MAY 1, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
Rays fall behind early, can't recover in loss to Twins Tampa Bay is outscored 18-4 over the final two games of its series against Minnesota.
Polanco drives in 4, Twins beat Rays 9-3 for ninth win in 10
Jorge Polanco drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, Carlos Correa had his fourth straight multi-hit game and the Minnesota Twins beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3MAY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shane McClanahan - Fans career-high 11 in loss McClanahan (1-2) took the loss Saturday as the Rays fell 9-1 to the Twins, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out 11.
Impact The 11 punchouts were a career high for the 25-year-old, who exited the game after 90 pitches (57 strikes). McClanahan is putting up ace-like ratios so far in 2022 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and eye-popping 39.3 percent strikeout rate through 27 innings, but until he can start working deeper into games, he'll have trouble making an impact in wins as well.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kevin Kiermaier - Sits for series finale Kiermaier is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Impact The Rays are opposing a right-handed pitcher (Josh Winder) in the series finale, but the lefty-hitting Kiermaier will nonetheless find himself out of the lineup in what could just be a maintenance day. Brett Phillips will pick up a start in center field in place of Kiermaier, who went 1-for-7 with a base hit between the first two games of the series.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Taylor Walls - Opportunities likely to increase Walls will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Twins.
Impact He'll be filling at shortstop for the first time since April 18 after Wander Franco was a late scratch from the lineup due to right hamstring tightness. Even if Franco's injury results in only a one-game absence, Walls is expected to see his starting opportunities grow over the next week after Ji-Man Choi (elbow) was placed on the injured list Sunday. While Choi is out of commission, Yandy Diaz is expected to see more work at first base, which should open up more reps at the hot corner for Walls.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yandy Díaz - Takes seat Sunday Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Impact Diaz looks to be getting a routine maintenance day after starting each of the past six games while going 6-for-17 with a home run, seven walks and three runs over that stretch. Harold Ramirez will fill in at first base in the series finale against Minnesota, but Diaz should have a clear path to a full-time role at either corner-infield spot for at least the next week after Ji-Man Choi (elbow) was placed on the injured list Sunday.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Zunino - Resting Sunday Zunino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
Impact Zunino will get a routine breather after he caught both of the past two days while going 1-for-7 with a solo home run between those contests. Rene Pinto will catch starting pitcher Josh Fleming in Sunday's series finale.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Wander Franco - Scratched with hamstring injury Franco was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins due to right hamstring tightness, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact As a result of Franco's late removal from the lineup, designated hitter Manuel Margot will now bat second for the Rays, while Taylor Walls shifts over from third base to cover Franco's usual position at shortstop. The Rays haven't provided word on the extent of Franco's injury, so he can be viewed as day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener in Oakland until manager Kevin Cash elaborates further on the matter.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Isaac Paredes - Receives promotion The Rays recalled Paredes from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Impact He'll join the big club for the first time after the Rays optioned him to Durham following his acquisition from the Tigers on April 4. The 23-year-old infielder got off to a hot start to the campaign at Durham, slashing .270/.356/.500 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBI across 87 plate appearances. The righty-hitting Paredes could be an option to fill a short-side platoon role at either third or second base while he's up with the Rays.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ji-Man Choi - Moves to IL The Rays placed Choi on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to loose bodies in his right elbow.
Impact Injuries of these kind can often require an arthroscopic procedure, but the Rays have yet to decide if Choi will need any sort of procedure to address the elbow issue. Regardless, his placement on the IL means he won't be eligible for reinstatement until May 8, which likely leaves Yandy Diaz and Harold Ramirez in line to serve as the Rays' primary first basemen for at least the next week.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Mejía - Clears protocols, but not activated Mejia (illness) rejoined the Rays on Sunday after completing a quarantine and clearing all virus-related protocols, but he remains on the COVID-19 injured list, Neil Solondz of the...
Impact Because he's been away from the team for just over a week, Mejia may need a few days to regain conditioning before the Rays are comfortable adding him back to the active roster. Whenever Mejia is ready to go, he'll replace Rene Pinto as the top backup behind No. 1 catcher Mike Zunino.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Robert Dugger - Called up to majors Tampa Bay selected Dugger's contract from Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact He'll join the bullpen as a replacement for Javy Guerra, who was designated for assignment after giving up four runs while recording only two outs in Saturday's loss to the Twins. Dugger last appeared in the majors in 2021 with the Mariners, starting in four of his 12 outings while posting a 7.36 ERA and 1.79 WHIP across 25.2 innings. The 26-year-old righty will likely serve as a mop-up man out of the Tampa Bay bullpen.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Javy Guerra - DFA'd by Tampa Bay Tampa Bay designated Guerra for assignment Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact The Rays will replace Guerra on the 40-man roster and in the big-league bullpen with Robert Dugger, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. After being acquired from the Padres on April 16, Guerra appeared in six games and gave up five earned runs on eight hits and a walk over 5.1 innings.
MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays and Twins play, winner claims 3-game series
The Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins meet on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game seriesMAY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two pitches spoil Shane's masterpiece ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ three-game winning streak came to an end Saturday afternoon with a 9-1 loss to the Twins at Tropicana Field.
MAY 1, 2022 • MLB.COM
Josh Fleming - Scheduled to start Sunday Fleming will start Sunday's game against Twins, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.
Impact Fleming has worked as both starter and reliever this season, and he will start Sunday for the second time. Don't expect him to be out there too long, as he has not gone more than 3.1 innings in any of his four appearances to date.
APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kyle Garlick homers twice, Twins roll past Rays 9-1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Garlick hit two home runs off Tampa Bay starter Shane McClanahan and the Minnesota Twins beat the Rays 9-1...
APRIL 30, 2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM
Photos: Rays-Twins continue series The Tampa Bay Rays, who won their series opener with the Minnesota Twins, settled in for an afternoon tilt Saturday.
APRIL 30, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Rays' Josh Fleming aims to 'flush' previous appearance The left-hander was touched for seven runs — all unearned — in one inning in a loss to the Mariners.
APRIL 30, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Ji-Man Choi - Still not starting Choi (elbow) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Twins.
Impact Choi continues to deal with a slightly hyperextended left elbow, and he'll be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. He was available off the bench if needed Friday, and it wouldn't be surprising if that was the case once again Saturday. Yandy Diaz will shift to first base while Taylor Walls starts at the hot corner.
APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Taylor Walls - Swipes fourth base Walls went 0-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored Friday against the Twins.
Impact Walls has started three consecutive games at third base with Ji-Man Choi (elbow) sidelined, which has in turn shifted Yandy Diaz to first base. He has only one hit in 10 plate appearances in that span, though he's also earned three free passes. On Friday, Walls led off the second inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second base -- his fourth swipe of the season. Once Choi is able to retake the field, Walls will likely return to a super-utility role along the Rays' infield.
APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Randy Arozarena - Swipes third bag Arozarena went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base Friday against the Twins.
Impact Arozarena reached base for the only time in the first inning and immediately stole second base. He now has three steals on the season and has yet to be caught. While that's positive, he has only four hits across his last 35 at-bats while striking out at a 33.3 percent clip. As a result, Arozarena is hitting just .192/.234/.274 for the season, and he has yet to go yard.
APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays recall their first big-league home runs Rays Tales | The details may get a little cloudy, but the feeling never goes away. Plus, rumblings.
APRIL 30, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Mike Zunino - Slugs first homer of season Zunino went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-1 win over the Twins.
Impact The catcher swatted his first homer of the year in the third inning as he ripped a Dylan Bundy offering deep to left-center field. Zunino has had a rough start to the season at the plate, but after slugging a career-high 33 long balls in 2021, he's capable of going on a power tear at any moment.
APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe - Launches first career homer Lowe went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-1 win over the Twins.
Impact The rookie turned on a Dylan Bundy fastball at the top of the zone in the first inning, sending it over the fence in center field for his first homer in the majors. Lowe has had a tough start to his tenure in Tampa Bay, with his 36.5 percent strikeout rate being more than 10 points higher than his mark in Triple-A last year, but he's been making hard contact when he does get his bat on the ball and a hot streak could be coming.
APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
