APRIL 20, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
Patrick Mooney: The Rays scratched star shortstop Wander Franco... - The Athletic The Rays scratched star shortstop Wander Franco from Monday night’s lineup at Wrigley Field due to right quadriceps tightness.
Cubs and Rays square off with series tied 1-1
Both the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays are looking for a series win with a victory on WednesdayAPRIL 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wander's torrid start: 4th 3-hit game & 1st HR CHICAGO -- Although he recognized it was in his best interest to rest his tight right quadriceps muscle Monday night, Wander Franco admitted...
APRIL 20, 2022 • MLB.COM
Wander Franco - Homers in return to lineup Franco went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and a double in the victory over the Cubs on Tuesday.
Impact After missing Monday's loss with quadriceps tightness, Franco returned with a bang and produced his second consecutive multi-hit performance. The shortstop took the Cub's starter Justin Steele deep for a two-run shot in the top of the third before later adding both a double in the fifth and a single in the ninth. The long ball was his first of the campaign and he is now batting an impressive .404 with seven extra-base hits.
APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Andrew Kittredge - Snags second save Kittredge got the save after he tossed two perfect innings while striking out two batters to end Tuesday's win over the Cubs.
Impact Kittredge was called upon to get a six-out save Tuesday and he didn't even break a sweat, retiring all six batters he faced and finishing two of them via strikes. He's off to a hot start this season, surrendering just one run over six innings while striking out eight, picking up two saves and a victory in the process. The 32-year-old appears to be in line for a career-year in 2022, operating as the Rays preferred ninth inning option.
APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Fleming - Picks up relief win Fleming (2-1) got the win Tuesday after pitching 3.1 innings out of the bullpen, surrendering three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two in the victory over the Cubs...
Impact Fleming followed Matt Wisler who opened the game Tuesday, giving up three earned runs for the second straight outing. All of the damage against him in the bottom of the fourth frame as he gave up an RBI double to Frank Schwindel before Patrick Wisdom scored him on a long ball, narrowing the Rays lead to 4-3. Fleming produced a 5.09 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 104.1 innings in 2021 and he's put together a similar 5.40 ERA and and 1.60 WHIP over 10 frames to start 2022.
APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Franco homers in Wrigley debut, Rays beat Cubs 6-5
Wander Franco hit his first homer of the season, a two-run bomb to left-center in the third inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5APRIL 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vidal Bruján - Back in action Tuesday Brujan (knee) is in the lineup for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Brujan has been sidelined since April 6 with knee soreness but is back on the field Tuesday. The 24-year-old received his first taste of the big leagues last year and is likely to receive another opportunity at some point in 2022 as one of the organization's top prospects.
APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Mejía - Sitting again Tuesday Mejia is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Mejia and Mike Zunino have alternated starts to this point this season, but Zunino will receive the nod for the second straight game Tuesday. Mejia is 6-for-20 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs this year.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kevin Kiermaier - Out of Tuesday's lineup Kiermaier is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Kiermaier will head to the bench Tuesday with lefty Justin Steele pitching for Chicago. Randy Arozarena, Manuel Margot and Josh Lowe will start from left to right in the outfield.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ji-Man Choi - On bench versus lefty Choi is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Choi started the past two games and will take a seat Tuesday with southpaw Justin Steele on the mound for Chicago. Harold Ramirez will take over at first base for Tampa Bay.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Wander Franco - Starting Tuesday, as expected Franco (quadriceps) is starting at shortstop and batting second Tuesday against the Cubs, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Franco was scratched from Monday's lineup due to tightness in his right quadriceps, but he was reportedly available off the bench and nearly entered during the ninth inning. The 21-year-old's absence appears to have been a precaution, and there shouldn't be much concern now that he's back in the starting nine.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
MLB odds: Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, White Sox lead Divisional futures
MLB is back! With the season in full swing, here is a look at the Divisional odds for both the National League and American League.APRIL 19, 2022
MLB injury mailbag: Checking in on Teoscar Hernández, Shane Baz and more Virginia Zakas of Inside Injuries explains the nature of oblique injuries as they relate to Teoscar Hernández, Luis Patiño and others.
APRIL 19, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Brett Phillips - Swipes second bag Phillips went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base Monday against the Cubs.
Impact Phillips continues to work into Tampa Bay's outfield rotation, splitting time with both Manuel Margot and Kevin Kiermaier. His production with the bat has been light -- which should be expected -- as he's collected only four hits with one walk across 22 plate appearances. However, he could surpass his previous career high of 14 stolen bases in a season, as he's already tallied a pair early on in the 2022 campaign.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays play in game 2 of series
The Chicago Cubs take a 1-0 advantage into the next game of the series against the Tampa Bay RaysAPRIL 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McClanahan warms Rays in frigid Chicago CHICAGO -- Some familiar issues plagued the Rays during their 4-2 loss to the Cubs on Monday night at Wrigley Field. Their typically stellar...
APRIL 19, 2022 • MLB.COM
Josh Fleming - Set for bulk role Fleming will work in a bulk relief role Tuesday against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Fleming has taken over the rotation spot vacated by Luis Patino (oblique), though he's set to follow Matt Wisler on Tuesday. Fleming has an impressive 11:1 K:BB across 6.2 innings this season, but he was tagged for three earned runs in his most recent outing. Assuming he is effective, Fleming should be able to work at least three frames and potentially more.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Wisler - Opening Tuesday's game Wisler will serve as the opener in Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Wisler has been busy early in the season, as he's made five appearances and covered 4.2 innings. While he's put together an impressive 1.93 ERA and 0.86 WHIP to go along with a 6:1 K:BB, his lack of extended outings indicates that he is unlikely to work more than two frames Tuesday. Josh Fleming is expected to enter the game after Wisler and work multiple innings.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Wander Franco - Expected back Tuesday Franco (quadriceps) is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Franco was originally in the lineup Monday, only to be scratched with tightness in his right quadriceps. He was reportedly available to pinch hit and nearly entered Monday's loss to the Cubs in the ninth inning. Though a return Tuesday is realistic, even if Franco is held out of the lineup again, his absence doesn't look likely to cost him an extended stretch of game action.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Xavier Edwards - Nearing return Edwards (shoulder) has been working out at the team's spring training facility and is nearing a return to game action, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Edwards was diagnosed with a shoulder impingement in early April, though the issue was not deemed to be major. It's not clear exactly what activity Edwards has been engaged in while missing game action, but it appears that a return in late April remains realistic.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe - Collects two hits, steals base Lowe went 2-for-4 with a steal, one RBI and a run scored in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Cubs.
Impact Lowe scored on Ji-Man Choi's fourth-inning single after he singled and swiped second base. He then drove in Brett Phillips with an RBI single of his own in the fifth. The rookie outfielder is now slashing .182/.289/.242 with five runs scored through 38 plate appearances.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Shane McClanahan - Fans nine in solid outing McClanahan allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits across six innings in Monday's loss to the Cubs. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision.
Impact The only damage against McClanahan came from Patrick Wisdom's two-run shot in the second inning. The 24-year-old southpaw was only charged with one earned run due to Seiya Suzuki reaching base on an error earlier in the inning. McClanahan fired 80 pitches and forced 13 swinging strikes in the impressive outing. He's now sporting a 2.40 ERA and a 24:5 K:BB through three starts. McClanahan is lined up to face Boston at home this weekend.
APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Suzuki extends hitting streak to 9, Cubs beat cold Rays 4-2
Rookie Seiya Suzuki extended his hitting streak to nine games, tying Akinori Iwamura for the longest by a Japanese-born player at the start of a major league career, and the Chicag...APRIL 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
