MIKE ZUNINO NEWS

Out of lineup again Friday Zunino is not starting Friday against Miami, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact He'll sit for the second game in a row as Tampa Bay looks to keep his legs fresh heading into the postseason. Zunino is 5-for-7 with a double and run scored during his last two starts, but Francisco Mejia will get the nod behind the plate once again Friday.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays rookie INF Wander Franco returns from hamstring injury

Tampa Bay Rays rookie Wander Franco has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing two weeks with a right hamstring injury

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes seat Wednesday Zunino isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Zunino went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and a strikeout in Tuesday's loss to Toronto, but he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Francisco Mejia will start at catcher and bat eighth.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets Monday off Zunino is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Zunino looks to be getting a routine maintenance day after he started the final two games of the Rays' weekend series with the Tigers. Francisco Mejia will fill in for Zunino behind the dish Monday, batting seventh.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Impresses with three-hit day Zunino went 3-for-3 in Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Tigers.

Impact Zunino had three of the Rays' five total hits for the day after singling in the third, fifth and eighth innings. His performance at the plate was a bit surprising given the fact that he's slashing .138/.231/.384 against right-handed pitching this season. The 30-year-old continues to be a power threat with 31 home runs yet still often finds himself in a platoon against righties with Francisco Mejia.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers, Peralta slow AL-East leading Rays 2-0

Wily Peralta gave up three hits in seven innings, and Eric Haase and Dustin Garneau homered for the Detroit Tigers in a 2-0 win over the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Candelario and Garneau homer, Tigers beat Rays 4-3

Jeimer Candelario and Dustin Garneau homered as the Detroit Tigers beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Receives Friday off Zunino is out of the lineup Friday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Zunino homer in each of the past two games and started the last three contests, so he'll receive a breather Friday. Francisco Mejia will take over behind the plate for Tampa Bay.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mize expected to start for the Tigers against Rays

The Rays will roll out Luis Patino to the mound Friday and the Tigers will give Casey Mize the start

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blasts another long ball Zunino went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a strikeout in Thursday's 5-2 triumph over Detroit.

Impact The All-Star catcher extended Tampa Bay's lead to 5-1 with a 431-foot shot to center in the sixth inning, giving Zunino 31 on the season. Four of Zunino's seven hits this month have left the yard as he continues his all-or-nothing season.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Belts homer No. 30 Zunino went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact The catcher supplied the only run Tampa Bay managed off Robbie Ray with his fifth-inning blast. Zunino has reached 30 homers in a season for the first time in his career, but it's the only consistent part of his offensive profile -- he's batting .176 (6-for-34) in September and just .203 on the year.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bichette HRs, drives in 5; Ray fans 13 as Jays beat Rays 6-3

Bo Bichette homered and matched a career high with five RBIs, Robbie Ray fanned 13 over seven innings to claim the major league strikeout lead and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Ta...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Choi and Lowe HR, Rays beat Jays 2-0 to reach 90-win mark

Drew Rasmussen combined with four relievers on a three-hitter

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting again Monday Zunino is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Zunino appears to have moved into more of a timeshare with Francisco Mejia late in the season; the former will be sitting for the third time in four games. Even with his playing time declining, Zunino has already turned in the one of the best seasons of his nine-year career. His 29 home runs are already a career-high total, and he's just eight RBI behind the personal-best mark of 64 he established in 2017 with Seattle.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Sunday Zunino is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Consecutive hitless performances have lowered Zunino's average to .161 in the last 10 games. Four of his five hits have gone for extra bases, though, and he has five RBI in that span. Francisco Mejia is catching and batting eighth Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joey Wendle, Dietrich Enns lead Rays to 7-2 win over Tigers

Joey Wendle tripled and homered, 30-year-old Dietrich Enns won for the first time in the major leagues and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 7-2 on Saturday

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets rest Friday Zunino is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Tigers.

Impact Zunino went 3-for-7 with a pair of homers and a triple while starting the previous two games behind the plate. He'll get a rest Friday as Francisco Mejia works behind the plate and bats eighth.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard twice Tuesday Zunino went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a triple and four RBI in Tuesday's 12-7 win over Boston.

Impact The catcher had gone 5-for-38 across 12 games since his last multi-hit effort, but he broke out of the slump with force Tuesday. Zunino extended his career high in homers to 29, and he's added 55 RBI and 55 runs scored through 324 plate appearances. He's rarely a threat to hit for a high average, as his .211 mark is the highest he's had since 2017, but his OPS is a career-best .864 through 94 contests.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cruz, 41, oldest to hit 3O HRs in year, Rays bop Bosox 12-7

Nelson Cruz homered twice and, at 41 years old, became the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in a season, powering the Tampa Bay Rays past the Boston Red So...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Impact Zunino caught both of the final two games of the Rays' weekend series with the Twins, going 0-for-8 between those contests to sink his season average to .201. With the Rays facing a quick turnaround for the Labor Day game in Boston, Francisco Mejia will get a turn behind the dish in place of Zunino.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Díaz, Rays tie team record with 6 HRs, romp past Twins 11-4

Yandy Díaz hit one of Tampa Bay’s franchise record-tying six homers and drove in four runs, Wander Franco extended his on-base streak to 34 games and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Receives breather Friday Zunino is not in the lineup Friday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Zunino will head to the bench after starting the past two games, which has been a regular occurrence for much of the season. Francisco Mejia will take over behind the plate and bat eighth in Friday's series opener.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Zunino will be on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Impact Zunino hits the bench after starting two games in a row. The Rays have asked him to start three straight games just once thus far in the second half. Francisco Mejia starts behind the plate in his absence.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Franco, AL East-leading Rays win 8th in row, top Red Sox 6-1

Wander Franco extended his on-base streak 30 games with a two-run single, fellow rookie Luis Patiño pitched neatly into the sixth inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays won...

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Patino scheduled to start as Tampa Bay hosts Boston

The Rays will roll out Luis Patino to the mound Monday and the Red Sox will give Nick Pivetta the start

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS