TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Blackburn goes 5 scoreless, A's hand Rays 1st loss, 13-2

Paul Blackburn allowed three hits in five scoreless innings, Seth Brown and Elvis Andrus both hit three-run homers, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 13-2

APRIL 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays lose Luis Patino to injury, ugly game to A's ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The outcome was ugly, but these type of games are going to happen, even to a team that opened the season with three s...

APRIL 12, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Luis Patiño - Battling oblique strain Patino was diagnosed with a strained left oblique after leaving Monday's start against the A's, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.

Impact Patino recorded two outs on 13 pitches during the first inning before exiting Monday's contest with the injury. The severity of the strain is unclear, but oblique injuries often require a stint on the injured list, so it wouldn't be a major surprise if he's forced to miss some time.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luis Patiño - Exits with apparent injury Patino exited his start Monday against the Athletics with an apparent injury, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Patino was slowed by shoulder soreness in spring training, but it's unclear if it's the same issue that caused him to exit after just 13 pitches. Details about the nature and severity of the young righty's injury should become clear following further tests.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' Tommy Romero set to make big-league debut Tuesday Notes | Ryan Yarbrough eyes an April 18 return, and Ryan Thompson is called up to add an arm to bullpen.

APRIL 11, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

MLB Top 10: Astros, Rays, Blue Jays the best of the best after opening weekend

Ben Verlander names his top 10 MLB teams after opening weekend, starting with the Astros' impressive pitching and deep offense.

APRIL 11, 2022

Latest mad dash for Rays' Brett Phillips is a trip back in time The outfielder decided to relive his childhood by running the bases with kids after Sunday’s game.

APRIL 11, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Ryan Yarbrough - Short absence expected Yarbrough (groin) isn't expected to miss more than one start during his stay on the injured list, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Yarbrough's season debut was pushed back slightly after he hit the injured list with a groin issue Monday, but both he and the Rays believe he won't miss much time. Ryan Thompson was recalled in a corresponding move, though it's Tommy Romero who's expected to temporarily take his place in the rotation.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tommy Romero - Slated to start Tuesday The Rays announced that Romero will start Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Romero resides on the Rays' taxi squad for the time being, but he'll be officially added to the 28-man active roster following Monday's series opener with Oakland. As expected, he'll slot into the rotation as a replacement for Ryan Yarbrough (groin), who was placed on the injured list earlier Monday. The 24-year-old Romero was one of the Rays' top arms in the upper minors in 2021, as he finished the season with a 2.61 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 145:31 K:BB across 110.1 innings between stops at Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Yarbrough - Officially moved to IL The Rays placed Yarbrough (groin) on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Impact Tampa Bay recalled reliever Ryan Thompson from Triple-A Durham to serve as a temporarily replacement on the 28-man active roster for Yarbrough, who injured his left groin at some point leading up to his scheduled start for Tuesday against the Athletics. Yarbrough's 2022 debut will thus be put on hold, and his absence from the rotation will likely open up a starting role for prospect Tommy Romero. Tampa Bay added Romero to its taxi squad Monday, but the team may wait until Tuesday before formally adding him to the roster and having him start later that day.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Zunino - Not in Monday's lineup Zunino will sit Monday against Oakland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Zunino and Francisco Mejia, who starts Monday, have alternated starts behind the plate through the first four games of this year. How long the Rays intend to stick to that pattern remains to be seen. Zunino was the clear number one option last season, making 97 starts to Mejia's 64.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Manuel Margot - Heads to bench Margot will sit Monday against Oakland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The Rays have a deep outfield and can give all their regulars frequent days off. Margot finds himself sitting for the second time in the season's first four games, with Brett Phillips again stepping in as the right fielder.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Randy Arozarena - Sitting Monday Arozarena will sit Monday against Oakland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Arozarena started all three games in the opening series against the Orioles, grabbing three hits. The Rays will turn to their depth throughout the season to give the regulars plenty of rest, however, and it's Arozarena's turn to sit this time around. Josh Lowe will get the start in left field.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tommy Romero - Part of taxi squad, for now The Rays added Romero to their taxi squad Monday, setting the stage for a potential call-up at some point during the team's four-game series with Oakland.

