MICHAEL WACHA NEWS

Set to join rotation The Rays plan to have Wacha start Friday's game against the Mariners if he isn't needed out of the bullpen in Tampa Bay's next two contests, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times repo...

Impact Wacha will be joining the rotation as a replacement for Tyler Glasnow (elbow), who is likely in line for a long-term absence after he was diagnosed Tuesday with a partial UCL tear and flexor strain. The 29-year-old had previously opened the season as a member of the Tampa Bay rotation, but Wacha had transitioned into more of a multi-inning relief role upon returning from a hamstring injury in late May. Through his 11 outings (seven starts) in his first season in Tampa Bay, Wacha has compiled a 4.54 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 37:20 K:BB in 39.2 innings.

JUNE 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Keuchel crisp thru 7, leads White Sox past Rays 3-0

Dallas Keuchel pitched seven innings of crisp four-hit ball to win his fifth straight decision, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0

JUNE 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays ace Glasnow has elbow tear, no surgery for now

Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow has a partially torn elbow ligament, putting in doubt his future for the rest of this season and beyond

JUNE 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yields run in two innings Wacha allowed a run on two hits and a walk in two innings in a 7-1 win over Baltimore on Sunday. He did not factor in the decision.

Impact The 29-year-old gave up an RBI single to Pat Valaika in the second inning. Wacha then turned the ball over to Josh Fleming, who pitched four scoreless innings. Working as an opener essentially nullifies Wacha's chances of getting a win, although he's also seen time as a bulk reliever. The right-hander has a 4.54 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB across 39.2 innings.

JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Arozarena slam, Rays 'pen hand Orioles 15th road loss in row

Randy Arozarena hit his first career grand slam, Tampa Bay relievers threw seven no-hit innings, and the Rays handed the Baltimore Orioles their 15th consecutive road loss with a 7...

JUNE 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Working as opener Wacha is slated to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Since returning from the injured list May 23, Wacha hasn't cover more than three innings in any of his four appearances for Tampa Bay, so he likely won't be asked to work deep into Sunday's contest. Once Wacha exits, Josh Fleming will take over as the Rays' bulk reliever, and the lefty is the most likely Rays pitcher to factor into any decision.

JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles take 3-game slide into matchup with Rays

Baltimore is looking to snap its three-game losing streak with a win over Tampa Bay

JUNE 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lasts 2.2 innings as opener Wacha didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Rangers after tossing 2.2 innings of one-run ball, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out one.

Impact Wacha got the start in what ended up being a bullpen game for the Rays and looked effective, but as it has been the case in most cases when he's on the mound, he wasn't asked to pitch deep into the contest. The right-hander continues to work out of the bullpen or as an opener since returning from the injured list in late May, and that role is not expected to change moving forward. He's given up one or fewer earned runs in three of his last four appearances.

JUNE 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rookie Walls sparks late surge as Rays beat Rangers 7-1

Rookie Taylor Walls had a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning among a season-high three hits, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 7-1

JUNE 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dunning scheduled to start for Texas against Tampa Bay

The Rangers will roll out Dane Dunning to the mound Sunday and the Rays will give Michael Wacha the start

JUNE 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Set for Sunday start Wacha will start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.

Impact Wacha made five starts in April, but was a used as a long reliever for all of May. He'll now return to the rotation to start Sunday against Texas.

JUNE 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

41-year-old Hill gets Rays started in 3-0 shutout of Texas

Rich Hill pitched five scoreless innings as the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the Texas Rangers 3-0

JUNE 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets second hold Wacha secured his second hold in a win over the Yankees on Monday, allowing an earned run on one hit over 1.2 innings. He did not issue a walk or record a strikeout.

Impact The veteran right-hander continued to perform reasonably well in his apparent new role as a multi-inning reliever, with his one hiccup the solo home run he surrendered to Miguel Andujar for the Yankees' only run of the game. All three appearances Wacha has made since returning from a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain have come in relief, with the veteran allowing three earned runs on six hits over 6.2 innings in those outings.

JUNE 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays win for 16th time in 17 games, Hill beats Yankees 3-1

Rich Hill finished May with the lowest monthly ERA in 75 years of a pitcher in his 40s, and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 16th time in 17 games by keeping up their domination of t...

MAY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In relief role for now Wacha, who notched his first hold in a win over the Royals on Thursday, has been used in a multi-inning relief role in his first two appearances since returning from the injured li...

Impact Wacha followed up a dominant Grapefruit League stint this spring with a so-so six-start stretch to open the season (1-1, 4.76 ERA) before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. In his absence, both Shane McClanahan and Josh Fleming have both largely solidified their spots in the Rays' rotation, apparently leaving Wacha's best fit as an inning-eating option out of the bullpen for the time being.

MAY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Meadows homers and has 4 RBIs, Rays beat Royals 7-2

Austin Meadows homered and had four RBIs, Shane McClanahan went five scoreless innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 7-2

MAY 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tosses two scoreless innings Wacha tossed two scoreless innings Sunday against the Blue Jays, giving up one hit and fanning one. He didn't factor into the decision.

Impact Wacha returned to the mound following a three-week absence and while his outing was short, he looked composed on the mound and only allowed one baserunner. He tossed 14 of his 24 pitches for strikes and should be in line for a bigger workload in his next start, scheduled for the weekend series at home against the Phillies.

MAY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays rally with 5 walks in 9th, top Jays for 10th win in row

Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with two outs in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for their 10th straight win, be...

MAY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activated ahead of start The Rays activated Wacha (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Tampa Bay cleared room for Wacha on the 26-man active roster by optioning right-hander Brent Honeywell to Triple-A Durham following Saturday's 3-1 win over Toronto. Since Wacha didn't head out on a minor-league rehab assignment after he was shut down three weeks ago with the hamstring injury, the Rays likely won't count on him to work deep into Sunday's start. Look for Josh Fleming to cover the bulk of the innings in long relief once Wacha exits the contest.

MAY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Toronto hosts Tampa Bay, looks to build on Ray's strong outing

Toronto looks to follow up a dominant outing by Saturday starter Robbie Ray

MAY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returning from IL to start Sunday Wacha (hamstring) will be activated from the 10-day injured list to start Sunday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The 29-year-old faced live hitters Wednesday and will return from a three-week absence Sunday. The Rays haven't announced their full plans, but there's a chance Wacha is used in tandem with a young arm like Josh Fleming, who previously lined up to start versus Toronto.

MAY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Walls 2 doubles in debut, Rays beat Jays for 9th win in row

Taylor Walls hit a pair of doubles in his major league debut and the Tampa Bay Rays won their ninth straight game, 3-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays

MAY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activation appears imminent Wacha (hamstring) performed well in his throwing session against live hitters Wednesday and could be activated at some point this weekend, the Associated Press reports. "It's proba...

Impact The right-hander had been able to throw multiple bullpen sessions since going on the injured list May 5, so Wednesday's activity versus live bats represented a more aggressive step in his recovery process. Assuming he remains free of setbacks, it appears Wacha is on the verge of activation after approximately an extra week more than required on the injured list.

MAY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays to face Blue Jays on the road

The Rays will start Tyler Glasnow on Friday while the Blue Jays have yet to decide who will get the start

MAY 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays push winning streak to 7, beat O's 10-1 for sweep

Joey Wendle homered twice, Rich Hill combined with his bullpen on a two-hitter and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-1 to extend their winning streak to seven games

MAY 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS