MAY 3, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
Rays welcome balanced offensive attack, open West Coast swing with win over A's - The Boston Globe Yandy Díaz led off Monday night's game with a home run to back righthander Drew Rassmussen’s second straight winning start
Ryan Yarbrough - Rejoining rotation Tuesday Rays manager Kevin Cash confirmed Yarbrough (groin) will be activated from the 10-day injured list to start Tuesday's game in Oakland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Yarbrough will be making his 2022 debut for the Rays, as he was added to the injured list in the first week of the season when he experienced tightness in his left groin during a pre-start bullpen session. He's since made two rehab starts at Triple-A Durham, covering 2.2 innings and throwing 59 pitches in his most recent outing April 28. Yarbrough will most likely be capped at around 70-to-80 pitches Tuesday, though he could work long enough to qualify for the win against a 10-13 Athletics squad.
MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Manuel Margot - Racks up three hits Monday Margot went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI in Monday's 6-1 victory against Oakland.
Impact Margot scored in the fourth inning after leading off the frame with a double, and he knocked in a run with another two-bagger in the fifth. This was his second three-hit effort of the campaign and his first game this season with multiple extra-base hits. Margot has yet to go deep through 70 plate appearances, but he is slashing a solid .286/.357/.333 with nine RBI, four runs and a stolen base.
MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yandy Díaz - Slugs leadoff homer Diaz went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 6-1 win over the A's.
Impact Diaz was moved up to the leadoff spot for the first time in over two weeks Monday, and the decision immediately paid off as he slugged a 407-foot homer to begin the contest. He later singled to register his third multi-hit performance over his past four games. Diaz has been one of Tampa Bay's top hitters this season, slashing .306/.442/.435 with two homers, five RBI and 10 runs over 77 plate appearances.
MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Rasmussen - Goes five innings for second win Rasmussen (2-1) notched the victory against Oakland on Monday, tossing five innings and allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out three.
Impact Rasmussen induced only six swinging strikes, and the A's wore him down with 22 foul balls. Regardless, he yielded only one hit (a single) and one walk, and stuck around just long enough to pick up his second straight win. The right-hander hasn't given up more than three earned runs in any appearance this year, helping him register a solid 3.13 ERA through five starts. He's tentatively lined up to next take the mound this weekend in Seattle.
MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Athletics host Tampa Bay Rays, look to end home losing streak
The Oakland Athletics play the Tampa Bay Rays looking to end a four-game home losing streakMAY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays turn things around in beating A's OAKLAND, Calif. — After back-to-back rough losses at home, the Rays needed a change.
MAY 3, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Phoenix Sanders - Nursing back issue Sanders was unable to work a second inning Monday against the Athletics due to a tight back, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He struck out three and gave up a hit in a...
Impact Skipper Kevin Cash stated after the game that Sanders likely would have been sent back out for another inning had his back not become an issue. According to Topkin, Sanders' back injury is believed to be significant enough to send him to the injured list. The team should have more information on the right-hander's availability moving forward after further evaluation.
MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Wander back, Rays find early groove vs. A's OAKLAND -- Wander Franco quite literally made his presence felt Monday night as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Oakland A's, 6-1, at the Col...
MAY 3, 2022 • MLB.COM
Wander Franco - Two hits in return Franco (hamstring) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in Monday's win over the Athletics.
Impact Franco returned to the lineup as expected from a one-game absence caused by a tight hamstring. He didn't appear to be bothered by the issue, as he singled in a run in the second inning before coming around to score. Franco has been a late scratch twice this season due to hamstring tightness, so that may be a situation to monitor moving forward. However, there are no concerns about his performance when on the field, as he's hitting .322/.341/.575 with 15 runs scored and 14 RBI across 91 plate appearances to begin the campaign.
MAY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Díaz homers, Rays use balanced offense to beat A's 6-1 Yandy Díaz led off the game with a home run to back right-hander Drew Rassmussen’s second straight winning start, and the Tampa Bay Rays use...
MAY 3, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Díaz homers, Rays use balanced offense to beat A's 6-1
Yandy Díaz led off the game with a home run to back right-hander Drew Rassmussen’s second straight winning start, and the Tampa Bay Rays used a balanced offense to beat the Oakland...MAY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
MLB roster cuts: Mets DFA Canó, Yankees option Andújar
With MLB rosters cut from 28 to 26, Robinson Cano is out in New York. Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down Monday's biggest moves.MAY 3, 2022
Harold Ramirez - Playing time on rise Ramirez will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and No. 5 batter in Monday's game in Oakland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact He'll pick up his second start in a row after going 1-for-4 while manning first base in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Twins. Ramirez is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries for increased at-bats after the Rays placed Ji-Man Choi (elbow) on the 10-day injured list and demoted Josh Lowe to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yandy Díaz - On bench Monday Diaz isn't starting Monday's game against Oakland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Diaz started in six straight games to close out April, and he went 6-for-17 with a homer, three runs, two RBI and seven walks during that time. However, he'll now be out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup while Taylor Walls starts at the hot corner and bats eighth.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Wander Franco - Returns to lineup Franco (hamstring) is starting Monday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Manager Kevin Cash was hopeful that Franco would be able to return to the lineup Monday, and he'll officially start at shortstop and bat second following his one-game absence due to hamstring tightness. Over the five games prior to his brief absence, the 21-year-old went 4-for-20 with a homer, a double, three RBI, two runs and two steals.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Robert Dugger - Designated for assignment Dugger was designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Dugger's contract was selected Sunday, but he'll exit both the active and 40-man rosters just one day later. He soaked up 5.1 innings out of the bullpen Sunday against the Twins, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out seven, but he could wind up waiting a while for his next opportunity now that he's off the 40-man roster.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Isaac Paredes - One hit in Rays debut Paredes went 1-for-4 with a strikeout Sunday against the Twins.
Impact Paredes was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sunday after Ji-Man Choi (elbow) was placed on the injured list. Paredes was immediately inserted into the lineup, starting at third base and hitting seventh. He could see regular playing time with Choi sidelined, as Yandy Diaz is capable of serving as the first baseman in a shift that would open playing time at the hot corner.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Wander Franco - Confident in Monday return Manager Kevin Cash said he is "confident" that Franco (hamstring) will be in the lineup Monday against Oakland, Adam Berry reports.
Impact Franco was scratched from the lineup with hamstring tightness Sunday, the second time the injury has popped up early in the season. However, Cash said after the game that Franco was in line for a day off in the near future and that the move was largely made out of precaution. Interestingly, Cash specifically noted that the Rays had been on a long homestand and that the turf field had been more grueling on Franco's body than a typical grass surface. While the Rays will begin a nine-game stint on the road Monday, they begin that trip on a grass field at Oakland.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Athletics come into matchup against the Rays on losing streak
The Oakland Athletics aim to stop their three-game skid when they play the Tampa Bay RaysMAY 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ji-Man Choi - Could face minimum IL stint Rays manager Kevin Cash said Choi (elbow) took swings in the batting cage Saturday prior to being placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Steve Carney of MLB.com reports.
Impact Though Choi was deactivated Sunday, the move is retroactive to Thursday, making him eligible to return from the IL in as little as a week. The Rays aren't ruling out the possibility of that happening, as Choi is already said to be showing improvement following Saturday's hitting session. According to Joey Johnston of the Tampa Bay Times, Cash added that he expects Choi to join the team for its upcoming West Coast road trip, which runs from Monday through May 11 and includes stops in Oakland, Seattle and Anaheim.
MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays option outfielder Josh Lowe to Triple-A Durham He had been hitting .188 with one home run and six RBIs in 19 games at the major-league level.
MAY 1, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Josh Fleming - Gives up five earned in loss Fleming (2-3) was charged with the loss Sunday against Minnesota after surrendering six runs (five earned) on five hits across 3.2 innings. He had one strikeout and three walks.
Impact The left-hander threw 53 of his 77 pitches for strikes and delivered first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 19 hitters he faced, but he was unable to take advantage of that success early in the count. Fleming issued only three walks over his first four outings of the season, but he doubled that total Sunday. It's been tough going early in the campaign with a 6.32 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 15.2 innings. The 25-year-old lines up to pitch next weekend in Seattle, though it's unclear if Tampa Bay will utilize him as a traditional starter or have him follow an opener.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe - Optioned to Triple-A Lowe was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Lowe didn't have a particularly hot start to the regular season, as he slashed just .181/.250/.325 with three homers, 13 runs, eight RBI and a stolen base. However, he still had regular playing time and is one of the Rays' top prospects, so it's surprising to see him sent down as part of a move to trim the major-league roster from 28 to 26 players by Monday. The 24-year-old will likely be back with the major-league club at some point as long as regains some production at the plate in Durham, but it's not yet clear when that could occur. Harold Ramirez and Brett Phillips should see an uptick in playing time following Lowe's demotion.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Mejía - Two rehab games on tap Manager Kevin Cash said Mejia (illness) will play in rehab games at the Rays' spring facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Monday and Tuesday before being re-evaluated, Joey Johnston...
Impact Mejia rejoined the Rays on Sunday after completing his quarantine and clearing all protocols related to COVID-19, but he'll need at least a couple of days to get his conditioning in order following his initial positive test for the virus April 22. Assuming Mejia checks out fine following his two games in Port Charlotte, he could be formally activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Oakland.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
