AUGUST 15, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Why Rays bosses think unfolding Wander Franco drama won't be a distraction SAN FRANCISCO — The Rays usually are glad to see Wander Franco grab headlines and create a buzz on social media.
The Windup: Where the Wander Franco situation stands This is a digital version of The Windup newsletter. Sign up here to receive this content directly in your inbox every morning. More details...
AUGUST 15, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Wander Franco investigation: MLB's likely next steps Franco was placed on the league’s restricted list on Monday — a mutual decision with the Rays.
AUGUST 14, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Wander Franco on restricted list at least a week as MLB investigates SAN FRANCISCO — Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on the restricted list for at least a week as he is now the subject of an offic...
AUGUST 14, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Wander Franco on restricted list at least a week as MLB investigates SAN FRANCISCO — Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on the restricted list for at least a week as he is now the subject of an offic...
AUGUST 14, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM
Dominican authorities investigate Rays' Wander Franco for an alleged relationship with a minor
Authorities in the Dominican Republic are investigating Tampa Bay All-Star shortstop Wander Franco for an alleged relationship with a minor, according to the office of the attorney...AUGUST 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Placed on restricted list Franco has been placed on the restricted list and will take leave from the Rays for the duration of their road trip this week.
Impact The Rays state that the decision to place Franco on the restricted list was mutually agreed upon by the club and the player as Major League Baseball opens up an investigation regarding social media posts made about Franco over the weekend. The leave could potentially extend beyond this week, pending the results of the investigation.
AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Rays All-Star shortstop didn't travel with team amid MLB investigation into social media posts MLB is looking into a viral social media post involving Rays shortstop Wander Franco.
AUGUST 14, 2023 • MASSLIVE.COM
Reports: Rays SS Wander Franco not with team in San Francisco Rays shortstop Wander Franco is not traveling with Tampa Bay for a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants that begins Monday, accor...
AUGUST 14, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Not traveling with team Franco won't travel with the Rays on the team plane ahead of their series in San Francisco, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Impact The Rays and MLB are investigating social media posts made about Franco over the weekend, and it appears as though the shortstop will at least be unavailable to begin the team's road trip to the West Coast. Manager Kevin Cash called Franco's absence from Sunday's lineup an off day, and the team declined to comment on Franco not traveling on the team plane. It's possible Franco is placed on the restricted list or administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Major League Baseball looking into social media posts involving Rays' Wander Franco - The Boston Globe Tampa Bay did not detail the nature of the social media posts, and Franco did not play in Sunday’s loss to Cleveland.
AUGUST 14, 2023 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM
MLB, Rays looking into Wander Franco social media 'speculation' ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Major League Baseball is looking into social media posts concerning All-Star shortstop Wander Franco, the Rays confir...
AUGUST 14, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM
MLB looking into allegations against Wander Franco on social media ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays released a statement Sunday night noting that Major League Baseball is looking into social media posts about star...
AUGUST 14, 2023 • MLB.COM
Gets breather Sunday Franco isn't in the Rays' lineup Sunday against the Guardians.
Impact After going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts during Saturday's game, Franco will take a seat Sunday while Osleivis Basabe gets the start at shortstop to make his MLB debut.
AUGUST 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Wander Franco hopes to stay hot against struggling Guardians Standout shortstop Wander Franco takes aim at his sixth multi-hit outing in seven games when the Tampa Bay Rays face the Cleveland Guardians...
AUGUST 12, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM
Cranks walk-off home run Franco walloped a walk-off home run in Friday's 9-8 victory over the Guardians.
Impact The Rays' bullpen blew a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Franco saved their bacon by depositing Nick Sandlin's third pitch of the bottom of the frame over the right-field wall. It was the first walk-off home run of Franco's young career. He also added two singles, a walk and his 30th stolen base of the season in this one. Now with 17 long balls on the year, Franco has an excellent shot at a 20-30 campaign.
AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Three hits, homer in loss Franco went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to St. Louis.
Impact Franco has been on a tear of late, going 10-for-16 (.625) over his previous four games while belting five homers in his last 10 contests. Overall, Franco's slashing .277/.342/.466 with 16 homers, 62 runs scored, 54 RBI and 29 stolen bases across 477 plate appearances in his age-22 campaign.
AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Another three-hit effort Franco went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers.
Impact Franco swatted his 15th home run of the season to put the Rays up 10-6 in the eighth inning. The 22-year-old shortstop has been on an absolute tear at the plate over the last 10 days, posting a .358 batting average while hitting four home runs, driving in five and scoring 9 runs in 41 plate appearances. Franco's recent hot bat has propelled the Rays to three straight series wins, as he's looked to have potentially turned a corner entering the final stretch of the season.
AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Power surge continues Franco went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Yankees.
Impact The shortstop took Gerrit Cole deep in the first inning, but it was all the offense the Rays could muster. Franco has now homered three times in the last five games while hitting safely in six straight, batting .348 (8-for-23) over that stretch with a steal, four RBI, seven runs and a 4:2 BB:K as he shows signs of recapturing his blistering early-season form.
AUGUST 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
MLB Betting: Best Bets for Tuesday 8/1/23 | FanDuel Research Wander Franco and the Rays are just -108 on the moneyline tonight at Yankee Stadium. Should you back Tampa Bay to win another one in the Bro...
AUGUST 1, 2023 • FANDUEL.COM
Smacks 13th homer Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Yankees.
Impact Franco was cold for much of July, hitting just .202 with a .669 OPS across 89 at-bats. However, he did manage to end the month on a four-game hitting streak, during which he's hit two home runs and scored five runs. Franco has shown glimpses of breaking out this season, but his strong plate discipline and willingness to steal bases should give him a safe floor of production at a minimum moving forward.
AUGUST 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Ends power drought Franco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the Astros.
Impact Franco went deep in the eighth inning to record his 12th homer of the season and the first in his last 15 starts. He entered Saturday's game hitting only .145 in that span to go along with three RBI and four runs scored. Franco also snapped a 16-game stretch without a stolen base, and his 29 swiped bags on the season have been his primary source of fantasy value.
JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
2023 MLB odds: Shohei Ohtani trade would cause huge shift in MVP lines
Betting analyst Dave Sharapan tells Sammy P how an Ohtani trade from the AL to the NL would cause the MVP odds across MLB to go haywire.JULY 19, 2023
Exits lineup Wednesday Franco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Tampa Bay will withhold two of its top hitters from the lineup for the series finale in Franco and Randy Arozarena, with both players seemingly just receiving maintenance for the day game after a night game. Taylor Walls will fill in at shortstop and bat eighth in place of Franco, who went 0-for-7 with a walk between the first two games of the series.
JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Power returning Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against Atlanta.
Impact Franco extended his hitting streak to four games when he popped his 11th home run of the season in the first inning. It was his second long ball in that span, signifying a potential step forward in his production after he went deep only twice across 23 games in June. Though Franco's power production has come sporadically, he's still managed an impressive .185 ISO across 370 plate appearances on the season.
JULY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
