Smyly expected to start for the Braves against the Rays
The Braves are expected to send Drew Smyly to the mound Sunday and the Rays will give Rich Hill the startJULY 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOEY WENDLE #18 - SHORTSTOP - ATLANTA BRAVES
0 HR •
1 RBI •
.222 AVG
0 HR
1 RBI
.222 AVG
Takes seat Saturday Wendle is not starting Saturday's game against Atlanta.
Impact Despite coming off a monster, three-hit performance, Wendle, a .175 hitter against lefty pitching, is omitted from the lineup against southpaw Max Fried. Yandy Diaz will start at third base, with Ji-Man Choi playing first base.
JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Has three-hit day in win Wendle went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-6 win over Atlanta.
Impact Wendle came out of the break hot with his seventh game of at least three hits this year. He doubled and eventually scored his first time up and then notched a pair of singles and a walk the rest of the way. The 31-year-old has now hit safely in eight of his last nine games and for the year is slashing .281/.343/.457 with seven homers, 34 RBI, 46 runs scored, six steals and an 18:63 BB:K over 283 plate appearances. Wendle has played well enough to earn the first All-Star bid of his career but is still being platooned against left-handers which hurts his upside.
JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Meadows' RBI single in 10th lifts Tampa Bay past Braves 7-6
Austin Meadows’ 10th-inning single drove in Brett Phillips from second base with the tiebreaking run and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6JULY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
First-time MLB All-Stars reflect on what it means to make it this far
What would your 10-year-old self say now? That's the question Jordan Shusterman asked first-time All-Stars ahead of Tuesday's game.JULY 13, 2021
Out of lineup against lefty Sunday Wendle is not starting Sunday against the Blue Jays and lefty Robbie Ray, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Wendle struck out five times while going 2-for-8 with a run scored during the first two games of the series. Yandy Diaz will shift to the hot corner for Sunday's series finale as Wendle starts the game on the bench.
JULY 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lowe helps Rays beat Blue Jays 5-2 for 6th straight win
Brandon Lowe homered twice and Mike Zunino also connected, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 for their sixth consecutive winJULY 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Acuña out for year, Machado in; Realmuto an All-Star starter
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., elected to start Tuesday’s All-Star Game as the NL’s top vote-getter among outfielders, tore the ACL in his right knee during Atlanta’s 5-4 win over the...JULY 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays bullpen dominates again in 7-1 win over Blue Jays
Three Tampa Bay relievers combined on five more scoreless innings, Ji-Man Choi drove in three runs and the Rays won their fifth consecutive game, 7-1 over the Toronto Blue JaysJULY 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takes seat against southpaw Wendle isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Wendle went 1-for-3 with a double and two runs in Wednesday's matinee, but he'll retreat to the bench with left-hander Sam Hentges starting the second game. Wander Franco will shift to third base while Taylor Walls starts at shortstop.
JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
On bench again Wendle is not starting Monday's game against Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Another matchup versus a lefty, another day on the bench for Wendle. The utility player may enter the game at some point though, as Cleveland starter Logan Allen doesn't figure to pitch too deep into the game before turning things over to a righty-heavy bullpen. Yandy Diaz starts at third base Monday, with Ji-Man Choi playing first base.
JULY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Takes seat against lefty Wendle is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact The 31-year-old has hit a lowly .177 of left-handed pitching in 2021, so he understandably gets a day off as the Rays face Robbie Ray. Wendle has struggled overall recently, hitting .156 with just one RBI in his last nine games. Wander Franco gets the start at third base Sunday.
JULY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Springer homers again, Blue Jays hand Rays 5th straight loss
George Springer homered for the second straight day, Santiago Espinal hit his first career home run and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3JULY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sits against southpaw Wendle isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Wendle will take a seat for the second time in the last three games with left-hander Jon Lester starting for the Nationals. Yandy Diaz will shift to third base while Ji-Man Choi starts at first base.
JUNE 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Not starting Sunday Wendle is out of the lineup Sunday against the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Wendle started the past four games and will take a seat Sunday against left-hander Patrick Sandoval. Yandy Diaz will work at the hot corner while Ji-Man Choi starts at first base.
JUNE 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kiermaier ends combined no-hit bid, Rays top Red Sox 1-0
Kevin Kiermaier broke up a combined no-hit bid by the Boston Red Sox with a one-out double in the eighth inning and Manuel Margot scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to give the Ta...JUNE 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Red Sox bid for combined no-hitter vs Rays ends in 8th
Kevin Kiermaier doubled off reliever Darwinzon Hernández with one out in the eighth inning for Tampa Bay’s first hit against the Boston Red SoxJUNE 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Heads to bench Wendle is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Impact The Rays' flexible roster means it's not immediately clear how the arrival of Wander Franco will affect the rest of the team's playing time. Franco starts in Wendle's usual spot at third base for his MLB debut Tuesday, but it will take more than one game to determine how Wendle's role will change. Wendle is hitting a strong .294/.350/.491 on the season, though it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sitting more often against lefties like Tuesday's starter Eduardo Rodriguez going forward.
JUNE 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
On multi-game surge Wendle, who went 1-for-4 with a run in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Sunday, is hitting .367 (11-for-30) with three doubles, one home run, five RBI, a walk, a stolen ba...
Impact The hot stretch includes a quartet of multi-hit efforts, the most impressive being a 3-for-4 tally in Saturday's victory over Tampa Bay. Wendle's season slash line now stands at .292/.350/.491 across 234 plate appearances, and he's already equaled his career high with seven home runs.
JUNE 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Crawford's slam, 10th-inning run lifts Mariners past Rays
JJUNE 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On bench against southpaw Wendle isn't starting Friday's game against the Mariners, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Wendle had started each of the last six games, but he'll retreat to the bench with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi starting for the Mariners on Friday. Mike Brosseau will start at third base and bat fifth.
JUNE 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Mariners score 2 in 9th to rally past Rays 6-5
Shed Long Jr. hit a tying double in the bottom of the ninth inning and pinch-hitter Kyle Seager singled home the winning run to rally the Seattle Mariners past the Tampa Bay Rays 6...JUNE 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On two-game heater Wendle went into Sunday's series finale against the Orioles having gone 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs over the last two games.
Impact The versatile infielder pushed his season line to an outstanding .293/.353/.505 with the mini-surge while also hitting the 30-RBI mark for only the second time in his career. Wendle has also regularly put good wood on the ball, as 25 of his 55 hits have gone for extra bases.
JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rays hand Orioles record-setting 14th road loss in row, 5-4
Joey Wendle had an RBI double during a three-run first inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays handed the Baltimore Orioles their record-setting 14th consecutive road loss, 5...JUNE 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sitting against lefty Wendle is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Wendle is out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game with the Rays set to face another southpaw in Keegan Akin. The infielder homered off the bench Wednesday and could certainly play a role as a pinch hitter again Friday. Mike Brosseau will start at third base and bat fifth.
JUNE 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
