TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Harold Ramírez - Pushing for full-time role Ramirez will start in right field and bat third in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Impact The righty-hitting Ramirez will stick in the lineup for an eighth consecutive contest and will be making a fourth straight start against a right-handed pitcher (Ross Stripling). The Rays have mostly deployed Ramirez as a short-side platoon player this season, but he appears to have usurped the struggling Josh Lowe for a full-time spot in either the corner outfield or at designated hitter. While starting the past seven games, Ramirez has gone 11-for-26 (.423 average) with three doubles, three walks, a stolen base, five runs and three RBI.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Lowe - Losing work to Harold Ramirez Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The lefty-hitting Lowe is on the bench for a second straight game against a right-handed starting pitcher (Ross Stripling), after he was excluded from the lineup for the second game of Saturday's twin bill when righty Thomas Hatch took the hill for Toronto. Prior to sitting out, Lowe had gone 2-for-11 over his previous three starts, which actually raised his season-long batting average to .179. The rookie looks as though he could be moving into more of a part-time role in favor of the righty-hitting Harold Ramirez, who is starting for the eighth game in a row.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays report: Shane Baz on the mound, Cristofer Ogando in bullpen After Saturday’s doubleheader sweep, there is a chance to win the series before heading to Boston.

JULY 3, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Jeffrey Springs - Returning to start Tuesday Springs (personal) will rejoin the Rays and start Tuesday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Springs ended up staying home during the team's trip to Toronto to deal with a family medical matter. While Springs allowed three home runs his last time out, he's been fantastic overall this season in his hybrid starter/reliever role, posting a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHP over 60 innings. There's little reason to think his workload will be significantly limited in his return.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cristofer Ogando - Heading to big leagues The Rays selected Ogando's contract from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Impact Ogando was added from the Rays' taxi squad as a replacement for right-hander Ralph Garza, who wasn't in line to be available for Sunday's series finale in Toronto and was optioned to Triple-A after working two innings in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. During his time at Triple-A this season, the 28-year-old Ogando produced a 3.03 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 32:11 K:BB in 32.2 innings.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ralph Garza Jr. - Dispatched to minors The Rays optioned Garza to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Impact In addition to the five relievers that were already on the injured list heading into the weekend, the Rays added Brooks Raley and Ryan Thompson to restricted list prior to their series in Toronto. As a result, the Rays are shorthanded in the bullpen, so Garza -- who worked two scoreless innings during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader -- will be swapped off the active roster for a fresh arm. Tampa Bay called up right-hander Cristofer Ogando from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Toronto Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday

The Toronto Blue Jays host the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday

JULY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drew Rasmussen - Throws 4.2 innings in return Rasmussen (hamstring) did not factor into the decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walk...

Impact In his return from the injured list, Rasmussen did fairly well to keep the Blue Jays' high-powered offense at bay. However, he issued two walks in the fifth inning and manager Kevin Cash would not let Rasmussen face Bo Bichette a third time. With that, Rasmussen fell short of qualifying for the win, but he should be available to add to his workload gradually in his subsequent starts after throwing 68 pitches (41 strikes) Saturday.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco - Smacks first homer since return Franco went 2-for-8 with two walks, a solo home run and three total runs scored while starting both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Impact After starting at shortstop in the matinee, Franco served as the designated hitter for the evening game. The homer in Game 1 was Franco's first since April 26. The 21-year-old just returned last weekend from a quad injury that cost him close to a month, and with better health, Franco's numbers should improve in the second half.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Homers twice in Game 2 Mejia went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Impact The Rays knocked Thomas Hatch around for 10 runs in the nightcap, and Mejia was right in the middle of it. Mejia had three home runs for the season coming into the game. He raised his OPS from .588 to .642 with this one performance and will continue operating as the Rays' No. 1 catcher while Mike Zunino (shoulder) is on the injured list.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Isaac Paredes - Monster showing across twin bill Paredes went 4-for-10 with a double, two home runs, five RBI and four runs scored while starting both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Impact By homering in both ends of the doubleheader, Paredes upped his total to 13 in just 40 games this season. Eight of those 13 home runs have come in Paredes' last 10 games. Paredes has a .916 OPS, and while it can be dangerous to go chasing hot streaks, this one should at least solidify his playing time for a stretch.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jays 1B coach Budzinski leaves game for 'personal matter'

Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Mark Budzinski and manager Charlie Montoyo left the dugout during Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader loss to the Tampa Bay Rays because of a perso...

JULY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

4 Notes From Blue Jays' Doubleheader Loss to Rays The Toronto Blue Jays dropped both legs of the Saturday doubleheader to the Tampa Bay Rays.

JULY 3, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rays keep swinging hot bats, beat Blue Jays in nightcap Two homers by Francisco Mejia and another by Isaac Paredes stake Tampa Bay to a big early lead.

JULY 3, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Shane McClanahan - Continues Cy Young chase McClanahan (9-3) earned the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays. He str...

Impact Fans in Rogers Centre were robbed of a potentially great pitchers' duel, as Kevin Gausman left in the second inning after taking a comebacker off his ankle. Casey Lawrence entered in relief and was no match for McClanahan, who got 19 called strikes and 18 swinging strikes on 94 pitches. McClanahan now sits with a 1.74 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, and is arguably the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award at roughly the midway point of the season.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays get lots of hits, strong Shane McClanahan start to beat Blue Jays in first game of doubleheader TORONTO — The Rays expected the strong start from likely All-Star Shane McClanahan in Saturday’s opening game of a doubleheader.

JULY 2, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Rays get lots of hits, strong Shane McClanahan start to beat Blue Jays in first game of doubleheader TORONTO — The Rays expected the strong start from likely All-Star Shane McClanahan in Saturday’s opening game of a doubleheader.

JULY 2, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

'It felt really good': Wander, bats come to life TORONTO -- Wander Franco kept his eyes on the ball all the way until it touched the left-field foul pole, when his sprint to first base tu...

JULY 2, 2022 • MLB.COM

Kevin Kiermaier - Riding pine in nightcap Kiermaier isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Kiermaier is retreating to the bench after he went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts in Saturday's matinee. Brett Phillips will start in center field and bat ninth.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Lowe - Not starting Game 2 Lowe isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Lowe went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in the first game of the twin bill and will get a breather in the matinee. Randy Arozarena is shifting to left field while Harold Ramirez starts in right.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' Shane Baz to start Sunday, rotation vs. Red Sox unsettled Notes | Playing a doubleheader Saturday and the absence of Jeffrey Springs are complicating factors.

JULY 2, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Paredes, Franco lift Rays over Blue Jays 6-2 TORONTO - Isaac Paredes and Wander Franco both hit solo home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Saturday in the fi...

JULY 2, 2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Paredes, Franco lift Rays over Blue Jays 6-2 in first game of doubleheader TORONTO - Isaac Paredes and Wander Franco both hit solo home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Saturday in the fi...

JULY 2, 2022 • THESTAR.COM

Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman injured in loss to Rays This was a hill very tough to defend for the Blue Jays in the first of two games Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

JULY 2, 2022 • TORONTOSUN.COM

Mejía HRs twice, Rays sweep doubleheader with Blue Jays

Francisco Mejía homered twice and Isaac Paredes had three hits and five RBIs, including a three-run home run, as the Tampa Bay Rays swept a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Ja...

JULY 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS