YOSHI TSUTSUGO NEWS

More leadoff work on tap Tsutsugo, who went 2-for-5 with a triple and a run while hitting out of the leadoff spot in Friday's win over the Orioles, is due for more work out of the top of the order in the w...

Impact The Japanese slugger has struggled to a .200 average and .314 on-base percentage this season, but perhaps a switch to the top of the order will help garner some momentum for him in the last few games of the season. Tsutsugo solid effort Friday marked his first multi-hit outing since last Friday against the Red Sox and brought his average back to the Mendoza Line for the first time since that contest as well.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Rays report: New look to lineup with Yoshi Tsutsugo at top Rays face Orioles twice today, hoping to get offense going and with a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • TAMPABAY.COM

Out of Wednesday's lineup Tsutsugo is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Nationals.

Impact He has started six of the last 10 games and will head to the bench even with righty Austin Voth on the hill for Washington. Tsutsugo is one of a handful of Rays hitters who seemingly play 50 to 75 percent of the time. Austin Meadows will start at designated hitter while Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier and Manuel Margot start in the outfield from left to right.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Tsutsugo will be on the bench Saturday against Boston, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The majority of Tsutsugo's off days this season have come against lefties, but he'll sit against right-hander Nathan Eovaldi in this one. Joey Wendle will start at third base, Tsutsugo's most common recent position.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Out against lefty Tsutsugo is not in Thursday's lineup against the Red Sox.

Impact He is hitting .231/.412/.538 with two home runs and more walks (eight) than strikeouts (six) over his last 10 games. Randy Arozarena will get the start at designated hitter while hitting second with lefty Mike Kickham on the mound for Boston.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cracks sixth homer Tsutsugo went 2-for-2 with two walks, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's win over the Marlins.

Impact Tsutsugo got off to a slow start to begin his big-league career, but he has come on strong over the past couple weeks. In fact, he has an OPS north of 1.000 over his last 15 games, collecting two doubles, four homers and more walks (11) than strikeouts (10) in that span. Overall, Tsutsugo is slashing .209/.342/.440 as the Rays' primary DH against right-handed pitching.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Wednesday Tsutsugo isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees.

Impact Tsutsugo went 0-for-3 with one strikeout Tuesday, and he'll take a seat for the third time in the past five games. Austin Meadows will rest his legs as the designated hitter with Randy Arozarena starting in left field.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Monday Tsutsugo is not in the lineup Monday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Tsutsugo hits the bench for the second time in the last three games. He's hitting just .188 through his first 28 major-league games, though his overall .188/.320/.400 slash line is good for a respectable 101 wRC+. Randy Arozarena will be the designated hitter in his absence.

AUGUST 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Belts fifth homer Tsutsugo went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in a win over the Marlins on Sunday.

Impact The Japanese slugger gave the prolific Rays offense an early jolt with a 407-foot shot to right in the first inning with Yandy Diaz aboard to extend the Rays' lead to 3-0 at the time. The successful day at the plate was a particularly welcome sight for Tsutsugo's fantasy managers, who've seen him mostly scuffle in his first season of exposure to MLB arms. Tsutsugo's average has only been at or above the Mendoza Line a total of two days in August entering the last game of the month Monday, with his five homers and 17 RBI on the season about the only redeeming fantasy qualities he's been able to offer.

AUGUST 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Retreats to bench Tsutsugo is not in the starting lineup against the Marlins on Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Tsutsugo will be sitting for the second time in three games as Austin Meadows will start Saturday's game as the designated hitter and Brandon Lowe will shift over to left field.

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting against southpaw Tsutsugo isn't starting Thursday against the Orioles.

Impact Tsutsugo will take a breather Thursday as left-hander John Means starts for Baltimore. Jose Martinez will start as the designated hitter in his place.

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches base four times Tsutsugo went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, three walks and two runs scored in Monday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact Tsutsugo handed his club an early lead by clubbing a solo home run in the bottom of the second, and he showed excellent discipline at the plate by walking three times later on. The 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .178/.299/.370 with four home runs and 15 RBI over 24 contests this season.

