Tampa Bay Rays News

According to Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) will be activated from the 15-day Injured List and start against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. McClanahan is finally back in the mix after being sidelined since the end of July due to mild back tightness. He looked excellent during his lone rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. The expectation is that McClanahan will be working with a restricted workload at first. Even with restrictions, McClanahan should be rostered and started in all fantasy formats. Fantasy managers should double-check the waiver wire to see if he's available ahead of Monday's outing.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (elbow) was able to throw from 120 feet on Friday, according to Marc Topkin. This is encouraging news after Jax recently got an injection in his right elbow. Rays manager Kevin Cash described the throwing session as "very, very good" and noted the team will begin ramping up Jax's activity. The right-hander is eligible to return from the IL on August 21, but it's unclear if his stint will be that quick. Given his progress, fantasy managers should have Jax back in the mix before the end of the month. Fantasy managers looking for pitching help should scoop Jax up off the waiver wire in leagues where he was dropped.

The Tampa Bay Rays top outfield prospect Theo Gillen is having a very good age-20 season between two levels of the minors in 2026. Now with Double-A Montgomery, Gillen has hit .320 combined between two teams with 20 homers and 74 RBI to go with 78 runs and 39 stolen bases. The left-handed hitting outfielder is producing in all five categories and offers a very balanced statistical profile for future fantasy leagues. But right now, Gillen may need more nurturing in the minors and could be looking at a few years down the road for a major-league debut. He's a name to remember, however, because of his 60-grade hit tool and 60-grade speed. He could be a very appealing power-speed combination in years to come. Dynasty managers will want to snatch him up for future teams as he looks like a potential stud.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (elbow) received an injection in his right elbow after a visit with Dr. Keith Meister, according to Ryan Bass. Jax appears to be in a good place after landing on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday due to right elbow discomfort. Rays' manager Kevin Cash said they plan to give Jax a few days off to rest and then get him back to throwing. This is looking like a best-case scenario where Jax avoids surgery and could return when first eligible on August 21. Fantasy managers who panic dropped Jax might want to consider adding him again. The right-hander could be back in the rotation in a few weeks, assuming everything goes well. He's worth a stash in fantasy formats where he was dropped.

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (back) looked good in his minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, throwing three shutout innings with no hits allowed, no walks, and two strikeouts. The 29-year-old southpaw hit 95.7 mph on the radar gun and threw a total of 30 pitches in the outing. If the Rays feel comfortable returning McClanahan to their starting rotation after just one rehab start, he will most likely be on a short leash his next time on the mound, limiting his fantasy upside. After missing each of the last two years due to complications from Tommy John surgery, McClanahan is 9-6 in 2026 with a 3.09 ERA (3.34 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 91 strikeouts and 35 walks in 99 innings pitched across 20 starts. The two-time All-Star allowed six runs (five earned) on July 19 against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, but he allowed one or fewer runs in his other four starts in the month of July. McClanahan can definitely help fantasy managers in all leagues down the stretch and is rostered in 84% of Yahoo leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) is scheduled to take the ball for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. It's good to see the southpaw getting back on the mound. McClanahan has been sidelined since the end of July due to back tightness. The expectation is that McClanahan will require one or two more rehab starts to build up his stamina before returning to the Rays rotation. Barring any setbacks, fantasy managers should expect McClanahan to return before the end of August. He should take over Griffin Jax's (elbow) spot in the rotation, with him recently landing on the shelf.

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton currently has a right hamstring strain and is on the 7-day IL at Triple-A Durham. The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Melton as he is looking for a shot at a big league chance with the Rays, but it isn't expected to be long term. Melton made his big league debut last season for the Astros before coming over to the Rays in a December trade. The 25-year-old has played at two levels this season in the minors (mostly with Durham) and has hit .306 with six homers and 26 RBI in 134 at bats. The No. 6 prospect for Tampa Bay, Melton could see time in Tampa Bay this season assuming he recovers smoothly from his right hamstring strain. Given he already has big league experience, he is a name to monitor as someone who can produce for the Rays at the end of this season.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brody Hopkins has struggled a bit lately for Triple-A Durham and is coming off a start in which he allowed five earned runs and walked five batters in one inning. All in all, Hopkins has a 4-8 record this season with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP with 106 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched. Hopkins is the No. 5 prospect in the Rays' system and has a 60-grade fastball and curveball with a 55-grade slider and cutter. The 24-year-old is looking to debut this season for the Rays and certainly has the stuff to be a solid MLB starter. Those fantasy managers looking to take a chance could go for Hopkins on the waiver wire in advance of his call-up, looking to get ahead of the pack. Based on his most recent results, an MLB debut is not guaranteed this year, but at 24 years old, he is the right age for a chance at a debut.

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (back) threw two "ups" in a simulated game last Thursday, Aug. 6, and is scheduled for another sim game of three "ups" in the coming days, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. McClanahan has been on the 15-day injured list since July 31 with mid-back tightness. Barring a setback, he could return to Tampa's starting rotation in mid-August, per MLB.com. If McClanahan looks good in his next sim game this week, the Rays may allow him to return to the big-league roster without going on a minor-league rehab assignment, although that would make him much more of a risk in fantasy in his first start back with the team. The 29-year-old southpaw and former first-rounder from the University of South Florida missed all of the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to multiple Tommy John procedures. In his return this year, he has gone 9-6 with a solid 3.09 ERA (3.35 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 91 strikeouts and 35 walks in 99 innings across 20 starts. McClanahan's strikeout rate is at a career-low 22.2%, but all things considered, it has been an encouraging return in his fourth MLB campaign.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Ty Johnson is working out of the bullpen at Triple-A Durham since July 25, but there is a path to major-league innings with Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax now injured. Johnson, himself, was dealing with a lower back strain to begin this season, but it's looking like a high-leverage or multi-inning role could be available for him at the MLB level. Johnson has three one-inning appearances out of the bullpen in August for Durham and has not allowed an earned run. He has five strikeouts in those three innings proving that he could be a high upside reliever with the ability to strike out more than a batter an inning. Johnson hasn't started a game since July 4. He's 4-1 at Durham in 14 games (10 starts) with a 3.08 ERA and 1.04 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. It's looking like he can be added as a potential bullpen arm with high strikeout upside.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Ryan Bass. Jax was scratched from his scheduled start against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. A day later, Jax heads to the shelf due to right elbow discomfort. He'll be eligible to return on August 21, but his exact timetable to return is unclear at the moment. In a corresponding move, right-hander Michael Grove was recalled from Triple-A Durham. It's uncertain at the moment who is going to replace Jax in the starting rotation. Fantasy managers should check back for a better timetable on Jax in the coming days.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (elbow) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Jax was pulled ahead of this outing due to right elbow discomfort, so the Rays will be forced to go with a bullpen game. Casey Legumina will be used as an opener with Jax unavailable. The hope is that this is a minor injury that won't force Jax onto the Injured List. This season, Jax owns a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 100/30 K/BB ratio across 91.2 innings of work this season. Jax has been a stud lately and is picking up steam in fantasy leagues. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on his status.

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton (hamstring) was placed on the seven-day injured list with a right-hamstring strain and is expected to miss about a week at Triple-A Durham. Melton has had a nice season with Durham, batting .285 in 123 at-bats at Triple-A with five homers and 23 RBI to go with 24 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. The 25-year-old has shown off his five-category ability this season with Durham and is currently the No. 6 prospect in Tampa's system. He has 60-grade power and 60-grade speed, which shows off his ability to hit at a high level while also establishing himself as a stolen base threat. Melton debuted with the Houston Astros at the major league level in 2025 before being traded to Tampa Bay in December of 2025. Melton has MLB experience and could play for the Rays before the end of this year. He is worth stashing as he returns from his injury.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brody Hopkins has had a solid season at Triple-A Durham and could be looking at a late season promotion. Hopkins, a right-hander, is 4-8 this season with a 4.93 ERA and 1.67 WHIP to go with 105 strikeouts in 84 innings. The 24-year-old has made 18 starts in 21 appearances this season and he has struggled a bit with his overall record, but his strikeout rate is encouraging. He is the No. 5 prospect in the Rays' system and possesses a 60-grade fastball and 60-grade curveball with two other 55-grade secondary pitches in his cutter and slider. Hopkins seems to have major league stuff and is just awaiting a promotion to Tampa Bay. The Rays have a deep rotation especially after trading for Freddy Peralta. But with Shane McClanahan on the IL, Hopkins could provide depth at the major league level and would be worth a waiver wire addition in that case.

Newly-acquired Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta will make his debut with the team on Tuesday at hitter-friendly Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies as he slides into left-hander Shane McClanahan's (back) spot in the starting rotation, manager Kevin Cash told Rays reporter Ryan Bass. It's a poor spot for Peralta to make his debut with Tampa, although the Rockies rank in the top 10 in strikeouts this year. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler was a disappointment in his first 22 starts (113 2/3 innings) of the year with the New York Mets before they traded him to the Rays on Sunday, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA (4.45 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 113 strikeouts and 48 walks. He has pitched well in his two starts against the Rockies in 2026, allowing just two earned runs with five walks and nine strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings pitched. In five starts in July, Peralta had a 6.85 ERA (5.65 FIP) with 13 walks and 25 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings, so he comes to the Rays as a pretty volatile fantasy baseball asset. The good news is that Peralta should be in better hands with the Rays' coaching staff, and he also has an xERA of over a full run lower (3.83) than his current ERA.

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins on Monday in exchange for third base prospect Brayden Taylor, High-A shortstop Adrian Santana, and High-A pitcher Jacob Kisting, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Hicks will give the Rays an immediate upgrade at the catching position over both Hunter Feduccia and Nick Fortes for the remainder of the year, but he can also spend time at first base and designated hitter if Tampa wants to get creative with their lineup. The 27-year-old Canadian left-handed hitter will continue to be a lineup regular with his new squad after breaking out in 2026 with the Fish to the tune of a .282/.363/.432 slash line, a .795 OPS, 14 home runs, 62 RBI, 54 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 354 at-bats in just his second year in the big leagues. Hicks stayed hot in July, batting .280 (26-for-93), although he had only one homer and a .692 OPS in 25 games. The move to Tampa should be at least a slight boost for Hicks' run-production opportunities.

It's unclear if Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour will make many more starts this year after the club acquired right-handed starter Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets on Sunday, but Seymour has been solid in more of a traditional starting role of late and will face the Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field on Monday. The 27-year-old southpaw has only appeared as a traditional starter in seven of his 36 outings for the Rays in 2026 in his second year in the league, but six of those starts have come since the beginning of June. In six outings (four starts) in July, Seymour allowed 15 runs (14 earned) with eight walks, 38 strikeouts, and three wins for the Rays. The former second-rounder in 2020 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is 7-3 in 2026 with a 4.37 ERA (4.02 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 90 strikeouts and 28 walks in 78 1/3 innings pitched. Seymour is attractive in deeper fantasy formats for his 27.9% strikeout rate. He'll be facing a Rockies team on Monday that ranks fifth in MLB in OPS, but also a team that is in the top 10 in strikeouts. Start Seymour at your own risk.

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton (hamstring) is reportedly dealing with right hamstring tightness after being removed from a Triple-A Durham Bulls game on Saturday, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The No. 6 prospect in the Rays' system has already missed time this season due to left ankle discomfort and could miss additional time while recovering from the new issue. Melton is hitting .306 in the minor leagues this season, posting a .407 OBP and a .952 OPS with six home runs across 41 games at two levels. The injury is not expected to be serious for the 25-year-old, but it creates another interruption during what has been the best season of his young career in the Rays' organization.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez was scratched from a High-A Cedar Rapids rehab game on Tuesday due to apparent thumb soreness and is now considered day-to-day, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune. The 23-year-old is the No. 52 prospect in Major League Baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, as he continues working his way through the Twins' farm system. Across 29 games at multiple levels this season, Rodriguez is hitting .253 with a .902 OPS and six home runs in 95 at-bats before the injury. He owns a .911 OPS with a .254 batting average throughout his minor league career and will look to avoid any further setbacks during his recovery.

The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring right-handed starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets on Sunday, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. It's unclear who the Rays sent to the Mets in return. Peralta was basically a lock to be traded by Monday's Aug. 3 deadline from the last-place Mets after he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in January of this year. The 30-year-old veteran Dominican hurler hasn't exactly had a great 2026 season in Queens, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA (4.45 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 113 strikeouts and 48 walks in 113 2/3 innings across his 22 starts for the Mets. Since June 20, Peralta has gone off the rails, allowing 33 runs (27 earned) on 45 hits (seven home runs) while walking 15 and striking out 32 in 30 2/3 innings in seven starts (four losses). It all started when he allowed a season-high 10 earned runs to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies on June 20 on the road. The good news is that Peralta's expected ERA for 2026 sits more than a full run lower than his current ERA, and his xSLG of .363 (SLG of .448) shows that he was hit with some bad luck in his short time with the Mets. The Rays will be hoping to turn his season around down the stretch as they look to stay atop the American League East.