TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Vidal Bruján - Production improving Brujan went 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Pirates.

Impact Brujan delivered a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. He then walked in the final frame before coming around to score the game-winning run on a base hit by Isaac Paredes. Brujan will find it more difficult to get regular playing time with Wander Franco (quadriceps) expected back Sunday, but he has seemingly started to find his footing at the big-league level by collecting six hits in his last 24 at-bats with a home run, five RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates vs. Rays prediction, betting odds for MLB on Sunday The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Tampa Bay Rays in MLB on Sunday. This preview is based on 10K simulations of the game.

JUNE 26, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Rays play the Pirates after Arozarena's 4-hit game

The Tampa Bay Rays play the Pittsburgh Pirates after Randy Arozarena's four-hit game on Saturday

JUNE 26, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Isaac Paredes - Three hits including walkoff Paredes went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three RBI in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Pirates.

Impact Paredes singled in the bottom of the sixth before launching a solo homer off Chase De Jong in the bottom of the eighth frame. He later delivered a walkoff two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Rays the 6-5 victory. The long ball was the 23-year-old's 10th of the season and he has now gone deep in three straight games, delivering five homers and eight RBI over those contests. Paredes is now batting .232 with 10 home runs, 20 RBI and 17 runs over 95 at-bats in 33 games this year.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Randy Arozarena - Four hits in win Arozarena went 4-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Pirates.

Impact Arozarena singled and scored in the first inning and doubled in the third frame before later adding an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth. His fourth and final hit came in the seventh inning when he added another single. The doubles were his first extra-base hits since June 12 and he also avoided striking out for the first time in nine games. Arozarena has struggled to be consistent from the plate this season, but the four-hit effort raised his average from .249 to .259.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Corey Kluber - Effective against Pirates Kluber pitched 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out six in Saturday's win over the Pirates. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Kluber was effective in this one, tossing 47 of his 63 pitches for strikes. Diego Castillo took him deep for a solo shot in the top of the third and Bryan Reynolds singled in another run later in the frame, accounting for all the damage against him. Kluber has now surrendered three or fewer runs in eight straight outings, producing a 2.70 ERA over those contests. The 36-year-old now owns a 3.45 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 66 strikeouts over 73 frames through 14 starts in 2022.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

A walk-off so nice, the Rays do it twice ST. PETERSBURG -- His name is Isaac Paredes . That’s eez-AHK puh-RAY-dehs. Also pronounced: Clutch. With the Rays down to their last strike...

JUNE 25, 2022 • MLB.COM

Paredes hits 2-run single as Rays rally past Pirates 6-5

Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the eighth inning and a two-run single with two outs in the ninth, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates

JUNE 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wander Franco set to rejoin Rays' lineup Sunday Notes | An extended program of rest and treatment, plus five games in the minors has the dynamic shortstop ready to go.

JUNE 25, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Wander Franco - On cusp of return Franco (quadriceps) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list either Sunday or Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Franco appeared in his fifth rehab game Friday with Triple-A Durham, and he's rejoining the big-league club Saturday to be evaluated before potentially being activated. The 21-year-old could be back for Sunday's series finale versus Pittsburgh, but the team may opt to take advantage of Monday's scheduled day off and instead give him an extra day before reinstating him ahead of Tuesday's matchup with Milwaukee.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pete Fairbanks - Live BP on tap Fairbanks (lat) will throw live batting practice on Monday before pitching in a Florida Complex League game Thursday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The 28-year-old has been cleared to face live hitters and if all goes well Monday will advance to game action. Following the FCL appearance, Fairbanks is then expected to join Triple-A Durham for what's likely to be multiple rehab appearances since he's been sidelined since late March by the lat strain.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Vidal Bruján - Grabs third steal Brujan went 0-for-2 with a run scored and his third stolen base of the season in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Pirates.

Impact Jonathan Arenda got the start at second base, but Brujan pinch hit for him in the sixth inning and stayed at the keystone, eventually stealing third base in the 10th inning as the phantom runner before coming home with the winning run on a Harold Ramirez single. Brujan has been seeing consistent playing time in June due to numerous injuries around the diamond for the Rays, but the 24-year-old hasn't done much with the opportunity, slashing .190/.224/.333 with two homers, two steals on five attempts, three runs and 10 RBI over 18 games.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Lowe - Swipes bag in Friday's win Lowe went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Pirates.

Impact The rookie also struck out three times, continuing the contact issues that originally got him demoted in early May. Lowe has gone 2-for-15 with seven Ks over four games since returning to the Rays' lineup, but with Kevin Kiermaier (hip) and Manuel Margot (knee) both out of action for Tampa Bay, the 24-year-old top prospect will be given a chance to figure things out in the majors.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jeffrey Springs - Fans nine in quality start Springs didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Pirates, allowing three runs on three solo home runs among seven hits over six innings. He struck...

Impact The Rays handed Springs a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the southpaw's inability to keep the ball in the park ended up costing him a win despite his otherwise impressive performance. He's served up multiple homers in three of his last six starts, but he's otherwise been sharp with a 3.03 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 38:6 K:BB through 32.2 innings over that stretch.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yandy Díaz - Steps out of lineup Diaz is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Diaz started the past 15 games and will receive Saturday off after posting a .203/.266/.254 slash line during that stretch. Isaac Paredes will start at third base and bat seventh versus Pittsburgh.

JUNE 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates vs. Rays prediction, betting odds for MLB on Saturday The Pittsburgh Pirates lock horns with the Tampa Bay Rays in MLB on Saturday. This preview features our best bet of the game.

JUNE 25, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Rays bring 1-0 series lead over Pirates into game 2

The Tampa Bay Rays lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates

JUNE 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays' Ramirez delivers winning hit in 10th to beat Bucs 4-3

Harold Ramirez scored Vidal Brujan with a game-ending pinch-single in the 10th inning, lifting the Tampa Bay Rays over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3

JUNE 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Golden Spikes Winners 2022_Ivan Melendez, inf, Texas 2021_Kevin Kopps, p, Arkansas 2020_None 2019_Adley Rutschman, c, Oregon State 2018_Andrew Vaughn, 1b, Califor...

JUNE 25, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Rays report: Jonathan Aranda set for debut; good news on Manuel Margot After a rough stretch, a day off was welcome and now a weekend series against the Pirates awaits.

JUNE 24, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Curtis Mead - Scorching in June Mead is hitting .333/.410/.639 with six home runs, four steals and an 8:18 BB:K through 19 games in June for Double-A Montgomery.

Impact The 21-year-old Australian has hit for average all year long, but he's turned on the power this month as well. One of the better pure hitters in the minors, Mead is due -- perhaps overdue -- for a promotion to Triple-A Durham, where he actually played four games (going 6-for-14 with a homer and two doubles) last season.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Sitting Friday Mejia is not starting Friday's contest versus the Pirates, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Mejia will sit after he went 1-for-8 with a double over the last two contests. Rene Pinto will get the start at catcher and bat eighth Friday.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Harold Ramírez - Not in Friday's lineup Ramirez isn't starting Friday against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Ramirez is getting a breather after he went 3-for-7 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and a strikeout over the last two games. Randy Arozarena will serve as the designated hitter while Luke Raley starts in left field.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Aranda - Set for MLB debut Aranda is starting at second base and will bat seventh in Friday's contest versus the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Aranda is set to make his major-league debut Friday after being called up Tuesday. The 24-year-old will likely work in a reserve role for the time being, but due to his positional versatility, he'll likely crack the lineup relatively often. He'll look to build upon the .310 average with 11 homers, 40 RBI, 45 runs and three stolen bases he produced over 63 games with Triple-A Durham this season.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Rasmussen - Could rejoin rotation next week Rasmussen (hamstring) will throw a sim game Saturday and could rejoin the Rays' rotation during their upcoming road trip in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Rasmussen has been on the injured list since mid-June due to a left hamstring strain, but he's closing in on a return. The team is optimistic that the right-hander will be able to return without a rehab assignment, but he'll presumably be monitored following Saturday's sim game. The Rays haven't yet indicated which day Rasmussen is expected to pitch if he's ultimately cleared to return next weekend.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE