Jacob Lopez - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Optioned after spot start The Rays optioned Lopez to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Impact Tampa Bay recalled Lopez from Triple-A to make a spot start Sunday in place of Shane Baz (illness), who was unable to make his turn through the rotation while recovering from the flu. Though Lopez settled for a no-decision in his second career MLB start, he held a talented Dodgers lineup to one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. The Rays' decision to demote Lopez likely indicates that Baz will be ready to take the hill when his next turn comes up this weekend versus the Padres.

AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE

Holds Dodgers to one run Lopez allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings.

Impact Lopez impressed in a road spot start against one of baseball's best lineups, limiting the Dodgers to a lot of weak contact and generating a fair share of whiffs with his slider. He blanked the Dodgers through four innings before Enrique Hernandez took him deep in the fifth for the game's first run. Lopez presumably will be optioned back to Triple-A Durham prior to the Rays next game but could see another stint in the majors over the final month if an injury opens up a role for him.

AUGUST 26 • ROTOWIRE

Called up for Sunday's start The Rays recalled Lopez from Triple-A Durham to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact The left-hander will fill the rotation spot of Shane Baz, who was scratched from his scheduled start due to an illness. Lopez has made three appearances out of the bullpen for the Rays this season, and he'll now make his first MLB start of the campaign. The 26-year-old had a 4.08 ERA and 684:33 K:BB across 70.2 innings at Triple-A and has given up five earned runs over 5.1 frames in the big leagues.

AUGUST 25 • ROTOWIRE

Drawing start Sunday The Rays will recall Lopez from Triple-A Durham to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact He'll be joining the big club as a replacement in the rotation for Shane Baz (illness), who was scratched a day in advance of his scheduled start Sunday while he battles the flu. The Rays haven't indicated yet that Baz's illness is serious enough to force him to the injured list, so Lopez could be headed back to Durham following Sunday's outing. Lopez previously made a start for the Rays in 2023, but all three of his appearances for Tampa Bay in 2024 have come out of the bullpen. He holds a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 84:33 K:BB across 70.2 innings over his 17 outings (15 starts) with Durham this season.

AUGUST 25 • ROTOWIRE

Candidate for final rotation spot Lopez is a candidate to open the year as the Rays' No. 5 starter with Taj Bradley (pectoral) ruled out for the start of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Naoyuki Uwasawa, Jacob Waguespack, Tyler Alexander and Chris Devenski were also mentioned as potential replacements. The lefty Lopez operated as a starter at Triple-A Durham last season, posting a 2.72 ERA and 87:47 K:BB over 18 starts (79.1 innings) to earn his first MLB looks over the final six weeks. He has allowed one hit and five walks in 3.1 innings so far this spring.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

Surrenders six runs in spot start Lopez (1-0) got the win Sunday over the Blue Jays but allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.

Impact Lopez threw an easy 1-2-3 first inning but put two runners on to begin the second and gave up a two-run triple to Tyler Heineman before allowing him to score on a wild pitch. He kept the Blue Jays off the board for the next three innings but could not escape trouble in the sixth and wound up giving up three more runs before being pulled. Sunday was his longest major league outing this year but was also his worst showing. He posted solid minor league numbers in 2023 and will look to compete for a spot on the team's 40-man roster next year.

OCTOBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Sunday Lopez is expected to start Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact It was originally thought Lopez would work as a bulk reliever, but it sounds like he will instead work as a traditional starter. He has a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and four strikeouts in seven innings across three MLB appearances and logged a 3.26 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings across his four most recent appearances at Triple-A.

OCTOBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Promoted, should pitch Sunday Lopez was recalled from Triple-A Durham and is expected start or work in bulk relief Sunday in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The 25-year-old made his MLB debut in August and pitched well in three outings for the Rays with one earned run allowed and a 4:0 K:BB across seven innings, and he'll receive another look with the big club in the regular season finale. Lopez was also effective at Triple-A Durham this year with a 2.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 87:47 K:BB in 18 starts after opening the campaign with Double-A Montgomery.

OCTOBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Lopez was terrific during his short stint with the Rays, allowing just one run over seven relief innings. He was needed for three frames in Wednesday's win, though, so Tampa Bay is swapping him out for a fresh arm.

AUGUST 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs three-inning save in MLB debut Lopez earned a save against the Giants on Monday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out two batters over three innings.

Impact Lopez was called up from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day and made his first big-league appearance in the bottom of the seventh inning with Tampa Bay holding a 6-1 lead. The southpaw encountered a bases-loaded situation due to an error, single and hit-by-pitch but showed poise in striking out Wade Meckler to end the threat. Lopez then allowed a run in the eighth before retiring the side in order in the ninth to earn the save. He threw 47 pitches in the outing, so he may be out of commission for a few days or sent back down to the minors in favor of a fresh arm.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joining big-league bullpen Lopez was recalled Monday from Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Lopez will join the Rays' bullpen, likely in a multi-inning role, after registering a sharp 2.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 110:41 K:BB through 84.1 innings (19 starts, two relief appearances) this summer between Double-A and Triple-A. The 25-year-old left-hander was a 26th-round pick of the Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft.

AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE