Carlson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Getting fourth straight start
Rotowire
DeLuca will start in right field and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Returns to minors
Rotowire
The Rays optioned Alexander to Tripel-A Durham on Sunday.
The lefty pitched well in bulk relief in Saturday's loss to the Orioles 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 a return from the 15-day injured list to fill an opening in the rotation. Cole Sulser was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move to bolster Tampa Bay's bullpen depth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Sulser: Receives call-up
Rotowire
The Rays recalled Sulser from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
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 season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jose Caballero: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Caballero is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Caballero has gone 6-for-15 with a double, a home run 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.
Lowe went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Orioles.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jose Caballero: Homer, steal in loss
Rotowire
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.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Decent in bulk-relief role
Rotowire
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.
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.
Lowe (knee) will start in left field and bat sixth Saturday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe fouled a ball off his right knee during Thursday's game and missed a start Friday, though he was able to enter as a pinch hitter. He'll now return to the starting nine Saturday and look to stay hot after going 6-for-18 with two homers, three RBI and four runs scored since the start of August.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jose Siri: Out of Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Siri isn't in the Rays' lineup for Saturday's game versus Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Friday's series opener, Siri will give way to Jonny DeLuca in center field.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Taylor Walls: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Walls isn't in the Rays' lineup for Saturday's game against Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Walls owns a .157/.283/.198 slash line through 145 plate appearances on the season, and he'll step out of the lineup against the formidable Corbin Burnes. Jose Caballero will shift to shortstop in Walls' place while Curtis Mead starts at the hot corner.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup Saturday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt will get a chance to regroup Saturday after going 5-for-22 with nine strikeouts to begin the month of August. Alex Jackson will start instead behind the plate and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Serving as opener Saturday
Rotowire
Rasmussen is slated to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Orioles.
After returning from the 60-day injured list Wednesday upon completing his recovery from the internal brace procedure he underwent last July, Rasmussen was summoned from the bullpen later that evening and was electric in his 2024 MLB debut, striking out three Cardinals batters over two perfect innings. Though the Rays intend to have Rasmussen slot back into the rotation in 2025, he's expected to be limited mostly to 1-to-2-inning appearances coming out of the bullpen for the rest of the current season. Though he's technically starting Saturday, Rasmussen is unlikely to work more than once through the batting order before turning the game over to lefty Tyler Alexander, who is expected to operate as a bulk reliever.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Slated for rehab start Saturday
Rotowire
Pepiot (knee) is scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Montgomery, MLB.com reports.
Pepiot has been on the shelf since July 21 with an infection in his right knee that had stemmed from a spider bite, but after the swelling in his knee subsided, he was able to complete a bullpen session before tossing a three-inning simulated game earlier this week. The right-hander looked to be a candidate to return from the injured list to take the mound Saturday against the Orioles, but the Rays will instead have him report to Montgomery for what's expected to be a one-start rehab assignment. Manager Kevin Cash said Pepiot is likely to throw 65-to-75 pitches in Saturday's rehab outing.
Littell (5-8) took the loss Friday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.
After surrendering a home run to Colton Cowser to lead off the game, Littell managed to settle in and keep Baltimore off the board until the fifth, when Ryan O'Hearn drove in two more runs with a two-out single. The 28-year-old Littell had won back-to-back starts prior to Friday, allowing just one run in 12.2 innings. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.11 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 113:24 K:BB across 124.2 innings this season. Littell's currently slated for a home matchup with the Astros in his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Josh Lowe: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Lowe (knee) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.
Lowe fouled a ball off his right knee in the first inning of Thursday's game and was removed shortly after. With his X-rays coming back negative, Lowe can be considered day-to-day moving forward. Dylan Carlson, Jose Siri and Jonny DeLuca fill the outfield from left to right Friday.
