JUNE 20, 2022 • MLB.COM
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
No. 2 prospect returns to Rays after heating up in Minors ST. PETERSBURG -- After seven weeks of work in Triple-A, outfield prospect Josh Lowe is back with the Rays. The Rays recalled Lowe, their No...
Luke Bard - Heads back to minors The Rays optioned Bard to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Bard finds himself as the odd man out for the Rays, who needed to reduce their pitching staff to the MLB-mandated 13 men prior to Monday's game against the Yankees. Outfielder Josh Lowe was added to the active roster as a replacement for Bard, who struck out five over six scoreless frames across his four relief appearances with Tampa Bay following his June 7 call-up from Triple-A.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe - Promotion official The Rays recalled Lowe from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact With Tampa Bay needing to pare down its pitching staff to 13 men ahead of Monday's MLB-imposed deadline, reliever Luke Bard will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to Lowe. After breaking camp with the big club as a starting outfielder, Lowe was sent to Triple-A just three weeks later when he slashed .181/.250/.325 with a 38 percent strikeout rate over 71 plate appearances at Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old has since righted the ship at Triple-A with a .929 OPS at Durham, but he's still struck out in 31.2 percent of his 157 plate appearances. In spite of his high pedigree as a prospect, Lowe may still have to initially settle for fourth-outfielder duties behind Manuel Margot, Randy Arozarena and Kevin Kiermaier as he rejoins the big club.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays will see familiar faces when Yankees visit Tropicana Field The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees open a three-game series Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
JUNE 20, 2022 • NJ.COM
AL contenders lose All-Stars to season-ending injuries The Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians lead the American League Wild Card race, with the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Whit...
JUNE 20, 2022 • NJ.COM
Rays trying to stay afloat as injuries hurt offense
The Tampa Bay Rays came into the season with Wander Franco at shortstop, Brandon Lowe at second base and Mike Zunino behind the plateJUNE 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays host the Yankees, try to continue home win streak
The Tampa Bay Rays, on a three-game home winning streak, host the New York YankeesJUNE 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Josh Lowe - Expected to rejoin Rays on Monday Lowe is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
Impact Lowe wasn't in the lineup for the Triple-A club Sunday, and he'll ultimately head to Tampa Bay to rejoin the Rays ahead of their series opener against the Yankees. The 24-year-old had a 38.0 percent strikeout rate over 19 games with the Rays to begin the year but has cut down to a 20.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors over 15 games since the start of June. In spite of his struggles in the big leagues early in the season, Lowe should see regular playing time once he's called up Monday.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Corey Kluber - Charged with unlucky loss Kluber (3-4) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six in six innings to take the loss during Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Impact Kluber posted a second consecutive quality start Sunday, but he's been forced to settle for losses in his last two outings. The 36-year-old gave up eight runs during the Rays' loss to the Angels on May 10 but has settled down since then and hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last seven outings. Across those seven starts, he's posted a 2.61 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 38 innings. Kluber tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Pirates on Saturday.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Blue Jays rally from 5 down, end Yankees' 9-game win streak
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. launched his fifth career grand slam, Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to stop the Yankees’ nine-game winning...JUNE 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Santander homers, points to dad in the stands, O's edge Rays
Anthony Santander homered and pointed to his dad sitting in front of the press box as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1JUNE 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays report: Corey Kluber on mound for road trip finale Matinee vs. the Orioles is the last of a three-city journey with a 2-6 record thus far. Also, Austin Voth will start for Baltimore, not Jord...
JUNE 19, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Isaac Paredes - Goes to bench Sunday Paredes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Paredes started in four of the Rays' past five games while playing three different positions, but he'll shift back to the bench for the series finale. The righty-hitting Paredes will likely see most of his playing time versus left-handed pitching moving forward.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jason Adam - Enters in fourth inning Adam recorded one out without allowing a baserunner to record a hold Saturday against the Orioles.
Impact Adam's outing was brief and not particularly notable, though he followed starter Jeffrey Springs into the game in the fourth inning. Adam picked up his second save of the season June 9 -- which came after Andrew Kittredge (elbow) went down -- though Colin Poche closed out Saturday's win. Adam has been excellent this season by maintaining a 0.68 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB, though it appears that he will be reserved for high-leverage scenarios rather than a traditional ninth-inning role.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Chris Mazza - In midst of rehab assignment Mazza (back) has turned in a 4.85 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB across 13 innings in his eight appearances with Triple-A Durham since starting a rehab assignment May 20.
Impact Mazza's 30-day rehab window will come to a close during the upcoming week, so the Rays will have to decide whether to keep him at Durham upon his activation from the 60-day injured or to have him join the big club. If he does stick with the parent club once activated, Mazza is likely to work in a low-leverage long-relief role.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Harold Ramírez - Out of Sunday's lineup Ramirez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Ramirez went 5-for-17 with three RBI while starting the past five games, but he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale in Baltimore. Brett Phillips will start in right field while Randy Arozarena serves as the designated hitter.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Hess - Ready to debut at Durham Triple-A Durham activated Hess (illness) from its 7-day injured list Saturday.
Impact Hess will make his return to Durham's active roster after he was delayed to begin the season following a diagnosis of a cancerous germ tumor in his chest during the offseason. The right-hander received clearance to resume his career prior to spring training, but the Rays were careful to ease him back slowly coming off the medical scare. After Hess checked out fine during a recent four-appearance rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, he'll now rejoin the Durham pitching staff.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays take on the Orioles after Mejia's 4-hit game
The Tampa Bay Rays play the Baltimore Orioles after Francisco Mejía had four hits on Saturday in a 7-6 win over the OriolesJUNE 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colin Poche - Picks up fourth save Poche pitched a clean ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday.
Impact Poche has been one of the Rays' most dependable relievers this season. With J.P. Feyereisen (shoulder) placed on the 15-day injured list and Andrew Kittredge (elbow) out for the season, Poche has worked his way into the mix for saves, along with Jason Adam. Poche hasn't given up an earned run since May and has two wins and two saves during that time.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Mejía - Perfect night at the plate Mejia went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and a run scored in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday.
Impact Mejia appears to have broken out of his recent slump. The 26-year-old catcher had a four-hit game after hitting a paltry .103 over his last 10 contests. Mejia will need more consistent production at the plate if he hopes to replicate his .260 average over 277 plate appearances from last season.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yandy Díaz - Scores three runs Diaz went 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday.
Impact Diaz reached base four times and came in to score the winning run on a Harold Ramirez sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. He has been consistently average all season long. Diaz hits for a quality batting average (.279) but hasn't shown much power or stolen base upside with just three home runs and one steal in four attempts. He could be a player for fantasy managers to keep an eye on when the Rays have favorable streaming matchups, as they did versus Kyle Bradish and the Orioles.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Harold Ramírez - Drives in three Ramirez went 2-for-4 with three RBI in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday.
Impact Ramirez hit a single, a two-run double and a game-winning sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth for another positive night at the plate. The 27-year-old outfielder is hitting .293 on the season and has been hot in June, slashing .342/.381/.395 in 12 games entering Saturday. His 98th percentile ranking in xBA suggest his batting average is legitimate, and he has shown an ability to hit the ball hard, even if his home run totals (two) are low.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ji-Man Choi - Slugs sixth homer Choi went 2-for-5 with one home run, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 7-6 victory over Baltimore.
Impact Choi struggled with elbow issues earlier in the season which saw him take a trip to the injured list, but he is swinging a hot bat in June. He entered Saturday with a .348/.392/.522 slash line this month. The veteran first baseman combines a patient approach at the plate with enough power for the Rays to like him slotted into the cleanup spot against right-handed pitchers, though he doesn't play much versus southpaws.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jeffrey Springs - Tagged for four runs Springs gave up four earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six over 4.1 innings in a 7-6 win over the Orioles on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.
Impact Springs labored through 4.1 innings in Baltimore, snapping a string of six effective outings dating back to mid-May. Everything unraveled for Springs in the bottom of the fifth when four singles and a walk plated three runs and knocked him out of the game with his team up 6-5. If Springs had managed to get out of the inning, he would have been in line for his fourth win of the year. The southpaw has been solid since being transitioned to a starter's role earlier in the season and will look to rebound next week at home against the Pirates.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
