Tampa Bay Rays Roster
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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot (lower leg) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list to start Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Boston Red Sox. After throwing three simulated innings in a bullpen session ahead of Friday's series opener against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, Pepiot won't need a minor-league rehab assignment and is ready to rejoin Tampa Bay's injury-riddled rotation following his recovery from a lower left leg contusion. In seven starts this season, the 26-year-old upstart right-hander owns an outstanding 3.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 41:11 K:BB through 36 2/3 innings as the Rays' ace. However, fantasy managers might want to take a wait-and-see approach before activating Pepiot in a pretty tough spot against Boston's hard-hitting lineup.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin (back) said his back issue popped up near the end of his last start and feels similar to last year, when he missed around two weeks with a similar back injury. Manager Kevin Cash said it was an unfortunate injury but also considers it similar to last year, although the skipper did say he thought it could be two to four weeks this year. The Rays put the 30-year-old on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a lower-back injury. Eflin had back issues toward the end of last year as well, so it's definitely something to be concerned about for fantasy managers that have him rostered. The former 33rd overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2012 won 16 games in his first year in Tampa in 2023 and had a career-best 3.50 ERA. Eflin deserves to be stashed in fantasy formats after starting 2024 with a 3-4 record, 4.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, four walks and 44 K's in 59 innings.
Last year, Tampa Bay Rays outfield/first base prospect Tre' Morgan was drafted out of Louisiana State University in the third round. Since then, he's been excellent in the minor leagues. He began the 2024 season with Low-A Charleston. He slashed .320/.398/.440 with 19 runs, four doubles, two home runs, and nine stolen bases across 115 plate appearances. As a result, he was called up to High-A Bowling Green on May 15. Since then, he's slashed .520/.626/.1000 with five doubles, a home run, a walk, zero strikeouts, and a stolen base. Morgan is the Rays' 13th overall prospect, expected to make his MLB debut sometime in 2026.
The Tampa Bay Rays officially reinstated infielder Brandon Lowe (oblique) from the 10-day injured list. Lowe last appeared in a game on April 7 before he landed on the IL with an oblique injury. As a result, expect the Rays to give the slugger some days off here and there in the coming days since he's been out for more than one month. The second baseman, though, should eventually see an everyday role when a right-hander starts on the mound. He was hitting .185 at the plate with one home run and four RBI in eight games before his injury.
The Tampa Bay Rays placed Zach Eflin (back) on the 15-day injured list before the team's three-game set against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin likely injured his back in his most recent outing on May 18 against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he gave up four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts across six innings. The right-hander has struggled in the early part of the season, giving up at least three earned runs in four of his last five outings. He will now head to the IL with a 4.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 10 starts.