AUGUST 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out series finale Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Rays manager Kevin Cash will withhold several of his lefty-hitting regulars from the starting nine in the series finale while southpaw James Paxton takes the hill for the Yankees. Jose Martinez will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and will bat fourth while Tsutsugo rests.

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Launches three-run shot Tsutsugo went 2-for-3 with a double and a three-run homer in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact The Rays offense was pretty silent for the first three innings before Tsutsugo gave them the lead with his fourth-inning blast. The 28-year-old lefty has three long balls and a .715 OPS in his first MLB season.

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Saturday Tsutsugo isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Impact Even with right-hander Chase Anderson on the mound for the Blue Jays, Tsutsugo will take a seat Saturday. Brandon Lowe will take over as the designated hitter with Mike Brosseau starting at second base and batting fifth.

AUGUST 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Ends homerless streak Tsutsugo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Red Sox.

Impact Tsutsugo homered Opening Day but then went 14 games without a long ball, with only one double in that span. There are some encouraging signs, including a very low chase rate, but Tsutsugo has fallen in the lineup and will have to swing his way back up the batting order versus right-handed pitching.

AUGUST 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting against southpaw Tsutsugo isn't starting Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Impact With southpaw Martin Perez on the mound for Boston, Tsutsugo will get a breather Tuesday. Jose Martinez will serve as the designated hitter, batting fourth.

AUGUST 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gets day off Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact As per usual, the lefty-hitting Tsutsugo will bow out of the lineup with a southpaw (James Paxton) on the mound for the opposition. Jose Martinez will step in as the Rays' designated hitter.

AUGUST 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Wednesday Tsutsugo will sit Wednesday against Boston.

Impact Tsutsugo is at least slightly more than a platoon option for the Rays this season, though he's only started against two of the five lefties they've faced thus far. Mike Brosseau starts in left field Wednesday.

AUGUST 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus lefty Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Impact With a southpaw (Tommy Milone) on the mound for Baltimore, Rays manager Kevin Cash has elected to stock up on some extra right-handed bats in the series finale. As a result, two lefty-dominant hitters in Tsutsugo and Ji-Man Choi will take a seat, opening up starts in left field and at first base for Manuel Margot and Yandy Diaz, respectively.

AUGUST 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Tsutsugo gets key hit as Rays beat Braves 5-2

Yoshi Tsutsugo had a two-run single during a five-run third inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won their fourth consecutive game, 5-2 over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night

JULY 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yoshi notches 1st hit, 1st homer in same pitch Yoshi Tsutsugo had to wait three extra months to make his Major League debut. He made the wait worth it on Friday. With the Rays trailing 6-...

JULY 25, 2020 • MLB.COM

Homers in MLB debut Tsutsugo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact Tsutsugo made his highly-anticipated MLB debut Friday after performing well in Japan over the last three seasons, and he was able to drive a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The 28-year-old struggled a bit with strikeouts in his final NPB season in 2019, but he should provide some left-handed power early in the Rays' lineup this year.

JULY 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Fans four in Blue Jays debut Ryu allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in Friday's win against the Rays. He didn't factor into the decision.

Impact Ryu tossed three scoreless frames to begin his Opening Day start, but he gave up his first run in a Blue Jays uniform during the fourth inning. He nearly escaped the fifth inning, but Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a two-run homer with two outs, leading to Ryu's removal. The southpaw said after the game that nerves got the better of him since he was making his first start with a new club. In 44 starts during the past two seasons with the Dodgers, the 33-year-old posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while recording a 21-8 record. Ryu's next start should come at home Thursday against the Nationals.

JULY 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Will be in upper half of lineup Tsutsugo isn't likely to hit out of the leadoff spot at the beginning of the season according to manager Kevin Cash, but the Japanese slugger will be in the "upper part of the line...

Impact Austin Meadows continues to recover from his previous positive COVID-19 test as Opening Day quickly approaches, and Tsutsugo does bring a left-handed power bat to the equation. The 28-year-old did generate an elevated 25.3 percent strikeout rate during his final NPB season in 2019, potentially making him a less-than-ideal candidate for a role at the very top of the order. Tustusugo does offer plenty of pop, however, so a slotting anywhere from the second to fifth spot in the lineup could prove to be a much better fit.

JULY 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE