TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Kluber looks good, Rays beat Orioles 8-0 to complete sweep

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber looked good in his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching into the fifth inning to help the defending AL East champions beat Baltimore...

APRIL 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No. 1 on the mound? That'll be Patiño ST. PETERSBURG -- Luis Patiño spent his first season with the Rays wearing a No. 61 jersey. He wore the same uniform number with Tampa Bay t...

APRIL 10, 2022 • MLB.COM

Game day report, Orioles vs. Rays, 1:10 p.m. Rays go for the three-game sweep against Baltimore in the opening series of the 2022 season.

APRIL 10, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Taylor Walls - Out again Sunday Walls is not in the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.

Impact Walls has been out of the lineup for two of the team's first three games of the season. It appears that his primary competition for playing time will come from Yandy Diaz and Harold Ramirez, both of whom are starting Sunday.

APRIL 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Kiermaier - Sitting Sunday Kiermaier is not in Sunday's lineup against the Orioles.

Impact Kiermaier is out of the lineup after starting the team's first two games, during which he went a combined 1-for-6 with a double and run scored. Manuel Margot rejoins the lineup after sitting Saturday, and he will play center field while batting ninth.

APRIL 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Fleming - Tampa Bay Rays - RP - Stats, News, Career Info Josh Fleming - #19 - Relief Pitcher - Tampa Bay Rays - Get the latest news, highlights, and career stats for Josh Fleming from CBSSports.com...

APRIL 10, 2022 • SCOUT.COM

Rays try to sweep 3-game series over the Orioles

The Tampa Bay Rays play the Baltimore Orioles looking to sweep their three-game series

APRIL 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Greene debuts for Reds, Stanton rocks Red Sox

Reds right-hander Hunter Greene will make his much-anticipated major league debut when he faces the World Series champion Braves in Atlanta

APRIL 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Contrasting styles match up perfectly for Rays ST. PETERSBURG -- Coming off an abbreviated Spring Training, the Rays understand they have to be careful with their starting pitchers early...

APRIL 9, 2022 • MLB.COM

Andrew Kittredge - Notches first save of season Kittredge tossed the ninth inning and secured the save, surrendering one run on two hits while striking out two in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Orioles.

Impact Kittredge picked up the win Friday against the Orioles, but he was called upon to protect a 5-2 lead in the ninth Saturday. Ramon Urias opened the inning with a ground-rule double and later scored on a two-out Jorge Mateo double, but Kittredge was able to halt the damage at just one run, striking out DJ Stewart to end the contest and pick up his first save of the season. With the Rays once again expected to challenge for an AL East divisional title, the 31-year-old will likely be a very effective bullpen option once again in 2022 after posting a sparkling 1.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 57 appearances last year.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejía - Homers and plates three Mejia went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs in the 5-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday.

Impact The catcher opened the scoring in the contest, notching a single in the bottom of the second inning off of Jordan Lyles, driving in teammate Josh Lowe before later scoring on a Brett Phillips ground out. Mejia busted the game wide open in the following inning, blasting a 2-2 fastball from Lyles over the fence, once again scoring Lowe and putting the Rays up 5-2. The 26-year-old is expected to operate in a timeshare with Mike Zunino behind the plate this season, though Mejia is the better option against right-handers.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Rasmussen - Strong outing to open 2022 Rasmussen tossed four innings of two-run ball on three hits and a walk while striking out three in Saturday's win over the Orioles. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact All the damage against the right-hander in this one came off of the bat of Ryan Mountcastle, who launched a first-pitch slider over the wall for a two-run shot in the third inning. Rasmussen failed to pitch five innings in the contest, leaving after the fourth inning at 64 pitches. It was a strong season debut for the 26-year-old who produced a 4-1 record with a 2.84 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 35 appearances and 10 starts between the Brewers and Rays.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Francisco Mejia leads way again as Rays improve to 2-0 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Catcher Francisco Mejia came to the Rays last year and got adjusted to both his role as the backup to starter Mike Zu...

APRIL 9, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Brandon Lowe - Draws walk in win Lowe went 0-for-3 with a walk in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Orioles.

Impact After going 0-for-3 with an RBI in Friday's 2-1 win while batting out of the fifth spot in the order against Orioles lefty John Means, Lowe moved into the leadoff role Saturday with a right-hander (Jordan Lyles) on the mound for Baltimore. Though he couldn't take advantage of the favorable matchup Saturday, the lefty-hitting Lowe looks like he'll be used regularly out of the table-setting role versus right-handers, an arrangement that could allow him to make a push for 100-plus runs if health prevails. Lowe scored 97 times across 615 plate appearances in 2021.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mejía delivers again, Rays beat Orioles 14th straight time

Francisco Mejía homered and drove in three runs, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat Baltimore 5-3 for their 14th straight win over the Orioles

APRIL 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manuel Margot - Not in Saturday's lineup Margot isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Margot went 2-for-2 in Friday's win over Baltimore while starting in right field. However, Brett Phillips will start in right and bat ninth against righty Jordan Lyles on Saturday.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Zunino - Takes seat Saturday Zunino isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Zunino struck out in each of his three plate appearances Friday, and he'll get a breather a day later. Francisco Mejia will start at catcher and bat sixth.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yandy Díaz - On bench Saturday Diaz isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Diaz led off in Friday's Opening Day matchup and went 1-for-4 with a run. However, Taylor Walls will start at the hot corner and bat eighth against right-hander Jordan Lyles on Saturday.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco - Tampa Bay Rays - SS - Stats, News, Career Info Wander Franco - #5 - shortstop - Tampa Bay Rays - Get the latest news, highlights, and career stats for Wander Franco from CBSSports.com.

APRIL 9, 2022 • SCOUT.COM

Rays play the Orioles leading series 1-0

The Tampa Bay Rays take a 1-0 advantage into the latest game of the series against the Baltimore Orioles

APRIL 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Andrew Kittredge - Pitches in eighth inning, earns win Kittredge (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one across a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win Friday against the Orioles.

Impact Kittredge was among the candidates to close out games for the Rays once Pete Fairbanks (lat) was played on the injured list. While his usage is likely to continue to fluctuate, Kittredge served in a high-leverage role on Opening Day. He entered the game in the eighth inning with the score tied at one. After allowing two runners on base, Kittredge ultimately escaped from the jam and was able to earn the win as a result. One frame later Brooks Raley earned a one-out save, though J.P. Feyereisen was on the mound to begin the ninth inning.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Lowe - Walks twice in debut Lowe went 0-for-2 with two walks in Friday's win over the Orioles.

Impact Lowe was not originally slated to begin the season on the major-league roster, though that changed once the Rays dealt Austin Meadows to Detroit. Though he hit seventh in the order while making his debut, it appears that Lowe will have everyday playing time to begin the season as he was in the Opening Day lineup despite facing a left-handed pitcher. While it's not clear how Lowe's skillset will translate to the big leagues immediately, he has hit for power and stolen double-digit bases throughout his minor-league career.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco - Collects three hits Franco went 3-for-4 with three singles in Friday's 2-1 win over the Orioles.

Impact Picking up right where he left off in his terrific rookie campaign, Franco made hard contact all day and was rewarded with three hits. He posted a subpar .637 OPS through 32 spring plate appearances but showed no signs of it in the Rays' first game. The star shortstop slashed .288/.347/.463 in 70 MLB games last season.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Shane McClanahan - Fans seven to begin season McClanahan allowed four hits and two walks over 4.1 scoreless innings in Friday's win over Baltimore. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision.

Impact McClanahan ran into some trouble in the first inning; his first pitch of the season plunked Cedric Mullins and he eventually found himself one-out, bases-loaded jam before escaping the first inning. He settled in nicely and finished his day throwing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes with his fastball topping out in the triple digits. The 6-foot-1 lefty is expected to face Oakland at home next week.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Brooks Raley - Notches one-out save Raley struck out the only batter he faced and earned a save over the Orioles on Friday.

Impact J.P. Feyereisen was lifted from the game after coughing up a two-out single to Rougned Odor in the ninth inning. Raley took over and fanned Cedric Mullins on six pitches to secure the 2-1 victory. The 33-year-old southpaw posted a 1.93 ERA in four spring appearances and it looks like he'll be a key member of the Rays' closer committee to start the 2022 campaign.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE