TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Corey Kluber - Hit hard in loss Kluber (0-1) allowed four runs on 11 hits in five innings, taking the loss Friday against Boston. He walked a batter and struck out three.

Impact Kluber gave up a pair of runs in both the first and third innings. The damage could have been greater had he not induced two double-play ground balls. After allowing only two runs and seven hits combined in his first two starts, the righty put together his least effective start of the season, allowing 12 of 25 batters to reach safely.

APRIL 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays comeback vs. Red Sox falls short despite two homers from Wander Franco ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For six innings, Wander Franco put on a show Friday night.

APRIL 23, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Another Wander first: a multihomer game ST. PETERSBURG -- There is a running joke in the Rays’ dugout whenever Wander Franco does something special, hitting coach Chad Mottola sa...

APRIL 23, 2022 • MLB.COM

'A special, special player': Franco dazzling rivals, teammates This story was excerpted from Adam Berry's Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly...

APRIL 22, 2022 • MLB.COM

René Pinto - Joins big-league club Pinto was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Pinto missed out on Tampa Bay's Opening Day roster and has a .729 OPS through 12 games at Triple-A this season. He'll join the Rays for Friday's series opener with the Red Sox after Francisco Mejia tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list. Pinto should operate as the backup to Mike Zunino and appears likely to make his major-league debut.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Tests positive for COVID-19 Mejia was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday after testing positive for the virus, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional RBI and an additional run Wednesday against the Cubs, and he'll now be unavailable coming off Thursday's scheduled off day. Mike Zunino should continue to work as Tampa Bay's primary catcher, and Rene Pinto was promoted to serve as the backup.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy baseball waiver wire: Buying Ji-Man Choi Al Melchior highlights Ji-Man Choi and other top players to target on the fantasy baseball waiver wire for the week ahead.

APRIL 22, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Colin Poche - Called up by Rays Poche was recalled by the Rays on Friday.

Impact Poche impressed for Triple-A Charlotte, striking out 11 of the 21 batters he faced across six scoreless innings while walking two and allowing just a single hit. He'll return to the majors for the first time since 2019, having missed the last two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Chris Mazza (back) hit the injured list in a corresponding move.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Chris Mazza - Out with back spasms Mazza landed on the 10-day injured list due to lower-back spasms Friday.

Impact The move was backdated three days, so Mazza will be eligible to return in a week, though it's not yet clear if a minimum-length stay is on the table. He's had a very poor start to the season, giving up 10 runs (seven earned) in 5.1 innings strikeout out five batters and walking six. Colin Poche was recalled to take his place in the bullpen.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Shane Baz - Resumes throwing Baz (elbow) has resumed throwing and completed a session on flat ground from 75 feet on April 16, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Baz underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in late March and was ultimately shifted to the 60-day injured list April 16. He'll be eligible to be activated June 6, though it remains unclear whether he will be ready to retake the mound at that point.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays host the Red Sox to start 3-game series

The Tampa Bay Rays start a three-game series at home against the Boston Red Sox on Friday

APRIL 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MLB odds: Braves, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Astros lead pennant futures

MLB is back! With the season two weeks in, here is a look at the Divisional odds for both the National League and American League.

APRIL 21, 2022

Randy Arozarena - Swipes first bag Arozarena went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Arozarena had a productive series against the Cubs, racking up four runs scored and two RBI across three games despite only collecting two hits. He also delivered his first stolen base of the season Wednesday after doubling home a run in the opening inning. Arozarena has only a .220/.235/.340 line across 51 plate appearances early on in the campaign, but he has dropped his strikeout rate to 23.5 percent and has delivered four RBI and six runs scored.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor Walls - Steals another base Walls went 2-for-3 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Walls has earned starts in four of the last five games, and he has delivered multiple hits in each of the last two. After leading off the fourth inning with a base knock, Walls stole second base but was ultimately stranded. Walls has made multiple appearances at second and third base as well as shortstop early this season, and his ability to play across the infield could help him find significant playing time despite not having a regular spot in the lineup.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jalen Beeks - Records first win Beeks (1-0) struck out two and walked one while not allowing a hit or a run across two innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Beeks entered game in relief in the fourth inning and turned in two solid frames to earn the win in a rain-shortened game. Wednesday's appearance was his fourth of the season, and he's now held opponents scoreless across 7.1 frames while maintaining an 11:2 K:BB. Beeks has also recorded more than three outs in each of his outings this season, so he should be a decent source of strikeouts while also having the opportunity to pick up occasional wins.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Rasmussen - Short outing against Cubs Rasmussen allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four across three innings Wednesday against the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Rasmussen was handed a 4-0 lead in the opening frame, but he failed to work efficiently and lost the chance to earn his first win of the campaign. He wasn't hit particularly hard, though multiple hitters reached base in every inning that he worked. Positively, Rasmussen generated four groundball outs and threw a first-pitch strike to 13 of the 16 batters he faced. Rasmussen has a 5.25 ERA and has failed to complete five innings in two of his three starts to begin the season.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Drives in three Mejia went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Mejia contributed to the Rays' four-run first inning with his second home run of the season. Four frames later, he delivered an insurance run with an RBI double. Mejia has split playing time nearly evenly with Mike Zunino behind the plate to begin the season, and he's performed well by logging three multi-hit performances to go along with 10 RBI and five runs scored across seven games.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Yarbrough - Set for rehab outing Yarbrough (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham over the weekend, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Yarbrough threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday, but he will need some additional work prior to being activated. His outing with Triple-A Durham has not been set for an exact date, though Yarbrough would have the chance to enter the big-league rotation early as April 27 if the team keeps him on regular rest.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mejia homers, doubles: Rays rip Cubs 8-2 in shortened game

Francisco Mejia homered and drove in three runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in a game that was called after 5 1/2 innings due to rain

APRIL 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nick Anderson - Completes side session Anderson (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The side session marked Anderson's first time throwing off a mound since he underwent right elbow surgery in late October. Anderson is without a definitive timeline for his rehab and recovery from the procedure, but he was placed on the 60-day injured list coming out of spring training and likely won't be ready to rejoin the Rays until after the All-Star break.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Zunino - Resting Wednesday Zunino is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact After starting behind the plate in both of the previous two games, Zunino will get a breather for the series finale in Chicago. Francisco Mejia will catch for starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen on Wednesday.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Manuel Margot - Not in Wednesday's lineup Margot isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Diaz went 0-for-4 with an RBI and two strikeouts Tuesday, and he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Brett Phillips will start in right field and bat ninth.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yandy Díaz - Riding pine Wednesday Diaz isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Diaz was initially expected to get a day off Monday, but he was a late addition to the lineup after Wander Franco was scratched with quad tightness. Diaz will instead get a breather Wednesday while Taylor Walls starts at the hot corner and bats eighth.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Harold Ramirez - Hitting well in limited opportunity Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI on Tuesday against the Cubs.

Impact Ramirez drove in the ultimate game-winning run in the seventh inning, driving a single into center field to score Randy Arozarena. Ramirez has been a part-time player to begin the campaign, but he has taken advantage of his recent opportunity by collecting three hits in his last 11 at-bats while scoring two runs and driving in two.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Randy Arozarena - Fills box score Arozarena went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI on Tuesday against the Cubs.

Impact Arozarena broke open the game in Tampa Bay's favor in the seventh inning, doubling in Taylor Walls. He was then driven in on a single by Harold Ramirez, accounting for the majority of his production. Arozarena has now collected five hits in his last 16 at-bats, including three doubles to go along with three runs scored and two RBI.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE