DIEGO CASTILLO NEWS

Records another save Castillo did not allow a baserunner and struck out one in the ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against the Nationals.

Impact Castillo was called upon to hold a two-run lead and had no trouble doing so to earn his 10th save of the season. While the role once appeared to belong to J.P. Feyereisen, Castillo has now served as the closer for each of the team's past two opportunities. On Tuesday, Feyereisen worked in the seventh inning and managed to record only one out before being pulled after issuing three free passes. Castillo appears to be the favorite to earn save chances for the time being, though the Rays' bullpen remains very difficult to predict.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Racks up ninth save Castillo struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his ninth save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Rangers.

Impact It's his first save since May 22, and Castillo set a new career high in the process, topping the eight saves he managed in 2019. J.P. Feyereisen went 3-for-4 on save chances in the meantime, but Feyereisen hasn't pitched since Tuesday, so Castillo may be manager Kevin Cash's preferred closing option once again. As per usual with the Rays, expect the ninth-inning situation to remain fluid all year.

JUNE 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up second win Castillo (2-2) earned the win Saturday against the Phillies after allowing a hit with a strikeout and a walk over one scoreless inning.

Impact The 27-year-old faced the top of the order during the top of the eighth inning with the game tied 3-3, and he was put in line for the victory after the Rays scored a pair of runs during the bottom of the frame. J.P. Feyereisen then entered to secure the save for Tampa Bay. Castillo remains the team's top arm for high-leverage spots and is the primary option for saves, but manager Kevin Cash's closer-by-committee approach leaves a limited ceiling.

MAY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notches eighth save Castillo pitched a scoreless ninth inning on one hit while striking out one to get the save in the win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Impact After being credited with the win in extra innings Friday, Castillo returned Saturday with a two-run lead to secure his eighth save of the season. The 27-year-old reliever has a 3.38 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 18.2 innings. The righty is the Rays' primary option to close games; however, he's blown two saves this season and the Rays have trended towards a closer-by-committee in recent years.

MAY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Collects win in extras Castillo (1-2) picked up the win in Friday's 9-7 extra-innings victory over the Blue Jays, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit over 1.1 innings while striking out two.

Impact The veteran reliever recorded the final out of the 11th inning in a 5-5 tie, and after the Rays erupted for four runs in the top of the 12th, Castillo stayed in to finish things out, only for Vladimir Guerrero to take him deep and make things a bit more interesting. Castillo has been struggling over the last month, posting a 6.23 ERA and serving up three homers over his last 8.2 innings, and he might fall out of favor in the Tampa saves mix if he doesn't turn things around.

MAY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Allows homer in return Castillo, activated from the injured list Friday, allowed a solo home run and recorded a strikeout over one inning in a win over the Mets on Sunday.

Impact Manager Kevin Cash got Castillo some low-leverage work in the sixth inning after not utilizing him in his first two games following activation from his IL stint due to a groin injury. Castillo surrendered a solo home run to Patrick Mazeika but was otherwise sharp, getting 13 of his 19 pitches into the strike zone. Assuming there are no residual setbacks following Sunday's activity level, Castillo should be back to his customary high-leverage role in coming days.

MAY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns as scheduled Castillo (groin) was activated off the 10-day injured list as expected Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Castillo was expected to require only a brief stay on the injured list when he was sidelined with groin tightness in early May, and he will indeed make it back after the minimum 10 days. He should return to his high-leverage role and will be one of the team's top options for saves, as he already has seven in 14 appearances this year to go along with a 3.14 ERA and a career-best 34.5 percent strikeout rate.

MAY 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Friday activation expected Castillo (groin) is on track to be activated from the injured list when first eligible Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The right-hander had been projected for a short IL stay all along, and it appears that prognosis will prove correct. Castillo had already logged nine save chances prior to his current absence, and he should jump right back into the primary closer role upon activation.

MAY 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nearing return Castillo (groin) threw a successful bullpen and is on track to be activated this weekend, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The righty reliever was expected to have a short stay on the injured list and that appears to be the case, barring any unexpected developments in the next few days. Castillo will return to a high-leverage, late-inning role upon activation from the IL.

MAY 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

In line for short IL stay Manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that Castillo (groin) feels much better and should be on track for a minimal stay on the 10-day injured list, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network...

Impact Cash hasn't formally named a closer this season, but prior to landing on the IL with groin tightness, Castillo had seemingly emerged as the Rays' preferred option at the back of the bullpen after converting a team-high seven saves through his first 14 outings. Assuming he continues to progress as anticipated from what appears to be a minor groin injury, Castillo could rejoin the Tampa Bay bullpen by next weekend. While the Rays wait for Castillo to heal up, Pete Fairbanks looks like the best bet to pick up saves.

MAY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on injured list Castillo was placed on the 10-day injured list with groin tightness Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Castillo had earned saves in three of his last five appearances and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven in 4.2 innings over that span. Right-hander Pete Fairbanks (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move and could be the favorite for save chances while Castillo is sidelined.

MAY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Snags seventh save Castillo allowed a hit and struck out two batters in a scoreless inning Sunday, picking up a save in the win over Houston.

Impact Castillo punched out the first two batters of the inning before Jason Castro kept the game alive with a two-out double. The 6-foot-3 righty avoided any more trouble and locked up his seventh save of the season. He's sporting a 3.38 ERA and 19:5 K:BB through 13 appearances.

MAY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes second loss Castillo (0-2) was charged with the loss against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing an earned run on a hit and a walk over one inning.

