Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) took 20 dry swings on Saturday and did not feel any pain in his oblique. Ryan Bass of the Tampa Bay Rays reported that the outfielder hopes to begin hitting off a tee next week if he continues to progress. This is an excellent sign for the 27-year-old as he has been on the injured list since March 29 due to a right oblique strain. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress as he could face live pitching in the coming weeks if he does not face any setbacks. Before the injury, the 27-year-old appeared in just one contest and tallied one hit. Last season, Lowe was limited by injuries as well, appearing in just 106 games and posting a .241/.302/.391 slash line. When Lowe does return, he will likely have an everyday role in right field.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) is improving nicely from a Grade 2 right-oblique strain that he suffered on Opening Day. "Josh is actually moving pretty pain free, which we're encouraged by that. It's still a ways, but we got to be happy with the way he's his body is feeling," manager Kevin Cash said. Lowe still has a ways to go before the Rays think about activating him from the IL, but so far he's making good progress from an injury that sidelined him last year as well. It remains to be seen when Lowe will resume baseball activities, but it seems unlikely that we'll see him back in the big leagues before the end of April. In the meantime, given all the injuries to Tampa Bay's outfielders -- Jonny DeLuca just went on the IL on Tuesday with a shoulder ailment -- both Kameron Misner and Jake Mangum will see regular playing time for the Rays.
Rays Place Josh Lowe On 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain
The Tampa Bay Rays placed outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right-oblique strain and recalled outfielder Jake Mangum from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. Lowe strained his oblique on a single up the middle in the team's Opening Day win over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday and will probably not be ready to return from the IL when he's eligible. The 27-year-old is worth stashing in fantasy leagues where he's rostered while he heals, mainly for his stolen base prowess while he's healthy, but this is another reminder that in addition to a strikeout rate that spiked at 31.8 percent in 2024, Lowe's durability at the major-league level has been a big issue. Rookie Kameron Misner, who hit a walk-off homer on Friday for his first career long ball, is likely to start in right field in Tampa in Lowe's absence.
Josh Lowe Departs Early On Friday With Oblique Discomfort
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (rib) left Friday's game in the fifth inning against the visiting Colorado Rockies with right-oblique discomfort. Lowe singled up the middle in the fifth inning but was seen wincing during his swing before jogging gingerly to first base. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter was visibly upset before being pulled and replaced by Jose Caballero in right field. He missed time with an oblique injury in 2024 and has quickly developed an injury-prone label, so fantasy managers may want to prepare for an extended absence for an injury that will almost certainly land him on the injured list. Lowe has stolen 57 bags in the last two years but also had a strikeout rate over 30% last year. Kameron Misner, who has shown a decent power/speed combination in the minors for the Rays, could see an elevated role in the outfield going forward if Lowe is forced to miss extended time.
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Jonathan Aranda and outfielder Josh Lowe are out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park with a left-hander on the mound. Brandon Lowe will start at first base and bat second, with Jonny DeLuca manning right field and hitting third for the Rays versus Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. Skubal is one of the best all-around pitchers in the game, so DFS managers will probably be looking to fade both Lowe and DeLuca on Tuesday. Aranda has gone deep in three straight games but will get a day off with a tough southpaw on the mound. Since being called back up on Aug. 30, he has hit .274 (17-for-62) with five homers, four doubles and 10 RBI in 20 games. Josh Lowe has hit just .227 (10-for-44) with none of his 10 home runs and 16 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances against lefties in 2024.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (knee) returns to the lineup on Saturday night for their tilt with the Baltimore Orioles, batting sixth and playing left field. Lowe missed the game on Friday night after fouling a ball off his left knee in Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was removed for precautionary reasons. The veteran outfielder is hitting .235 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 22 runs scored on the season. Lowe has been hot over his last seven games, hitting .333 with two home runs, three RBI, and four runs scored. Get him back in those lineups in daily leagues this afternoon.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (knee) exited with a right knee contusion in Thursday's series finale against the hosting St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Initial X-rays on Lowe's right knee came back negative for any fractures, so fantasy managers can consider him day-to-day as he deals with a bruise ahead of Friday's series opener against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles. Lowe fouled a pitch from Cardinals right-hander Kyle Gibson off his knee in the first inning of Thursday's finale against St. Louis. He was able to stay in the game and finish the at-bat but was replaced in left field by Kameron Misner in the next frame. 2024 has been an injury-plagued year for the 26-year-old right fielder, but he is batting .310 (18-for-58) with two home runs, eight RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases in his last 17 games. Misner and Jonny DeLuca would likely create a platoon for at-bats in right field for any additional time Lowe may need to miss.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe homered twice in a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday. Lowe hit his first home run off starter Ronel Blanco and his second off reliever Tayler Scott. He also had a double while knocking in three runs and scoring two more. The veteran outfielder upped his batting average to .235 and now has seven home runs, 22 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 20 runs scored on the season. Lowe should be seeing regular playing time now due to injuries and the ineffectiveness of other players.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe is starting the game on the bench on Friday against the visiting Washington Nationals with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. With Lowe retreating to the bench against Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker, Jonny DeLuca will draw into the lineup and start in right field for the Rays. Lowe deserves to be rostered in most fantasy formats because of his power/speed combination despite already missing a big chunk of the 2024 season due to injury. The former first-rounder is hitting .234/.303/.439 on the year with five home runs, seven doubles, 13 RBI and four stolen bases in 32 games played but has gone just 2-for-12 (.167) with an RBI and six strikeouts in his limited opportunities against lefty pitchers this year.
Josh Lowe Blasts Two Homers, Racks Up Four RBI in Blowout Win
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe had a huge day at the plate, smacking two homers and notching four RBI in the Rays' 10-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. The homers were the fourth and fifth of the season for Lowe and he now has 12 RBI in 2024. Lowe has been having a slow start to the season after missing time with an oblique injury, hitting for just an 83 OPS+. June has not been the lefty's best month hitting but he now has three HR in his last four games. Lowe has a small bit of positive regression heading his way per his .308 xwOBA, giving him potential upside going forward. Fantasy managers may want to consider adding Lowe and stashing him as a bench option. DFS players may want to consider adding him when facing righties on the road, his best situation in 2024 where he has a 113 wRC+.