Impact Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reported Sunday that Romero was en route to joining the Rays' active roster, but the 24-year-old right-hander will remain in limbo for the time being as a member of the taxi squad. Tampa Bay recalled reliever Ryan Thompson from Triple-A Durham on Monday and placed Ryan Yarbrough (groin) on the injured list in a corresponding move, but the move might have been made as a means of having a fresh arm out of the bullpen for the series opener with the Rays. Yarbrough's turn in the rotation is scheduled to come up Tuesday, so Tampa Bay could still formally recall Romero from Durham to start that day in what would be his MLB debut. Romero produced a 2.61 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 110.1 innings between Durham and Double-A Montgomery in 2021.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Thompson - Recalled by Rays Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Impact Thompson owns a 3.28 career ERA in 60.1 major-league innings. He'll replace Ryan Yarbrough on the roster after Yarbrough hit the injured list with left groin tightness.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays vs Athletics Prediction, Odds, Moneyline, Spread & Over/Under for April 11 MLB action on Monday includes the Tampa Bay Rays facing the Oakland Athletics. All the info you need is below, in order to make a smart bet...

APRIL 11, 2022 • FANDUEL.COM

Athletics visit the Rays to open 4-game series

The Tampa Bay Rays begin a four-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics on Monday

APRIL 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillips surprises young Rays fans by running bases with them Many of us have seen it after a professional baseball game on a Sunday, whether in the Minor Leagues or the Major Leagues: Dozens of kids ru...

APRIL 11, 2022 • MLB.COM

Brandon Lowe - Launches first home run Lowe went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in an 8-0 win over the Orioles on Sunday.

Impact Batting leadoff for the second straight day, Lowe picked up his first hit of the year with his second-inning shot that chased Tyler Wells from the game. He later scored on a Wander Franco single in the seventh and finished his day with a pair of strikeouts. Lowe hit leadoff 60 times in 2021 and it looks like he'll continue to own that role against right-handers.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Yarbrough - Heading to injured list Yarbrough is dealing with a minor groin injury and will be placed on the 10-day injured list as a precautionary measure, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The southpaw hadn't yet made his 2022 debut and will have to wait to do so as a result of his injury. Tommy Romero will be recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill in while Yarbrough is sidelined. It's not yet clear whether the 30-year-old Yarbrough will be forced to spend more than the minimum of 10 days on the shelf.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Harold Ramirez - Knocks three hits Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a double, one run scored and an RBI in Sunday's 8-0 victory against Baltimore. He was caught stealing once.

Impact Ramirez scored on Brandon Lowe's second-inning homer and later tapped an RBI single in the seventh. The 27-year-old started at first base for the Rays' first game and served as the designated hitter Sunday after getting Saturday off. As of now, it seems that he'll spend most of his playing time at those two spots with some occasional reps in Tampa Bay's crowded outfield.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco - Drives in two runs Franco went 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-0 win over the Orioles.

Impact Franco helped Tampa Bay complete a three-game sweep to begin the 2022 campaign. He drilled a two-run single in the seventh inning and finished the series 6-for-11 with a pair of strikeouts. Taylor Walls replaced him near the end of the game and got an at-bat in the eighth inning of the blowout victory.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Corey Kluber - Scoreless in Rays debut Kluber allowed three hits and four walks over 4.2 shutout innings in Sunday's win over Baltimore. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.

Impact Kluber was one out away from finishing the fifth inning and earning a win in his Rays debut before walking Cedric Mullins and yielding a single to Ryan Mountcastle. He tossed 52 of 87 pitches for strikes and forced 12 whiffs. The veteran righty posted a 3.83 ERA in 80 innings with the Yankees last season. Kluber is lined up to face the White Sox in Chicago next week.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Scoreboard says Corey Kluber was impressive, even if he didn't feel it Performing on his 36th birthday, the free agent acquisition pitches out of trouble through four-plus shutout innings.

APRIL 11, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Tommy Romero - Recalled by Rays Romero was recalled by the Rays on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Romero sustained a right tricep contusion during spring training, but he made a start at Triple-A Durham on Thursday and tossed 3.2 scoreless frames. The right-hander made 23 appearances (21 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A last year, and he posted a 2.61 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 110.1 innings. Passan notes that Romero's big-league stint may not be a long-term one, but he'll have a chance to prove himself with the Rays since Ryan Yarbrough (groin) will be placed on the 10-day injured list. Romero tentatively lines up to make his major-league debut at home against the Athletics on Tuesday, but it's not yet clear whether he'll start or pitch behind an opener, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

APRIL 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE