APRIL 13, 2022 • MLB.COM
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
'Chloe, you're an inspiration': Phillips homers for young fan ST. PETERSBURG -- Before Tuesday night’s game at Tropicana Field, 8-year-old Chloe Grimes handed Tampa Bay outfielder Brett Phillips, her fa...
Wander Franco - Posts another multi-hit game Franco went 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, an RBI, a walk and two runs during Tuesday's 9-8, extra-inning win over the A's.
Impact The 21-year-old was unable to deliver his third consecutive three-hit game, but he settled for a fourth multi-hit effort in five contests. Franco has yet to hit his first home run, but it's still been a productive start to the campaign with a .550 average, a triple, three doubles, four RBI and five runs.
APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays OF, Child Cancer Patient Team Up for Magical Mid-Game Moment The Rays outfielder is 8-year-old Chloe Grimes’s favorite player. Naturally, he hit a home run while she gave an in-game interview.
APRIL 13, 2022 • SI.COM
Brandon Lowe - Scores three runs in win Lowe went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a walk and two additional runs during Tuesday's 9-8 win over Oakland in 10 innings.
Impact The 27-year-old hit a leadoff homer during the opening frame and excelled as a table setter the rest of the evening. Lowe was hitless in the first two games of the season but has come alive across the past three contests, going 5-for-13 with two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored.
APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ji-Man Choi - Powers offense Tuesday Choi went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, a double and a walk during Tuesday's 9-8 win over the Athletics in 10 innings.
Impact Choi gave the Rays a 5-3 lead with his three-run homer during the second inning and reached base in all four of his plate appearances before being replaced by a pinch hitter. The 30-year-old has three consecutive multi-hit games and has a 1.706 OPS through the first five contests of 2022.
APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tommy Romero - Covers 1.2 frames in debut Romero allowed three runs on two hits and five walks across 1.2 innings during Tuesday's 9-8 extra-inning win over the A's. He had one strikeout and didn't factor in the decision.
Impact The 24-year-old and opposing starter Adam Oller both made their major-league debuts, and neither pitcher was able to make it through the second inning. Romero is one of Tampa Bay's top pitching prospects, but he struggled with his control and threw just 31 of his 59 pitches for strikes. The Rays are down Luis Patino (oblique), Ryan Yarbrough (groin) and Shane Baz (elbow) in the rotation, though that doesn't necessarily mean Romero will receive another chance to start following Tuesday's poor performance.
APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
On a special night for a young fan, Rays deliver ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Amid the remnants of the messy marathon game in which the Rays fell behind early, led somewhat comfortably, went to e...
APRIL 13, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Margot hits winning RBI single in 10th, Rays beat A's 9-8
Manuel Margot hit a game-ending single during Tampa Bay’s two-run 10th inning, and the Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 9-8APRIL 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oblique injuries land Patiño, Chargois on IL ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays had to further shuffle their pitching staff due to injuries on Tuesday afternoon, placing starter Luis Patiño and...
APRIL 12, 2022 • MLB.COM
Josh Fleming - Replacing Patino in rotation Fleming is expected to enter the Rays' rotation for Thursday's game against the Athletics and will likely work behind an opening pitcher, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports...
Impact With Luis Patino (oblique) exiting early in Monday's 13-2 loss to Oakland and becoming the third member of the Rays' projected Opening Day rotation to hit the injured list, Fleming will be needed for at least one "spot start," even if he may not technically start Thursday's game. The southpaw wasn't available Monday after making an extended relief appearance in his season debut Saturday, when he struck out five Orioles over 3.1 scoreless frames. Fleming tossed 38 pitches in that outing, so the Rays could feel comfortable with extending his workload to around 50-to-60 pitches when he toes the rubber again Thursday. Breaking Fleming into the pitching schedule for the series finale with the Athletics will allow the Rays to grant Drew Rasmussen and Corey Kluber an extra day of rest between starts.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kevin Kiermaier - Heads to bench Kiermaier is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Athletics, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Kiermaier sits for the second time in the Rays' first five games. Brett Phillips will take over in center field.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yandy Díaz - Sitting Tuesday Diaz will be on the bench Tuesday against Oakland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Diaz hits the bench for the second time in the team's first five games. He's gone 1-for-9 with three walks thus far this season. Taylor Walls will take over at the hot corner.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ralph Garza Jr. - Moves up to big club The Rays recalled Garza from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Impact Garza will provide the Rays with some extra coverage out of the bullpen after the Rays needed four relievers and outfielder Brett Phillips to cover the final 8.1 innings of Monday's 13-2 loss to the Athletics following starter Luis Patino's (oblique) early exit. If Garza is pressed into action Tuesday behind starter Tommy Romero for multiple innings, he could be sent back to Durham immediately after the contest in exchange for another fresh arm out of the bullpen.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tommy Romero - Call-up official The Rays recalled Romero from Triple-A Durham in advance of his scheduled start Tuesday against the Athletics in Tampa Bay.
Impact Tampa Bay placed Luis Patino (oblique) on the injured list in a corresponding move. With the Rays now down three members from their projected Opening Day rotation in Patino, Ryan Yarbrough (groin) and Shane Baz (elbow), Romero could have a decent amount of leash in the Tampa Bay rotation, provided he doesn't lay an egg Tuesday in his MLB debut. Though the Athletics erupted for 13 runs in a blowout win Monday, the lack of established bats in their lineup makes for a soft landing spot for Romero, who dazzled in the minors last season with a 2.61 ERA and 145:31 K:BB across 110.1 innings. He'll make for an intriguing streaming option this week.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Luis Patiño - Deactivated due to oblique strain The Rays placed Patino (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Impact After entering Monday as the majors' lone unbeaten team, the Rays were dealt a reality check in a 13-2 loss to the Athletics in the home opener. In addition to the blowout loss, the Rays lost Patino just 13 pitches into his first start of the season due to the oblique strain. He'll now go on the shelf for at least the next week and a half, though the volatile timelines often associated with oblique injuries means that fantasy managers should bank on him missing more than the minimum amount of time. After Chris Mazza struggled mightily in a mop-up role behind Patino in Monday's game, the Rays plan to turn to Josh Fleming as a replacement in the rotation for Patino beginning with Thursday's series finale versus the Athletics, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
JT Chargois - IL bound with oblique tightness The Rays placed Chargois on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with left oblique tightness.
Impact Chargois picked up the injury coming out of his first relief outing of the season Friday, when he retired both of the batters he faced in a win over the Orioles. The Rays will be able to backdate his placement on the IL to Saturday, making Chargois eligible for reinstatement as soon as April 19. The fact that his injury is described as oblique tightness rather than a strain bodes well for his chances of avoiding an extended absence.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
How Cleveland's Steven Kwan became the star of MLB opening weekend
Jake Mintz tells the story of breakout Guardians star Steven Kwan, whose journey to the majors is a tale of hard work and perseverance.APRIL 12, 2022
Ji-Man Choi - Occupying familiar role Choi went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout in Monday's loss to the Athletics.
Impact Choi was one of the few bright spots in a blowout loss, as he delivered an RBI single in the eighth inning. He's occupied the strong side of a platoon at first base and started three of Tampa Bay's first four games this season. Choi has also hit either third or fourth in the order in each of his starts, which has helped him collect two RBI early on in the campaign.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Brett Phillips - Slow start to season Phillips went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Monday's loss to the Athletics.
Impact Phillips has been in the starting lineup for two of Tampa Bay's four games this season, splitting time with Manuel Margot. Though a small sample, Phillips has struggled to make contact early, striking out in four of his nine plate appearances. His recent track record suggests he'll continue to struggle at the dish, but he'll remain a regular presence in the lineup due to his defensive ability as an outfielder.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays host the Athletics to start 4-game series
The Tampa Bay Rays begin a four-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics on TuesdayAPRIL 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wander Franco - Racks up three hits in loss Franco went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in a loss to Oakland on Monday.
Impact Tampa Bay fell behind early and was never competitive in its first loss of the campaign, but Franco provided a moral boost by extending his strong start to the season. The 21-year-old notched his third three-hit game over the Rays' first four contests, pushing his average up to .600 over 16 at-bats. Franco has yet to go deep, but he has two doubles among his nine hits.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays starter Luis Patino leaves with oblique strain after 13 pitches in 13-2 loss to Oakland The Rays are 3-1 but facing some uncertainty because their starting pitchers are dealing with injuries.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM
Chris Mazza - Roughed up after early entrance Mazza pitched three innings against Oakland on Monday, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out four. He did not factor in the decision.
Impact To Mazza's credit, he ate multiple innings and stuck around for 73 pitches after starter Luis Patino exited during the first inning due to a strained left oblique. However, Mazza was far from impressive in the emergency appearance, yielding a trio of home runs, including long balls to two of the first three batters he faced. This was the first outing of the season for the right-hander, who posted a 4.61 ERA over 27.1 innings for the Rays last season. Given his heavy workload Monday, Mazza will likely be unavailable to pitch for at least a few days.
APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
When Brett Phillips pitches, expect greatness ST. PETERSBURG -- Pitchers are athletes, too. Especially when they’re outfielders. Brett Phillips proved it Monday night at Tropicana Field....
APRIL 12, 2022 • MLB.COM