Impact Tasked with preserving a 2-2 tie upon entering in the ninth inning, Castillo retired two of the first three batters he faced before allowing a go-ahead RBI double to Matt Chapman that would deliver what would prove to be the winning run. The right-hander has proven hittable lately, giving up four earned runs over the 3.1 innings covering his last four appearances while providing a statistical mixed bag of two saves, Thursday's loss and a blown save during that span.

APRIL 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notches sixth save Castillo gave up a hit and struck out one without allowing a run in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 2-0 win over the A's.

Impact The Rays continue to buck their historical trend and lean on Castillo in the ninth inning, as the right-hander has six of the team's nine saves so far. His 3.18 ERA and 16:4 K:BB through 11.1 innings are more than worthy of the job, but the return of Pete Fairbanks (shoulder), potentially within the week, could provide Castillo with some competition.

APRIL 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up fifth save Castillo gave up one run on one hit while striking out two in one inning to record his fifth save of the season during Tuesday's 4-3 win over the A's.

Impact He served up a leadoff solo shot to Sean Murphy to make it a nervous ninth inning for the Rays, but Castillo settled down and got the job done. The right-hander has given up three runs in his last two appearances to push his ERA up to 3.38, but Castillo's 15:4 K:BB through 10.2 innings remains strong, and he's 5-for-7 in converting save chances to begin the season.

APRIL 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated from injured list Castillo was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Saturday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Castillo was experiencing side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine Friday, but he's feeling better and will be available for Saturday's game against Toronto. The right-hander should resume his role as the Rays' primary closer now that he's been cleared to return.

APRIL 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on COVID IL Castillo was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday while experiencing side effects from the vaccine, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The 27-year-old allowed two runs in a blown save Wednesday and is now sidelined after feeling vaccine side effects. There's no minimum required stay on the COVID-19 IL, so Castillo could rejoin the team this weekend if he overcomes the ailment. Pete Fairbanks (shoulder) and Nick Anderson (elbow) were already on the injured list, so Ryan Thompson and Jeffrey Springs could be in the mix for saves in the meantime.

APRIL 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Charged with loss Castillo (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk, getting charged with a blown save and the loss in Tuesday's 9-8 defeat to the Royals.

Impact Castillo entered the ninth attempting to preserve a one-run lead, but he allowed a leadoff single on the first pitch of the inning. After a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt, the run came across on a perfectly executed safety squeeze by Nicky Lopez. The Royals ended up walking off a few batters later after Salvador Perez pulled a slider down the left field line to score Lopez from second, handing Castillo his first loss and second blown save of the year. The 27-year-old closer still has four saves to his credit as well as a hold and a 2.79 ERA over 9.2 innings.

APRIL 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Earns hold Sunday Castillo allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two in 1.1 innings to earn the hold against the Yankees on Sunday.

Impact Castillo picked up his fourth save of the season Saturday, but he entered Sunday's game with two outs in the seventh inning and remained in the game during the eighth while Jeffrey Springs earned his first career save. Castillo has now posted a 1.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in nine innings across his first eight relief appearances of the season. Although Springs received the save chance Sunday, Castillo still appears to be in line for the majority of the closing duties this year.

APRIL 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Secures fourth save Castillo had two strikeouts and didn't allow a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Saturday against the Yankees.

Impact It was another strong performance from the 27-year-old, and he's now converted four of five save chances to begin 2021. Castillo has given up one run on four hits with an 11:9 K:BB through 7.2 innings this season.

APRIL 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nails down third save Castillo gave up a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless ninth inning Monday to record his third save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Rangers.

Impact The right-hander has been busy in the early going, making five appearances in the Rays' first 10 games, but Castillo has been mostly up to the task by posting a 1.59 ERA and 8:1 K:BB through 5.2 innings while converting three of four save chances. The track record of the organization suggests other relievers will start seeing ninth-inning work at some point, but for now Castillo seems to have the closing role to himself in Tampa Bay.

APRIL 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save chance Castillo allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two to blow the save Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Impact Castillo entered the game with a one-run lead in the ninth inning and promptly allowed a solo home run to Christian Vazquez -- the first batter he faced. He had little trouble retiring the side from there, inducing a groundout and two strikeouts to end the frame. Castillo has closed out both of the team's victories this season, though the Rays are well-known for moving different relievers into the closer role throughout the campaign.

APRIL 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notches second save Castillo gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 6-4 win over the Marlins.

Impact It didn't look like his services would be needed Friday, but the Rays staged a four-run rally in the top of the ninth to create the save situation and Castillo converted. The right-hander is off to an early lead in the race to be Tampa's saves leader in 2021, but history suggests he will be far from alone in getting ninth-inning work from manager Kevin Cash.

APRIL 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Records first save Castillo picked up the save during Thursday's Opening day win, holding the Marlins scoreless while recording two strikeouts.

Impact The 27-year-old nearly gave up a game-tying homer to Jesus Aguilar, but luckily it fell just short of the wall to keep the Rays on top. Over the last two seasons, Castillo has converted 12 of 15 save opportunities to go with a career-best 1.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 21.2 innings (22 appearances) in 2020.

APRIL 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Impresses in spring debut Castillo fired a scoreless second inning during his Grapefruit League debut against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing one hit and no walks.

Impact Although the right-hander didn't record any strikeouts, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports Castillo's fastball consistently hit 94 mph and ticked up as high as 96. Castillo should see plenty of save opportunities this coming season with the offseason departure of Jose Alvarado, and he's lent credence to the notion he's up to the task by converting 12 of 15 save chances over the last two seasons and posting a career-best 1.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 21.2 innings (22 appearances) in 2020.

MARCH 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE