TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Homer Bush - Traded to Tampa Bay The Rays acquired Bush, Dylan Lesko and J.D. Gonzalez from the Padres in exchange for reliever Jason Adam on Sunday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Impact The 22-year-old was selected 128th overall by the Padres during the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, and he'll now make his way to the Rays. Bush has played at the High-A level this season and has a .269 average with 16 homers, nine steals, a 9.4 percent walk rate and 17.6 percent strikeout rate though 85 games. However, he's slugging just .341 despite the long balls since he has only nine doubles and no triples.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Dylan Lesko - Sent to Tampa Bay The Rays acquired Lesko, outfielder Homer Bush and catcher J.D. Gonzalez from the Padres on Sunday in exchange for reliever Jason Adam, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Lesko was one of San Diego's top prospects, though he's struggled at the High-A level this season with a 6.82 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 73:49 K:BB across 64.2 innings. He's also plunked 11 batters and thrown seven wild pitches, as his control has been erratic in his second year back from Tommy John surgery.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Siri - Taking seat Sunday Siri is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Siri has gone 5-for-30 with 11 strikeouts in eight games since the All-Star break and will head to the bench for Sunday's game. Richie Palacios, Jonny DeLuca and Josh Lowe will start from left to right in the outfield for the series finale versus Cincinnati.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Yandy Díaz - Goes yard Saturday Diaz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Reds.

Impact He went back-to-back with Alex Jackson off Andrew Abbott to lead off the fifth inning, breaking open a 1-0 game. While the homer was only the ninth of the year for Diaz, a disappointing total after he slugged a career-high 22 last season, he has been supplying more power in July, slashing .278/.328/.481 through 13 games on the month. The 32-year-old is on an affordable contract that pays him $10 million in 2025 with a $12 million club option for 2026, but with the Rays in sell mode at the trade deadline and a number of contenders in need of help at first base, Diaz could be the next player to go.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Zack Littell - Blanks Cincy for fourth win Littell (4-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Reds, scattering three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Impact The 28-year-old right-hander was masterful over 96 pitches (60 strikes), as Cincinnati only managed to get two runners into scoring position against him. The quality start was the eighth of the year for Littell, but only his second in his last eight trips to the mound, a stretch in which he has a 5.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. With the Rays in sell mode at the trade deadline and Littell headed for his final year of arbitration in 2025, Saturday's performance can only have boosted his market value. If he doesn't get dealt, he's scheduled to make his next start for Tampa Bay on the road next weekend in Houston.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Rays and Reds play, winner takes 3-game series

Both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cincinnati Reds are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday

JULY 28 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reds, Rays focusing on rubber game, not trade speculation Trade winds continue to swirl around the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays, who conclude a three-game interleague series on Sunday in St.Pe...

JULY 28 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

John Romano: Would another team be willing to take Wander Franco off the Rays' hands? ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - This time of year, the baseball world wants chaos. If not, then anarchy and o...

JULY 28 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

How to Watch Reds vs. Rays: TV Channel & Live Stream - July 28

Preview the July 28 matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

JULY 28 • DATA SKRIVE

Post-hit celebration wasn't Trump endorsement, Rays player says Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said he was unlikely to do his Donald Trump-inspired celebration of a hit again.

JULY 28 • TORONTOSUN.COM

Tyler Alexander - Set for bulk relief Sunday Alexander is expected to serve as a bulk reliever for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Alexander will follow opener Shawn Armstrong, who's slated to cover one or two innings before exiting the contest. The lefty threw three innings of bulk relief in his last appearance Tuesday against the Blue Jays and owns a 5.88 ERA in 59.2 innings in the majors this season.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Alexander - Set for bulk relief Sunday Alexander is expected to serve as a bulk reliever for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Alexander will follow opener Shawn Armstrong, who's slated to go one or two innings before giving way to Alexander. Alexander threw three innings in bulk relief Tuesday and owns a 5.88 ERA in 59.2 innings this season.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Shawn Armstrong - Serving as opener Sunday Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Armstrong will open his seventh game of the season and will likely throw one or two innings before giving way to Tyler Alexander, who is expected to work in bulk relief. Armstrong threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts Tuesday while serving as an opener in the Rays' game against the Blue Jays.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Shawn Armstrong - Serving as opener Sunday Armstrong will be the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Armstrong will open his seventh game of the year and will likely throw one or two innings before handing the ball off to Tyler Alexander to work in bulk relief. Armstrong threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts Tuesday while serving as an opener.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Zack Littell throws 7 shutout innings as Rays blank Reds, 4-0 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If Saturday was his last start for Tampa Bay, Zack Littell certainly left a g...

JULY 28 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Zack Littell, Rays shut out Reds to even series Alex Jackson and Yandy Diaz hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning, Zack Littell tossed seven scoreless innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays...

JULY 27 • THESTATE.COM

Jackson, Díaz hit consecutive 5th-inning homers and Rays beat Reds 4-0

Alex Jackson and Yandy Díaz hit consecutive home runs in a three-run fifth inning to back Zack Littell, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Cincinnati 4-0 to stop the Reds’ three-game winn...

JULY 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Amid trade rumors, Littell delivers 7 scoreless frames ST. PETERSBURG -- Zack Littell has seen veterans Aaron Civale, Phil Maton, Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin traded away over the past few week...

JULY 27 • MLB.COM

Reds vs. Rays Prediction, Odds, Picks - July 28

Preview the July 28 matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

JULY 27 • DATA SKRIVE

Rays Starting Pitcher Was Hospitalized After Spider Bite Gave Him Knee Infection Ryan Pepiot is resuming mound throwing soon after a freak injury.

JULY 27 • SACBEE.COM

Rays Starting Pitcher Was Hospitalized After Spider Bite Gave Him Knee Infection Ryan Pepiot is resuming mound throwing soon after a freak injury.

JULY 27 • THESTATE.COM

Rays Starting Pitcher Was Hospitalized After Spider Bite Gave Him Knee Infection Ryan Pepiot is resuming mound throwing soon after a freak injury.

JULY 27 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Rays Starting Pitcher Was Hospitalized After Spider Bite Gave Him Knee Infection Ryan Pepiot is resuming mound throwing soon after a freak injury.

JULY 27 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Ryan Pepiot - Knee infection due to bug bite Pepiot told reporters Saturday that he spent 60 hours in the hospital to treat an infection in his right knee due to a bug bite, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Pepiot was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right knee infection, though the details of that injury didn't surface until Saturday. He told reporters that the bug bite caused his knee to swell up "like the size of a softball... I couldn't put any weight on my leg." Pepiot is slated to throw up to 25 pitches off the mound Saturday, and how his knee reacts after the session will determine whether the 26-year-old right-hander will need to go on a rehab assignment. Pepiot holds a 6-5 record over his 17 starts this season with a 3.92 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 94:31 K:BB across 87.1 innings.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Pepiot - Knee infection due to bug bite Pepiot told reporters Saturday that he spent 60 hours in the hospital to treat an infection in his right knee due to a bug bite, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Pepiot was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right knee infection, though the details of that injury didn't surface until Saturday. He told reporters that the bug bite caused his knee to swell up "like the size of a softball...I couldn't put any weight on my leg." Pepiot is throwing up to 25 pitches off the mound Saturday, and how his knee reacts after the session will determine whether the 26-year-old right-hander will need to go on a rehab assignment. Pepiot holds a 6-5 record over his 17 starts this season with a 3.92 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 94:31 K:BB across 87.1 innings.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE