TREVOR RICHARDS NEWS

Cast off playoff roster The Rays optioned Richards to their taxi squad Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact He'll be replaced on the active roster by Josh Fleming, as the Rays evidently wanted another southpaw available out of the bullpen to counter the Astros' left-handed hitters in the ALCS, which begins Sunday. Richards didn't make an appearance during the Rays' recent five-game ALDS matchup with the Yankees.

OCTOBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Added to ALDS roster Richards will be on the Rays' roster for the remainder of the NL Division Series against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Richards replaces Oliver Drake, who landed on the injured list with a flexor strain. He'll presumably fill a lower-leverage role given that he wasn't originally on the roster and struggled to a 5.91 ERA in 32 innings during the regular season.

OCTOBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles in no-decision Richards took a no-decision during Thursday's win over the Orioles, allowing four runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out four across 3.1 innings.

Impact Richards, who was recalled from the team's alternate training site ahead of Thursday's start, struggled in the second half of Thursday's twin bill. After giving up a pair of home runs and an RBI double, the 27-year-old was lifted after 3.1 innings. The short performance was typical for Richards, who has failed to complete five innings in any of his nine appearances. Overall this season, the right-hander holds a 5.91 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across 32 innings.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to alternate site Richards was optioned to the alternate site to make room on the roster for Ryan Yarbrough (groin), Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Yarbrough will be activated from the injured list and start the Rays' game Tuesday. Richards was the odd man out, but will likely be back on the roster next week with the team scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Orioles.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Getting stretched out Richards didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees, allowing two runs on five hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Impact A pair of solo shots by DJ LeMahieu accounted for all the damage off the right-hander. It was Richards' longest outing of the season so far, as he threw 64 pitches (46 strikes) before giving way to the bullpen, and he now has a 4.05 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB through 13.1 innings in his three starts. He'll look to last long enough to qualify for his first win of the year in his next trip to the mound Monday, on the road against the Nationals.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' Cash makes threat after Chapman's 101 mph brush back

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch-hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empt...

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tanaka expected to start as New York hosts Tampa Bay

The Rays will start Trevor Richards on Tuesday and the Yankees are expected to counter with Masahiro Tanaka

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Announced as Tuesday's starter Richards will start Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Although Richards was not announced as the starter for Tuesday's game until after Monday's win, he appeared to be the likely choice for some time. RIchards hasn't pitched over 4.1 innings in an outing this year due to a lack of being stretched out, but an efficient outing could certainly get him through five frames.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Glasnow overpowers Yanks as Rays go to 7-1 vs NY this season

Tyler Glasnow flummoxed the Yankees for six innings, Ji-Man Choi and Kevin Kiermaier homered off Gerrit Cole, and the Tampa Bay Rays extended their mastery of New York with a 5-3 v...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes no-decision Richards allowed two runs (none earned) on six hits and two walks while striking three across 4.1 innings Wednesday against the Orioles. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Richards allowed both of the runs in the opening inning, but limited the damage thereafter. He was regularly working out of trouble -- he allowed multiple baserunners in four of the five innings he pitched -- but kept the Rays in the game. Richards worked up to 86 pitches, a positive factor for his chances to work long enough in upcoming starts to earn a win. He currently lines up to make his next appearance working behind an opener Monday at the Yankees.

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Richards expected to start for the Rays against the Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles square off against the Tampa Bay Rays

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting Wednesday Richards will start Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Richards last covered three frames in long relief last Thursday, and he'll make his second start of the season Wednesday against Baltimore. Richards has a 5.94 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 16.2 innings this season.

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Glasnow records 13 strikeouts as Rays beat Orioles 4-2

Tyler Glasnow struck out a career-high 13 over seven innings and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Works in long relief Thursday Richards came on in relief of opener John Curtiss in the second inning of Thursday's win over the Yankees, allowing two earned runs on four hits over three innings while recording...

Impact Richards was able to give manager Kevin Cash some valuable innings in the bullpen day, and the only run he allowed while on the mound came via an RBI groundout from Gleyber Torres. The right-hander was also dinged with one run on Gio Urshela's two-run home run off Diego Castillo, making it five times in as many appearances that Richards has been charged with multiple runs this season. Despite his elevated 5.94 ERA and 1.68 WHIP across 16.2 innings, Richards is still a valuable asset due to his ability to cover multiple innings as either a spot starter or long reliever.

AUGUST 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Zunino goes deep, Rays sweep Yanks for 1st in AL East

The Tampa Bay Rays completed their first sweep at Yankee Stadium in six years and took over first place in the AL East, getting a three-run homer from Mike Zunino in a 10-5 victory...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays beat Yankees again 4-2; Cole's streak intact after ND

Pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and the streaking Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees again, taking advantage of a costly erro...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Should play prominent role Thursday Richards should play a prominent role in Thursday's game against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Manager Kevin Cash hasn't yet confirmed a starter for Thursday's series finale against the Yankees, but he said that Richards will play a significant role in the contest. The right-hander has mainly struggled in his first four appearances this season, posting a 5.93 ERA and 1.78 ERA over 13.2 innings.

AUGUST 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lackluster results in no-decision Richards allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings in Friday's loss to the Blue Jays. He didn't factor into the decision.

Impact Richards had served in long relief to begin the season but made a spot start against the Blue Jays on Friday. However, he struggled to limit the Blue Jays' production at hitter-friendly Sahlen Field. The Rays provided him with enough run support early in the game, allowing him to settle for a no-decision. If the right-hander remains in the rotation in the near future, his next start should come on the road Thursday against the Yankees.

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Richards, Rays to face Roark, Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays take on the Tampa Bay Rays

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Receives starting nod Friday Richards will start Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Richards being named as Friday's starter does not come as a surprise as the right-hander logged four innings while allowing two unearned runs in relief of Charlie Morton (shoulder) in Sunday's win over the Yankees. Richards started 23 games last season between Miami and Tampa Bay.

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Candidate for spot starts Richards is a candidate for spot starts while Yonny Chirinos (triceps) and Charlie Morton (shoulder) are on the injured list, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Richards already stepped in for Morton on Sunday after the latter was forced from the game with the shoulder issue that would ultimately land him on the injured list. The 27-year-old right-hander logged 23 starts last season with the Marlins and Rays, which was preceded by a 25-start rookie 2018 campaign in Miami. Therefore, there's no doubt Richards' arm could be built up to potentially handle a conventional six- or seven-inning workload, but with manager Kevin Cash also having versatile multi-inning options such as Jalen Beeks and Anthony Banda (taxi squad) on hand, he could simply opt to deploy any two out of that trio to handle the bulk of innings in a given game.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Fills in for Morton in long relief Richards covered four innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Yankees, giving up two runs (zero earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Impact Richards entered the contest in the top of the third inning with no outs and a runner on first base after starter Charlie Morton departed early with right shoulder inflammation. Though he didn't factor into the decision, Richards' quality work helped keep the Rays competitive before the Tampa Bay bats finally woke up over the final three innings. Morton tentatively lines up to make his next start Saturday in Toronto, but if he's unable to move past the injury, Richards would likely be a top candidate to step in for a spot start.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Available out of bullpen Richards will fill a bullpen role during the Rays' weekend series against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Richards was recalled in place of Yonny Chirinos (triceps) on Thursday, but he evidently won't be filling Chirinos' rotation spot. The team's expected starters for Saturday's doubleheader are not yet known. Richards hasn't exactly earned a rotation spot given his performances to date, as he's allowed six runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings across a pair of relief appearances.

AUGUST 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to alternate site Richards was optioned by the Rays on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Richards has pitched twice for the Rays this season but didn't look good in either outing, allowing a combined six runs on 10 hits in just 5.1 innings. The 27-year-old recorded a respectable 4.06 ERA in 135.1 innings for the Marlins and Rays last season, so he'll likely get another opportunity at some point in the near future. Austin Meadows (illness) returned from the injured list in a corresponding move.

AUGUST 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Piggybacks Snell in win tandem Richards worked three frames of long relief Sunday in the Rays' 6-5 win over the Blue Jays in 10 innings. He was charged with four earned runs on six hits while striking out two.

Impact Early on in summer camp, Richards looked like he might have been in line to open the season as a member of the rotation, but those plans were dashed when Yonny Chirinos (undisclosed) was deemed ready to take the hill when a fifth starter is first needed Tuesday versus the Braves. Richards still took on a sizable workload in his first outing of 2020, tossing 40 pitches in relief of Blake Snell, who was deliberately capped at two innings as a precaution. Richards kept the Rays off the board for his first two innings, but he melted down in the top of the sixth, giving up four consecutive hits before being pulled in favor of Andrew Kittredge. Richards had been in line for the loss before the Rays rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras.

JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE