the coast to the finish, trusting that their 6.5-game division lead should be more than enough with two weeks left to play. Kittredge has been excellent this season, and while his 1.55 ERA isn't quite backed up by his 2.93 FIP and 3.08 xFIP, his combination of a 27.5 percent strikeout rate, 5.6 percent walk rate and 54.0 percent groundball rate makes him a very reliable option. He hasn't pitched since Friday, so the Rays can backdate his assignment by two days, leaving him eligible to return Sept. 28 for the final two series of the season.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs ninth win Kittredge (9-3) was credited with the win in an extra-inning victory over the Tigers on Friday, firing a perfect 10th inning during which he recorded a strikeout.

Impact Kittredge preserved a 4-4 tie with an ultra-efficient frame in which he got seven of his nine pitches into the strike zone. He was then rewarded with the victory courtesy of Brett Phillips' game-winning three-run home run in the home half of the 10th. The veteran right-hander's season win total is easily a career best, and the fact he's been able to combine it with seven saves, six holds, a 1.55 ERA and 0.90 WHIP has made him a fantasy goldmine as far as non-full-time closers go.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Skubal, Tigers to face Yarbrough, Rays

The Tigers will start Tarik Skubal on Saturday and the Rays are expected to counter with Ryan Yarbrough

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillips homers in 10th as Rays rally to beat Tigers 7-4

Brett Phillips hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays came back from a three-run deficit in the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures save Tuesday Kittredge tossed a perfect ninth inning on his way to securing a save versus the Blue Jays on Monday.

Impact The 31-year-old was called upon to protect a 2-0 lead and registered three consecutive outs to grab his seventh save of the year. After two consecutive shaky outings including a blown save, Tuesday's performance was a welcomed one for the right-hander.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Choi and Lowe HR, Rays beat Jays 2-0 to reach 90-win mark

Drew Rasmussen combined with four relievers on a three-hitter

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

More hittable than usual of late Kittredge, who allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over two innings in an extra-innings loss to the Tigers on Sunday, has pitched to a 5.79 ERA over the 4.2 innings coverin...

Impact Kittredge has allowed an earned run in three of those outings, along with seven hits overall. That's a lot more contact than Kittredge, who still boasts an impressive 0.93 WHIP for the season, typically surrenders. However, given his overall body of work this season (8-3, 1.60 ERA, 9.7 K/9), the veteran right-hander is still slated to see plenty of high-leverage work for what remains of the regular season.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tampa Bay Rays wading into uncharted pitching territory with 13 closers

The Tampa Bay Rays have set an MLB record with 13 pitchers recording saves this season. Jordan Shusterman breaks it down.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Gordon has RBI single in 9th, Twins beat Rays 6-5

Nick Gordon had a game-tying seventh-inning RBI single and a go-ahead run-scoring base-hit in the ninth as the Minnesota Twins beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 6-5

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slams door for sixth save Kitteredge struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning and earned a save over the Twins on Friday.

Impact Kitteredge allowed one Twin to reach base via error but still finished off the 5-3 after throwing just nine pitches. He's been dominant as of late, recording a save in each of his last four outings while allowing just one hit and striking out 10 batters through 5.2 innings. Kitteredge has converted all six of his save chances this season and is now sporting a 1.29 ERA.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Locks down save No. 5 Kittredge struck out two and did not issue a hit or a walk over two-thirds of an inning as he picked up the save in an 8-5 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Impact Kittredge wasn't needed immediately heading into the ninth with the Rays comfortably leading 8-3, but things changed quickly after Dietrich Enns allowed four straight hitters to reach and two to score before with one out. Kittredge was called upon to prevent any further damage and fanned the only two batters he faced. The Rays haven't gone with a set closer all year long, but Kittredge has been excellent with a 1.31 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 69:14 K:BB over 62 innings and figures to continue in the mix for high-leverage opportunities.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays win 9th in row; Red Sox star Bogaerts tests positive

Randy Arozarena, rookie Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays won their ninth straight game, breaking away from Boston soon after Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was pulled becaus...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slams door on Baltimore Kittredge earned a two-inning save Saturday against the Orioles, striking out a pair without allowing a baserunner.

Impact The 31-year-old came on in the bottom of the eighth inning and recorded the final six outs of the night to earn his fourth save of the season, and his second in his last two appearances. Kittredge has allowed just one run in his last 13 outings, lowering his already microscopic ERA and WHIP to 1.32 and 0.90, respectively. He's 8-2 in 46 appearances on the year with a 67:14 K:BB over 61.1 innings.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE