SHANE BAZ NEWS

Encouraged despite tough results Baz was happy with his outing Thursday against the Nationals despite allowing four earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks across 4.1 innings, Marc Topkin of the...

Impact Baz was hit hard early, as he allowed two singles and a homer to the first three batters he faced. He managed to settle in from there, and more importantly, both he and manager Kevin Cash were happy with the shape and execution of his pitches. Baz has allowed 10 earned runs with a 4:5 K:BB across 9.1 innings this spring, though there haven't been signs of panic from either he or the team.

MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE

Throws 50 pitches in spring debut Baz threw three scoreless innings while striking out two, walking one and allowing two hits in Sunday's Grapefruit League game.

Impact The outing was Baz's spring debut, and he threw 50 pitches -- 33 of which went for strikes. His velocity was also excellent, as he hit 100.6 mph with his first pitch of the game, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Baz will presumably be in the big-league rotation to begin the season, though Topkin did note the team has not committed to its five starters at this point in spring.

MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches deal with Tampa Bay Baz and the Rays avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.45 million deal, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Baz was limited to 14 starts with Tampa Bay in 2024 after spending the early part of the season completing his recovery from September 2022 Tommy John surgery as well as an oblique injury that cropped up during spring training. Once he joined the big-league rotation in early July, Baz struggled to regain his pre-surgery velocity but achieved strong results nonetheless, posting a 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 79.1 innings. Though Baz needed a .229 BABIP and a 9.6 HR/FB% to achieve the shiny ERA, now that he's further removed from elbow surgery, there's reason to hope that the 25-year-old can improve upon his 21.6 K% to help stave off the ERA correction that might otherwise be headed his way in 2025.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up fourth win Baz (4-3) got the win Saturday against the Red Sox. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings.

Impact Baz closed out the season with another strong outing as he closes out his 2024 campaign with six quality starts his last eight times out. The 25-year-old made a successful return from Tommy John Surgery this season with a 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 14 starts. Baz finished on a tear with a 2.34 ERA and 0.82 ERA in his last 50 innings.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up fourth win Baz (4-3) got the win Saturday against the Red Sox. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings.

Impact Baz closed out the season with another strong outing, and he ends his 2024 campaign with six quality starts his final eight turns. The 25-year-old made a successful return from Tommy John surgery this season with a 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 14 starts. Baz finished on a tear with a 2.34 ERA and 0.82 ERA in his last 50 innings.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up fourth win Baz (4-3) got the win Saturday against the Red Sox. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Impact Baz closed out the season with another strong outing as he closes out his 2024 campaign with six quality starts his last eight times out. The 25-year-old made a successful return from Tommy John Surgery this season with a 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 14 starts. Baz finished on a tear with a 2.34 ERA and 0.82 ERA in his last 50 innings.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Six strong innings Baz allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out six across six innings Sunday against the Blue Jays. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Baz dominated early and held the Blue Jays without a hit through three innings. His only true trouble came in the fourth inning when he escaped a bases-loaded jam by allowing only one earned run. There were other positives from the performance, as Baz didn't allow a home run for the first time in his last four starts. He has also allowed only one walk in each of his last three outings and has complied a 16:3 K:BB across 18.1 innings in that span.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Breezes to third win Baz (3-3) earned the win Tuesday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out six.

Impact The 25-year-old flamethrower was outstanding in this 96-pitch performance, generating an impressive 18 whiffs -- with 10 alone coming on his fastball -- en route to his six punchouts. All the damage Boston was able to impart on Baz came via a Triston Casas two-run homer in the second inning. This marks the fifth consecutive outing in which Baz has yielded two or fewer runs, as he's pitched to a 2.03 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 24:11 K:BB over 31 innings during that span. He is scheduled to make his next start against Toronto at home this weekend.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Baz goes 7 strong innings, Siri homers and drives in 4 runs as Rays beat Red Sox 8-3

Shane Baz allowed two runs and two hits over seven innings, Jose Siri hit a home run and drove in four, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 8-3

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No-decision against Phillies Baz came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Phillies, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

Impact The home side tagged Baz for two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but he bounced back and closed the door for the rest of his outing, leaving the mound with the score tied 2-2. The right-hander tossed 52 of 78 pitches for strikes, and the Rays may have been keeping an eye on his workload after he threw a season-high 103 pitches in his prior start. Baz will look to get back in the win column in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Red Sox.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Loses despite quality start Baz (2-3) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks over six innings Friday, striking out five and taking a loss against Baltimore.

