JOEY WENDLE NEWS

Retreats to bench Wendle isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Wendle has seen his playing time drop against left-handed pitchers recently, and he'll head to the bench with southpaw John Means on the mound for Baltimore. Yandy Diaz will shift to the hot corner while Jordan Luplow starts at first base.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

McClanahan solid, Zunino homers as Rays beat Orioles 6-3

Shane McClanahan won his fifth consecutive start, Mike Zunino hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Tuesday Wendle is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Wendle has started against plenty of southpaws this season, but his day off Tuesday against Ranger Suarez means he's now been on the bench against four of the last six lefties the Rays have faced. Yandy Diaz starts at the hot corner in his absence.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Plates pair in win Wendle went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single and an RBI groundout in a win over the White Sox on Saturday.

Impact Wendle extended the Rays' lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning with his timely knock, while his eighth-inning groundout added a bit of insurance in the form of Tampa Bay's eighth and final run of the contest. The multi-hit effort was Wendle's first since Aug. 7 and snapped the brief 2-for-17 skid that had encompassed his last five games.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays beat White Sox 8-4; McHugh earns first save

Brandon Lowe, Manuel Margot and Joey Wendle each had two hits and two RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4

AUGUST 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting Friday Wendle is not starting Friday against the White Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Wendle will take a seat for the second time in four games after going hitless in Thursday's win. Yandy Diaz gets the start at the hot corner while Brandon Lowe mans second base.

AUGUST 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Yarbrough, Rays hand Orioles 14th straight loss, 8-4

Ryan Yarbrough came off the COVID-19 injured list and worked five scoreless innings as the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays handed the Baltimore Orioles their 14th consecutive loss,...

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not in Tuesday's lineup Wendle is not starting Tuesday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Wendle played multiple positions while starting in each of the past six games, but he'll not surprisingly get a rest with lefty John Means set to take the mound for the Orioles. Yandy Diaz (thumb) is set to return to the lineup at third base while Brandon Lowe starts at the keystone Tuesday.

AUGUST 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Maeda, Twins silence red-hot Rays in 12-0 win

Kenta Maeda pitched six effective innings, Luis Arraez hit a two-run homer and the Minnesota Twins beat the Tampa Bay Rays 12-0

AUGUST 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cruz homers in return to Minnesota; Rays rout Twins 10-4

Nelson Cruz homered in his return to Minnesota and the Tampa Bay Rays moved to a season-high 26 games over

AUGUST 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pineda scheduled to start as Minnesota hosts Tampa Bay

The Rays will start Shane McClanahan on Friday while the Twins are expected to counter with Michael Pineda

AUGUST 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Resting against lefty Wendle is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact After making two straight starts, the lefty-hitting Wendle will unsurprisingly move to the bench with a southpaw (Eduardo Rodriguez) on the hill for Boston. Wander Franco and Yandy Diaz will form the left side of the Rays infield.

AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scores four times in blowout Wendle went 3-for-5 with four runs Saturday in the Rays' 12-3 win over the Orioles.

Impact Since notching a season-high four hits July 24 in Cleveland, Wendle fell into a 3-for-21 slump at the plate over his subsequent six starts before his bat caught fire Saturday. Though Wendle is holding down a credible .774 OPS on the season, the Rays' infield logjam will likely continue to cost him at least a couple of starts per week. He'll remain in the lineup for Sunday's series finale, manning third base and batting sixth.

AUGUST 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays beat Mariners 4-3 to avoid season series sweep

Randy Arozarena had a two-run triple during a three-run third and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to avoid a season series sweep

AUGUST 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Losing work in infield Wendle is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Impact Wendle has now sat for the second time in three games that the Rays have faced a right-handed starting pitcher, with his lack of usage seemingly signaling that he'll be the odd man out more often than not in the crowded Tampa Bay infield. The downturn in playing time comes even while Wendle performed respectably in July, finishing the month with a .304/.328/.429 slash line in 15 games.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Riding pine against left-hander Wendle isn't starting Friday's game against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Wendle will take a seat with left-hander Martin Perez on the mound for Boston. Yandy Diaz will start at third base and bat fourth.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Thursday's lineup Wendle will sit Thursday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Wendle hits the bench even with the right-handed Gerrit Cole on the mound for the Yankees. Yandy Diaz gets the start at third base.

JULY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Idle against lefty Wendle is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The lefty-hitting Wendle will hit the bench for the second time in four games with the Yankees bringing southpaw Jordan Montgomery to the hill. Yandy Diaz will pick up a start at third base in Wendle's stead.

JULY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Four hits against Cleveland Wendle went 4-for-5 with two doubles in Saturday's 8-2 win over Cleveland.

Impact Unfortunately for the 31-year-old infielder, his big night didn't result in any offense as Austin Meadows kept clearing the bases in front of him, and the hitters behind him in the Rays' order went a combined 1-for-12. Wendle has delivered two multi-hit performances in six starts since the All-Star break, batting .370 (10-for-27) over that stretch, but a crowded roster keeps him from being an everyday player no matter how hot he is.

JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Meadows hits 2 homers, Rays win 11th in row over Indians

Austin Meadows hit a pair of two-run homers, Ji-Man Choi had three RBIs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Cleveland 8-2 on Saturday night, extending their winning streak over the Indians...

JULY 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cruz HR in Rays debut, Tampa Bay beats Cleveland 10th in row

Nelson Cruz homered in his Tampa Bay debut and Joey Wendle hit a go-ahead single in a six-run ninth inning as the Rays beat the Cleveland Indians 10-5

JULY 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not in Friday's lineup Wendle is out of the lineup Friday against Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact New addition Nelson Cruz should handle most of the starts at designated hitter going forward, creating even more of a logjam in what was already a crowded infield. Wendle will continue to compete for playing time at third base, shortstop and second base with Wander Franco, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Taylor Walls.

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Laces RBI triple Wendle went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple in a win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

Impact Wendle now has two triples in three straight seasons, and Wednesday's three-bagger snapped a 1-1 tie in the second inning. The lefty-swinging 31-year-old has played in only nine July games due to matchup considerations, but he's reached safely in eight of them while lacing four of his 10 hits during that sample for extra bases.

JULY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Wacha expected to start as Tampa Bay hosts Baltimore

The Rays will send Michael Wacha to the mound Wednesday and the Orioles plan to give Keegan Akin the start

JULY 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes seat Tuesday Wendle is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Wendle will be a victim of the Rays' logjam in the infield for the second time in four games. Wander Franco will cover third base in place of Wendle, who sits after going 1-for-8 with four strikeouts while starting the past two contests.

JULY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE