Impact As is often the case, the lefty-hitting Rortvedt will retreat to the bench while the opposition sends a lefty (Framber Valdez) to the hill. Alex Jackson will fill in for Rortvedt behind the plate.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
Ben Rortvedt - Resting against lefty Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Jacob Waguespack - Aims to resume mound work this week Waguespack (shoulder/back) is hopeful to resume throwing bullpen sessions by Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Impact Initially placed on the injured list May 6 with right rotator cuff inflammation, Waguespack was cleared to make a rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 25, only to fall victim to a lower-back issue that has kept him from pitching in a game ever since. He received injections Aug. 5 to address the back issue, and assuming the shots had the desired effect, Waguespack will take the next step forward in his throwing program by getting back on the mound this week. Even though the Rays likely envision Waguespack serving as a multi-inning reliever rather than a starter when he returns from the IL, he'll still likely need multiple weeks to complete a throwing progression and minor-league rehab assignment.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Pepiot - Racks up seven Ks in rehab start Pepiot (knee) struck out seven batters over 3.1 scoreless innings while scattering one hit and two walks in his rehab start Saturday with Double-A Montgomery.
Impact Pepiot tossed 69 pitches in the rehab outing, which should be the only minor-league start he needs before making his return from the 15-day injured list. The Rays have seemingly already reopened a spot in the rotation for Pepiot, as the club optioned Tyler Alexander -- who had been functioning as the de facto No. 5 starter -- to Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Pepiot rejoined the Rays on Sunday and played catch at Tropicana Field, and he'll likely throw a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday before Tampa Bay locks him in for a start this weekend versus the Diamondbacks.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Jeffrey Springs - Punches out eight Springs didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one run on six hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
Impact Springs rebounded from a four-run start against St. Louis with Sunday's gem, fanning eight batters after combining for six Ks in his first two starts since returning from Tommy John Surgery. The left-hander was pulled after 83 pitches (58 strikes) and hasn't reached the 90-pitch threshold since being activated. In 13.2 innings, Springs has yielded seven runs with a 14:4 K:BB. He's on track to face the Diamondbacks next time out.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Pete Fairbanks - Fans three in save Fairbanks picked up the save Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one hit and no walks with three strikeouts across a scoreless ninth inning.
Impact Fairbanks pounded the strike zone Sunday as 12 of his 14 pitches were strikes. The 30-year-old has racked up eight consecutive scoreless innings, with two hits and no walks allowed during that stretch. He's 23-for-25 in save opportunities this season and has a 2.74 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 42.2 innings.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Sterner - Hits IL at Triple-A Triple-A Durham placed Sterner on its 7-day injured list Saturday with an unspecified injury.
Impact Sterner hasn't pitched since Aug. 3 due to an unspecified injury or illness. The right-hander made appearances out of the Tampa Bay bullpen on May 31 and June 4 but has otherwise spent the 2024 season at Durham, producing a 3.76 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 45:16 K:BB in 40.2 innings.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Rays rally past Orioles to avoid sweep, move back above .500 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A six-game stretch that had been mostly for the birds ended on a solid note f...
AUGUST 12 • KANSASCITY.COM
Rays avoid home sweep, edge O's on late sac fly Curtis Mead drove in the tiebreaking run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied...
AUGUST 11 • SACBEE.COM
Springs makes brilliant return to form, Rays eke out victory ST. PETERSBURG -- Jeffrey Springs knew not to expect too much of himself too soon after coming back from Tommy John surgery. He realized it...
AUGUST 11 • MLB.COM
Mead hits tiebreaking sacrifice fly in 8th, Rays avoid 3-game sweep by beating Orioles 2-1
Curtis Mead had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Baltimore Orioles 2-1AUGUST 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dylan Carlson - Taking seat Sunday Carlson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Impact Carlson will hit the bench after he had started in each of the Rays' last four games while going 3-for-13 with a home run and a pair of walks. Though he hasn't quite moved into a full-time role in the Tampa Bay outfield just yet, Carlson seems to be pushing the struggling Jose Siri for a regular spot. Siri will man center field Sunday, but he had been out of the lineup for two of the past three games, with the Rays facing right-handed starters on both occasions.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Jonny DeLuca - Getting fourth straight start DeLuca will start in right field and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Impact DeLuca will crack the lineup for the fourth game in a row -- all against right-handed starting pitchers -- and will occupy the leadoff spot for the second straight contest after going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 7-5 loss. With Richie Palacios (knee) on the injured list and with Jose Siri producing a weak .605 OPS since the All-Star break, DeLuca looks to have moved into a near-everyday role in the Tampa Bay outfield after previously operating as a short-side platoon player.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Alexander - Returns to minors The Rays optioned Alexander to Tripel-A Durham on Sunday.
Impact The lefty pitched well in bulk relief Saturday with one run allowed over 4.2 innings and has a 1.26 ERA in his past four appearances, but he'll head to the minors with Ryan Pepiot (knee) nearing his return to the rotation. Cole Sulser was called up in a corresponding move to bolster Tampa Bay's bullpen depth.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Cole Sulser - Called up by Tampa Bay The Rays recalled Sulser from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Impact The right-hander was acquired from the Mets in late July after being designated for assignment. Sulser allowed five earned runs over 4.2 frames for New York but has a 1.49 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB across 36.1 innings at Triple-A this year.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
José Caballero - Out of Sunday's lineup Caballero is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Caballero has gone 6-for-15 with a double, a homer and four stolen bases during a five-game hit streak, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's contest. Curtis Mead will step in at the hot corner and bat sixth in the series finale versus Baltimore.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Orioles seek to continue road dominance over Rays The American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles will try to complete their second straight road sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday aft...
AUGUST 11 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Rays take home losing streak into matchup with the Orioles
The Tampa Bay Rays aim to stop their three-game home skid with a win against the Baltimore OriolesAUGUST 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Josh Lowe - Logs steal in return Lowe went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Orioles.
Impact Lowe fouled a ball off his right knee Thursday and didn't start Friday, but it's encouraging that he's feeling well enough to swipe a bag. The outfielder has gone 7-for-21 (.333) with four extra-base hits over eight contests in August. For the season, he's maintained a .236/.295/.407 slash line with 11 steals, seven home runs, 22 RBI and 23 runs scored across 61 games.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe - Logs steal in return Lowe went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Orioles.
Impact Lowe fouled a ball off his right knee Thursday and didn't start Friday, but it's encouraging that he's feeling well enough to swipe a bag. The outfielder has gone 7-for-21 (.333) with four extra-base hits over eight contests in August. For the season, he's maintained a .236/.295/.407 slash line with 11 steals, seven home runs, 22 RBI and 23 runs scored across 61 games.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
José Caballero - Homer, steal in loss Caballero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Orioles.
Impact Caballero has a steal in four of his last five games, but his homer Saturday was his first since July 21. The infielder continues to feature most frequently at third base and shortstop. He's up to 32 steals this year while adding eight homers, 31 RBI, 44 runs scored and a .238/.295/.369 slash line over 98 contests.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
José Caballero - Homer, steal in loss Caballero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Orioles.
Impact Caballero has a steal in four of his last five games, but his homer Saturday was his first since July 21. The infielder continues to feature most frequently at third base and shortstop. He's up to 32 steals this year while adding eight homers, 31 RBI, 44 runs scored and a .238/.295/.369 slash line over 98 contests.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Alexander - Decent in bulk-relief role Alexander allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings Saturday versus the Orioles. He did not factor in the decision.
Impact Alexander continues to operate in a bulk-relief role, and he's had success during his current stint in the majors. He's allowed two runs and posted a 15:3 K:BB over 14.1 innings over his last four appearances, and Saturday was the first time in that span he didn't come away with a win. Alexander has a 5.20 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 63:16 K:BB over 71 innings in 15 appearances (six starts) in the majors this year. If Ryan Pepiot (knee) returns to the majors next week, Alexander may be moved off the 26-man roster or feature as a traditional multi-inning reliever going forward.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Alexander - Decent in bulk-relief role Alexander allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings Saturday versus the Orioles. He did not factor in the decision.
Impact Alexander continues to operate in a bulk-relief role, and he's had success during his current stint in the majors. He's allowed two runs and posted a 15:3 K:BB over 14.1 innings over his last four appearances, and Saturday was the first time in that span he didn't come away with a win. Alexander has a 5.20 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 63:16 K:BB over 71 innings over 15 appearances (six starts) in the majors this year. If Ryan Pepiot (knee) returns to the majors next week, Alexander may be moved off the 26-man roster or feature as a traditional multi-inning reliever going forward.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
