TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Rays snap skid, outlast Orioles 7-6 after blowing 4-run lead

Harold Ramirez hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays snapped their four-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Or...

JUNE 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reality check leads Rays to reassess goals, plans Rays Tales | Injuries and inconsistent play plus the Yankees’ historic start may make this season more of a wild card.

JUNE 18, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Brett Phillips - Not starting Saturday Phillips isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Even though right-hander Kyle Bradish is starting for the Orioles on Saturday, Phillips will retreat to the bench after drawing two consecutive starts. Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier and Manuel Margot are starting in the outfield from left to right.

JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Kiermaier - Returns to lineup Saturday Kiermaier (Achilles) is starting Saturday against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Kiermaier missed the last two games due to left Achilles inflammation but will start in center field and lead off Saturday. He went 4-for-12 with a homer, a double, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base over his last four games.

JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays enter matchup against the Orioles on losing streak

The Tampa Bay Rays enter the matchup against the Baltimore Orioles after losing four straight games

JUNE 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dick Howser Trophy Winners Presented by The Game Headwear 2022 — Ivan Melendez, 1b, Texas 2021 — Kevin Kopps, rhp, Arkansas 2020 — None 2019 — Adley Rutschman, c, Oreg...

JUNE 18, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Shane Baz - Fires six shutout innings Baz yielded two hits over six scoreless frames in Friday's loss to Baltimore. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision.

Impact Baz looked much better in his second start of the season, allowing just three baserunners in the clean outing. He threw 48 of 76 pitches for strikes, including 14 whiffs, and struck out the side in his final frame. He's sporting a 5.40 ERA through 8.1 frames after missing the start of the season due to an elbow injury. Baz is projected to face the Yankees at home next week.

JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Half-full: Baz rebounds. Half-empty: Bats stay flat BALTIMORE -- Shane Baz bounced back Friday night. The Rays’ lineup didn’t. Baz put his rough season debut behind him by striking out seven...

JUNE 18, 2022 • MLB.COM

Kremer, Orioles win 1-0, hand Rays 4th straight loss

Dean Kremer pitched six scoreless innings and rookie Adley Rutschman singled home the game’s only run in the seventh as the Baltimore Orioles handed the Tampa Bay Rays their fourth...

JUNE 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wander Franco could rejoin Rays next weekend Notes | The shortstop who has been out since May 31 is set to play rehab games starting Saturday.

JUNE 17, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Wander Franco - Could rejoin Rays next weekend Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Franco (quadriceps) could rejoin the Rays for next weekend's series against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Franco responded well to full workouts Thursday and Friday and has officially been cleared to serve as the designated hitter in a game with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Coast League affiliate Saturday prior to playing shortstop Monday. If he feels good afterward, he's expected to report to Triple-A Durham next week as the final step in his recovery process.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Not in Friday's lineup Mejia is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Baltimore, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Mejia has worked as Tampa Bay's primary catcher over the past week with Mike Zunino (shoulder) on the shelf, but he's failed to take advantage thus far and is 1-for-17 in his past six contests. Rene Pinto will take over behind the plate Friday.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Manuel Margot - Day off Friday Margot isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Margot will get a breather after slashing .333/.385/.472 with five doubles, seven runs, an RBI, three walks and seven strikeouts over the last nine games. Randy Arozarena, Brett Phillips and Harold Ramirez are starting in the outfield from left to right.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Kiermaier - Remains out of lineup Kiermaier (Achilles) isn't starting Friday against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Kiermaier was removed from Wednesday's game against the Yankees due to left Achilles inflammation, and he'll remain out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup. Randy Arozarena, Brett Phillips and Harold Ramirez are starting in the outfield from left to right.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MLB's Best Brothers: Willson, William Contreras top the list of duos

Willson and William Contreras top Jordan Shusterman's rankings of the best brother combos in MLB. Check out the full list!

JUNE 17, 2022

Shawn Armstrong - Takes loss against Yankees Armstrong (0-1) surrendered one earned run on one hit in the ninth inning Thursday against the Yankees to take the loss.

Impact Armstrong entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at one. He retired the first batter he faced but surrendered a home run to Anthony Rizzo to take the loss. Since being recalled by the Rays on May 31, Armstrong has allowed two earned runs across 8.1 innings while maintaining an 11:2 K:BB.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Vidal Bruján - Appears in leadoff spot Brujan went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Thursday against the Yankees.

Impact With Kevin Kiermaier (Achilles) day-to-day the Rays shuffled their lineup, which allowed Brujan to appear in the leadoff spot for the first time this season and the second time of his career. Despite getting regular playing time, Brujan has struggled to get going at the plate by hitting just .144 across 105 plate appearances on the campaign. Equally concerning is that he has struggled on the basepaths, managing only two stolen bases on six attempts.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Swats third homer Mejia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Thursday against the Yankees.

Impact Mejia took Ryan Weber yard in the fifth inning to record his third homer of the season. He's taken over as the primary catcher in Tampa Bay with Mike Zunino (shoulder) sidelined, but Mejia has only three hits in 25 at-bats across his last eight games. Overall, Mejia is hitting just .206/.212/.353 line across 104 plate appearances on the campaign.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jalen Beeks - Two effective innings Beeks threw two scoreless innings while striking out one Thursday against the Yankees.

Impact Beeks started a bullpen game for the Rays and didn't allow a baserunner in his two innings of work. He has been effective in a multi-inning relief role this season, holding opponents scoreless in 15 of his 17 appearances. Overall, Beeks has maintained a 1.29 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a 33:8 K:BB across 28 frames.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yankees host the Rays, try to continue home win streak The New York Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays aiming to extend a 13-game home winning streak.

JUNE 17, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Rays look to break 3-game road skid, play the Orioles

The Tampa Bay Rays will attempt to stop their three-game road slide in a matchup against the Baltimore Orioles

JUNE 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rizzo HR in 9th, Yanks edge Rays for 14th straight home win

Anthony Rizzo hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning and the streaking New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 for their 14th straight home win

JUNE 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brandon Lowe - Dealing with renewed discomfort Lowe (back) recently experienced discomfort while taking swings and will be shut down until at least Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The 27-year-old recently resumed baseball activities after being shut down for three weeks due to a stress reaction in his lower back, but he's now feeling some discomfort. It's not believed to be a serious concern, though Lowe's rehab program will be put on hold for a few days to see how the injury responds to rest.

JUNE 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco - Nearing game action Manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Franco (quadriceps) is running well and will go through full workouts Thursday and Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Franco resumed agility work Monday and has made good progress in his recovery over the last couples days. As long as he feels good during his workouts to close out the week, Cash said the 21-year-old could serve as the designated hitter in a Florida Coast League game Saturday.

JUNE 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Zunino - Slated to receive injection Zunino (shoulder) will receive a Botox shot in an attempt to help in his recovery process, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that it's possible Zunino is dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome, and the team will have to wait 3-to-6 days following the injection to see if it has an impact in his recovery. The backstop will presumably require more than the minimum of 10 days on the injured list, and a recovery timetable is unlikely to be known until the Rays see how Zunino responds to the injection.

JUNE 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE