SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • MLB.COM
JOEY WENDLE #18 - SHORTSTOP - ATLANTA BRAVES
0 HR •
1 RBI •
.222 AVG
0 HR
1 RBI
.222 AVG
Pieces falling into place for Rays at right time The Rays won the American League East on Wednesday, and now they’re closing in on being the AL’s top-seeded team with a 6-4 win over the Phi...
Wendle's hit in 8th helps Rays ding Phillies' playoff hopes
Joey Wendle had a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning and the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays rallied to hurt Philadelphia’s playoff hopes, beating the Phillies 6-4SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday Sports in Brief
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays clinch first AL East title in 10 years
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pops fourth homer Wendle went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 8-5 win over the Mets.
Impact Wendle opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second inning off Mets starter Michael Wacha. The infielder now has four homers, eight stolen bases, 14 RBI and 22 runs scored in 48 contests.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rays beat Mets 8-5, clinch 1st AL East title in 10 years
Randy Arozarena homered twice and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched their first AL East title in 10 years Wednesday night with an 8-5 victory over the New York MetsSEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Third straight two-hit effort Wendle went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Tuesday in the Rays' 5-2 loss to the Mets.
Impact The 30-year-old came through with his third straight two-hit day, lifting his season-long batting average to .280. Wendle isn't known for being a prolific speedster, but he was once again opportunistic as a base runner Tuesday, as he and Willy Adames executed a successful double steal in the sixth inning. He's now up to eight stolen bases on the season, matching his total from 2019 in almost 100 fewer plate appearances.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Continues producing in win Wendle went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in a win over the Mets on Monday. He was also caught stealing on a second attempt.
Impact Wendle's rollercoaster campaign at the plate continued its latest upswing Monday, with his multi-hit effort pushing his line over the last nine contests to an impressive .364/.389/.545 (36 plate appearances). The versatile infielder now has a trio of two-hit efforts over the last four contests, and he's lifted his season averaged 25 points to .275 during the aforementioned hot stretch.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Homers in win Wendle went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and another RBI during Thursday's victory over Baltimore.
Impact Wendle evened the score, 6-6, with a two-run shot against Travis Lakins in the fourth inning. The 30-year-old now has hit six home runs and scored 21 runs this season while batting .261/.321/.401.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
White Sox, Rays secure berths in the postseason
White Sox, Rays secure berths in the postseasonSEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Day off Tuesday Wendle will hit the bench Tuesday against the Nationals, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Impact Wendle sits after starting 15 of the last 16 games. He hit just .220/.292/.339 over that stretch. Mike Brosseau will start at third base, Wendel's most common recent position.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Inconsistent September continues Wendle, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in a win over the Red Sox on Friday, is 0-for-20 in five September games outside of his trio of two-hit efforts.
Impact It's been a somewhat unusual ride for Wendle since the calendar flipped, as the normally above-average contact hitter has also struck out on multiple occasions in three games and 10 times overall. Wendle has had moments this season where he's looked like the hitter that slashed .300/.354/.435 over 545 plate appearances back in 2018, but there have also been stretches bearing resemblance to his career-worst 2019 campaign in which he produced an unsightly .231/.293/.340 line in 75 games. Wendle's defensive versatility does continue to afford him regular playing time, as he's now seen time for at least a portion of a game on 18 occasions at second base, 20 at third base, and eight at shortstop.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Dalbec homers for 5th straight game, Red Sox beat Rays 4-3
Rookie Bobby Dalbec homered for his fifth consecutive game, Rafael Devers homered and drove in three runs and the AL-worst Boston Red Sox beat the AL-best Tampa Bay Rays 4-3SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Out of Tuesday's lineup Wendle is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Nationals, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact The lefty-hitting Wendle will head to the bench despite a righty (Anibal Sanchez) pitching for the opposition. Brandon Lowe is starting at the keystone while Yoshi Tsutsugo handles the hot corner. Wendle is hitting .190 with one home run, two steals, one walk and 11 strikeouts in 42 at-bats over his last 10 games.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Two hits, steal in win Wendle went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Friday's win over the Marlins.
Impact Wendle is not capturing many headlines but has a couple homers and three steals now with a palatable .269 batting average. He's in a good spot, batting regularly in the top third of the Rays' order against right-handed pitching, and best of all for fantasy, Wendle has three-position eligibility.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rays' Cash makes threat after Chapman's 101 mph brush back
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empt...SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Records second homer Wendle went 1-for-6 with a solo home run in a win over the Marlins on Sunday.
Impact Wendle's leadoff 399-foot shot to right field turned out to be harbinger of an offensive barrage for the Rays in their 12-run outburst. The versatile veteran has now hit safely in 10 consecutive starts, a stretch during which he's generated a .325/.341/.525 slash line with five doubles, Sunday's homer, six RBI, one walk and six runs.
AUGUST 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Sánchez pinch slam, Hicks HR help Yanks take 2 from Mets
AUGUST 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Adames hits grand slam, surging Rays beat Marlins for sweep
Willy Adames hit a grand slam and the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat the Miami Marlins 12-7 on Sunday to finish a three-game sweepAUGUST 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Drives in two Wendle went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Marlins.
Impact Wendle came to bat with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and delivered with a two-run double to put the Rays up 4-0. He played a big part in the victory, as he also scored a run to put the team up 2-0 in the seventh frame. With the performance, Wendle extended his hitting streak to eight games and is now hitting .301/.356/.458 across 90 plate appearances this season.
AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rookie Fleming, Rays hold Marlins to 3 hits, win 4-0
Rookie Josh Fleming and four relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Tampa Bay pitchers extended their streak of success at Marlins Park to 36 consecutive scoreless innings as th...AUGUST 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yankees beat Mets 2-1 to stop 7-game slide
AUGUST 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grichuk hits 3-run homer in 7th, Blue Jays beat Rays 6-4
Randal Grichuk hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning before later leaving with lower back tightness and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4AUGUST 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Getting more work versus righties Wendle will start at second base and will bat sixth Monday against the Blue Jays, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Impact Wendle has seemingly supplanted Hunter Renfroe as a mainstay in the Tampa Bay lineup against right-handed pitching. Brandon Lowe will shift to the right field while Renfroe sits for the second straight day, paving the way for Wendle to pick up another start at the keystone. Over his 58 plate appearances versus righties this season, Wendle is slashing .264/.328/.434 (111 wRC+).
AUGUST 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