Impact Baz worked through four shutout frames before coughing up a run in the fifth inning. He then gave up a solo shot to Gunnar Henderson in the sixth. Baz forced 15 swinging strikes, including six with his curveball. He's allowed two or fewer runs in six of his 10 appearances since returning from the injured list. Baz has produced a 3.27 ERA and a 46:23 K:BB across 55 innings. He's currently in line to start in Philadelphia next week.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Strikes out five in win Baz (2-2) earned the win against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Impact Baz allowed a two-run homer in the first inning and then rebounded with four scoreless frames before being lifted at 78 pitches. The 25-year-old looked healthy after being scratched with the flu last Sunday, and he has now yielded three earned runs or fewer in six of seven outings since the All-Star break. On the season, he owns a 3.49 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB across 49 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Twins next week.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Strikes out five in win Baz (2-2) earned the win against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Impact Baz allowed a two-run homer in the first inning and then rebounded with four scoreless frames before being lifted at 78 pitches. The 25-year-old looked healthy after being scratched with the flu Sunday and has now yielded three earned runs or fewer in six of seven outings since the All-Star break. On the season, he owns a 3.49 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB across 49 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Twins next week.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Expected back Saturday Baz (illness) is expected to start Saturday against the Padres, MLB.com reports.

Impact Baz was scratched from his start Sunday, but he threw Wednesday and is expected to throw a bullpen session Thursday. Assuming the latter goes well, he should be lined up for his return to the rotation this weekend.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched from Sunday start Baz is battling the flu and won't start Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Baz is feeling under the weather and won't make his scheduled start. It's unclear if the Rays intend to push Baz back or skip his turn in the rotation entirely, and they have yet to name a replacement starter for Sunday. If Baz gets skipped over, he'll have five days of rest before his next outing -- which is tentatively scheduled to come Saturday against San Diego.

AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched from Sunday's start Baz is battling the flu and won't start Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Baz is feeling under the weather and won't make his scheduled start. It's unclear if the Rays intend to push Baz back a few days or skip his turn in the rotation entirely, and they have yet to name a replacement starter for Sunday.

AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' Shane Baz, Rob Brantly team up for triumphant comebacks as Tampa Bay beats A's

On one side of the winning Tampa Bay clubhouse, pitcher Shane Baz celebrated his first win in more than two years after a long journey back from Tommy John surgery

AUGUST 21, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wins pitching duel Baz (1-2) allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four over 7.2 shutout innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Tuesday.

Impact Baz gave up more baserunners than Oakland starter Joey Estes, but he was able to keep the hosts off the scoreboard. This was the second outing in a row where Baz reached the seven-inning mark, and he's now logged quality starts in four of his eight outings this season. For the season, he's at a 3.48 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 36:17 K:BB over 44 innings. Baz will have a tougher matchup his next time out, as he's projected for a road start versus the Dodgers.

AUGUST 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Baz dazzles in career-best scoreless outing OAKLAND -- It’s pretty rare these days to see two pitchers get through seven innings without the bullpen getting up. But that happened Tuesd...

AUGUST 21, 2024 • MLB.COM

Siri homers to break up scoreless game, help Baz to first win in two years as Rays beat A's 1-0

Jose Siri homered with two outs in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless pitchers’ duel and help Shane Baz earn his first victory in more than two years, and the Tampa Bay Rays...

AUGUST 21, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Mookie Betts deal and the 15 worst MLB trades of the past decade

Colin Cowherd believes the Mookie Betts trade is one of the two worst in MLB history. Here's a look at the 15 worst trades over the past dec...

AUGUST 14, 2024

Goes seven innings in loss Baz (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Astros, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out six.

Impact While he ultimately came away with the loss Tuesday, it was a solid outing from Baz, who delivered a season-high seven innings after he was tagged for four runs in just 4.1 frames against the Cardinals in his last start. The 25-year-old Baz now has a 4.21 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP and 32:14 K:BB through his first 36.1 innings this season. He's currently slated to face the A's on the road early next week in his next start.

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles early in no-decision Baz did not factor into the decision in a win over the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings while striking out two.

Impact Baz got beat up in the first inning after walking the leadoff man and then hitting Wilson Contreras with a pitch two batters later, eventually allowing three runs to come across in the frame. The right-hander was then tagged for another run in the third after allowing three consecutive batters to reach with two outs, and would fail to make it through five innings for the third time in six starts this season. Baz's two strikeouts on the night marked his second-lowest total of the season in that category and he's now issued multiple free passes in three of his last four outings. The rookie will look to secure his first win of the season when the Rays take on the Astros at home next week.

AUGUST 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sharp in no-decision Baz allowed two runs, six hits and one walk while striking out five over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against the Astros on Friday.

Impact Baz ran into trouble in the fourth inning but otherwise worked in and out of trouble in another solid showing for the young right-hander. Baz is still looking for his first win of the season, but he's yet to allow more than three runs in any of his five starts. The 25-year-old has five or more strikeouts in four starts this season and will carry a 3.60 ERA into a matchup vs the Cardinals next week.

AUGUST 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Tosses quality start in no-decision Baz allowed two runs, two hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings in a no-decision against the Reds on Friday.

Impact Baz struck out a season-high seven but left with a 2-2 tie after six innings and failed to record his first win of the campaign. The 25-year-old gave up a two-run double to Jeimer Candelario in the first inning, and he would cruise over the next five innings, only allowing one hit. Baz now has two quality starts in his four appearances this season, and he has 19 strikeouts in 19.2 innings.

JULY 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE