Tampa Bay Rays News

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Shane McClanahan • SP • Rays

Shane McClanahan Exits With Apparent Back Issue

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) left Thursday's start against the Texas Rangers after three innings with an apparent lower-back issue, according to Ryan Bass. McClanahan reached toward his lower back and tried to stretch before walking off with head athletic trainer Joe Benge. The left-hander did not allow a hit, but he was charged with one run after issuing two walks and hitting a batter. He struck out three and threw 49 pitches, 29 for strikes. Tampa Bay has not announced a diagnosis or said whether McClanahan will need testing. Fantasy managers should consider his next start uncertain until the Rays provide more information.

23 hours ago

Theo Gillen • CF • Rays

Theo Gillen Extends Hit Streak With Two-Homer Game

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Theo Gillen extended his 13-game hit streak with a two-homer performance on Wednesday night for Double-A Montgomery and continued his red-hot month of July. In 68 at-bats for Montgomery in July, Gillen has six homers, 22 RBI, 14 runs scored, and seven stolen bases, all while hitting .338. At age 20, Gillen is the top prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays. He's split time between High-A Bowling Green and Montgomery this season and is on a tear at Double-A. Earlier this season at Bowling Green, Gillen was equally impressive with 12 homers and 44 RBI to go with 53 runs scored and 28 stolen bases while hitting .342. Blessed with a 60-grade hit tool and a 60-grade run tool, Gillen is a rare prospect to monitor. But it still might be a bit before he reaches Tampa Bay, as he is just 20 years old.

Yesterday

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax Punches Out a Season-High 10 Batters in Loss to Rangers

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax may have taken a loss on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, but the 31-year-old former reliever was still dominant for fantasy managers. Jax allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out a season-high 10 hitters in 5 2/3 innings pitched for his eighth loss of the year in the 4-1 defeat at Tropicana Field. The 31-year-old reliever turned starter is now sporting a 3.74 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 92:30 K:BB in his 86 2/3 innings pitched in his sixth major-league season (first full year in Tampa). Jax blew his first two save chances to open the 2026 campaign as the Rays' primary closing option, and Tampa eventually moved him to the starting rotation, where he's been more valuable in fantasy baseball. Since joining the rotation on April 26, Jax has gone 5-5 with a 3.38 ERA (3.83 FIP) with 72 strikeouts and 20 walks in 72 innings across 16 starts. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs in five innings against the Boston Red Sox on July 17, but since then, he's given up just two earned runs with two walks and 15 K's in two starts versus the Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.

2 days ago

Ian Seymour • RP • Rays

Ian Seymour a High-Upside Starting Pitching Target on the Waiver Wire

After opening 2026 as a reliever, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour was moved into more of a bulk role in early June. While Seymour has not exclusively operated as a full-time starting pitcher, he's thrown at least three innings in each of his last 10 outings, making six starts in that span. Across those 10 appearances, Seymour has recorded a 3-2 record with a 4.22 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has posted an impressive 28.1% strikeout rate and a 19.3% K-BB rate for the season. His inflated ERA is a symptom of his abnormally low 66.5% strand rate, which could regress closer to the mean over a larger sample size of innings. Now that he's a threat to rack up wins on a regular basis, Seymour could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

3 days ago

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Jacob Melton Producing in Injury-Shortened Season

Tampa Bay Rays prospect Jacob Melton is working his way back from a left ankle sprain and has produced in limited action between the FCL Rays and Triple-A Durham. Melton has had limited at bats (125) but has five homers and 24 RBI with 28 runs scored and 22 steals while hitting .296. The No. 6 prospect in the Rays system, Melton has shown good signs in his age 25 season when healthy. He boasts 60 grades on the scouting scale in power and speed. Melton came over to the Rays in a December trade with the Houston Astros after he was a second round pick by Houston out of Oregon State. He played 32 games with the Astros at the big league level before his time was cut short by an injury. He showed off his speed with seven steals in 70 at bats with Houston and could easily bring the same threat on the bases to Tampa Bay. Melton looks like a sneaky stash as someone who could produce for the Rays as soon as this season.

3 days ago

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax Is Back on Track as a Mixed-League Rotation Add

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax bounced back from a rough outing with six strong innings against Toronto on Wednesday, July 22. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk, struck out five, and earned his sixth win. Jax had been tagged for seven earned runs by Boston in his previous start, but the response brought his season line to a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts over 81 innings. The move from the bullpen has stuck, with Jax now up to 16 starts in 27 appearances. He also carries SP/RP eligibility, making those innings easier to fit into fantasy lineups. Jax appears on 53% of Yahoo rosters, while RotoBaller ranks him as a 10-team addition. One blowup should not erase the larger body of work. Jax should not remain available in competitive mixed leagues.

6 days ago

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Jacob Melton On Impressive Tear as MLB Promotion Approaches

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton has quietly been one of the top hitters at the Triple-A level over the last several weeks and is emerging as a top prospect to stash. Over his last 13 contests at Triple-A (since returning from injury), Melton has carried an elite .327/.421/.592 slash line with four doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases and a sharp 11:7 K:BB. On the season, Melton has posted a .272/.377/.500 line through 33 Triple-A contests. During this noted stretch, the outfielder has swiped 20 bags and added 12 doubles with four round-trippers. Given his impressive play, Melton has put himself one step closer to joining the Rays for the final stretch. While the recent surge of Victor Mesa Jr. has delayed a call-up, Melton has positioned himself as the clear top name if a starter were to miss time with an injury.

7 days ago

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Jacob Melton Remains a Stash Consideration for Stolen Base Potential

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton is hitting .327 at Triple-A Durham since his return from the injured list back on June 24, with four doubles, three home runs, three steals, and a 7:11 BB:K over 13 games. For the season, the former second-rounder is hitting .272 with a solid .377 on-base percentage thanks to a 14.4 percent walk rate. The slugging percentage is good, too, at .500, but it is the speed that makes him intriguing for fantasy. The Rays' fifth-ranked prospect has swiped 20 bases in just 33 games for the Bulls, utilizing his 90th-percentile sprint speed. The 6-foot-2 slugger debuted with the Astros in 2025, showing off his speed then as well, with seven steals during his limited action. The 25-year-old could get the call to the majors again in the coming weeks, and with his speed, he's one of the top stash options for steals, with the potential to hit for a decent average and a little bit of pop to go along with it.

Jul 22

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Jacob Melton a Top Stash Option for Stolen Base Potential

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton has been good since coming off the injured list in mid-June, hitting .341 with four doubles, three home runs, and three steals in 12 games since being reactivated. That includes his latest four-game stretch in which the former second-round draft pick went just 2-for-13, but still managed to get on base four other times via walk compared to just three strikeouts over that same period. For the season, the 6-foot-2 slugger is slashing .275/.383/.514 with four home runs and 20 steals in 32 games at Durham. The left-handed hitter debuted with Houston last season, and although he hit just .157, he was still able to swipe seven bags thanks to his 90th percentile sprint speed. A 32.1 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A this season doesn't bode well for hitting for high average in the big leagues, but his speed should be an asset, especially in fantasy. For managers scouring the wire for steals, Melton is a worthy stash ahead of an eventual recall to the Rays.

Jul 20

Ty Johnson • SP • Rays

Ty Johnson Goes on Developmental List After Stellar Triple-A Play

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Ty Johnson has had a great season at Triple-A Durham and was recently placed on the Developmental List. Johnson has pitched to a 4-1 record at Durham with a 2.74 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. He has amassed 65 strikeouts in his 49 1/3 innings pitched. Johnson, a former 15th round pick by the Cubs out of Ball State, will spend time working with coaches on mechanics and likely work to perfect the nuances of his pitching skill set. Fantasy managers will have to take pause because the Development List is indefinite, meaning there is no timetable for Johnson to return to the Triple-A rotation. There is no doubt that time on the Development List could do him good, but his numbers were already quite good at the Triple-A level, and the next step could be with the Rays in Tampa Bay. It is best to take a wait-and-see approach, but Johnson could find himself in the big league mix shortly.

Jul 18

Theo Gillen • CF • Rays

Theo Gillen Launches First Double-A Long Ball After Two-Week Slump

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Theo Gillen snapped his lengthy power skid at Double-A. On Friday evening, the team's No. 1-ranked prospect (according to MLB.com) went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. This snapped a lengthy 14-game power drought for Gillen since moving up to the Double-A level. The outfielder spent the first half of the season at the High-A level, where he posted a .342/.449/.589 line with 23 doubles, 12 home runs and 28 sotlen baes. However, it took him some time to find his footing at Double-A, as he posted a low .190/.277/.241 line thorughh is first 14 games at the level. Dynasty managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression at Montgomery as the No. 9-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline could put himself in a great position to begin the 2027 season at Triple-A Durham.

Jul 18

Tre' Morgan • 1B • Rays

Tre' Morgan Blasts Two Home Runs in Return From Triple-A Injured List

Tampa Bay Rays first base prospect Tre' Morgan went 2-for-4 with two home runs in his return to Triple-A Durham on Friday evening. Morgan was sidelined with an injury for nearly a month but returned in impressive fashion. On the season, Morgan has spent only 15 games with the Durham Bulls and posted a low .182/.250/.436 line with a .686 OPS. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his production as Morgan could compete for a late-season promotion to the majors if he were to find his footing. During the 2025 campaign, the former third-round pick out of LSU posted a .274/.398/.412 line with eight home runs and eight doubles over 92 games at Triple-A. For now, Morgan should not be viewed as a viable stash option as he remains at least a month away from a potential debut.

Jul 18

Ian Seymour • RP • Rays

Ian Seymour Emerging as a Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire

Across 64 2/3 innings (33 games) in 2026, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour has recorded a 6-2 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts. The 27-year-old opened the year in a traditional relief role, but he's been operating as a starter or bulk reliever since early June. Seymour has demonstrated intriguing swing-and-miss upside overall this season, posting a 27.8% strikeout rate. He's been even better since moving into his current role, recording a 30.9% strikeout rate over his last seven outings (33 2/3 innings). While Seymour's ERA is a bit elevated, he's been hurt by an abnormally low 66.2% strand rate. If the left-hander can do a better job of getting out of jams in the second half of the season, he could be a major value-add for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

Jul 17

Cedric Mullins • CF • Rays

Second-Half Bounce-Back Seems Unlikely for Cedric Mullins

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins has really struggled at the plate in 2026 in his first season with the Rays, as he heads into the second half with a rough .200/.278/.339 slash line with a .617 OPS through 82 games and 319 plate appearances. On the bright side, he does have 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases to go with 30 RBI and 32 runs scored. There's obviously still some power and speed there from the left side of the plate, but with an expected batting average of .190 and an xwOBA of .262, which is fifth-worst among hitters, fantasy managers shouldn't be looking to buy low here. The 31-year-old former All-Star and Silver Slugger winner isn't playing much against left-handed pitchers, and he's gone just 14-for-66 (.212) against southpaws this year with none of his 11 home runs. Mullins just isn't making great contact either, ranking in the 15th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 17th percentile in barrel rate. His xSLG also sits in the fifth percentile. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Mullins to get to the 20-20 mark for the second time in his career.

Jul 17

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Back in Lineup for Game 1 of Doubleheader

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (hand) is starting at third base and is batting third for Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and rookie left-hander Jake Bennett at Fenway Park, according to MLB.com. Caminero was involved in a scary scene during Tuesday's All-Star Game when he was hit by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien on his left hand, but thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he's ready to go for the start of the second half of the season. Fantasy managers will want to get Caminero back into their starting lineups for the weekend, although there's a good chance he'll be rested for Game 2 of the doubleheader. The 23-year-old is currently tied for fourth in the big leagues with 28 home runs through the first half, and he's slashing .279/.372/.555 with a .927 OPS, 59 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 355 at-bats. The Dominican third baseman has only five career at-bats against Bennett, but he's hitting .400 with a .900 OPS in the small sample size.

Jul 17

Brody Hopkins • RP • Rays

Brody Hopkins Sees Struggles Linger as MLB Debut Appears Increasingly Unlikely

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Brody Hopkins was expected to be in serious contention to make his MLB debut this summer. However, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the system has struggled to show consistency at Durham, which has prevent hm form eanring the call. Since June 1 (his last 23 2/3 innings), Hopkins has posted a rough 7.23 ERA with a 32:27 K:BB. While he has allowed no runs in three of these outings, he surrendered a hefty 19 runs in the other four. Additionally, Hopkins has struggled to avoid high counts, inflating his walk rate. Through 71 2/3 innings on the season, Hopkins has allowed a high 70 free passes with a 1.65 WHIP. While an injury to the Tampa rotation could open the door, given his inconsistencies, the Rays are unlikely to call his name down the stretch.

Jul 17

Jonathan Aranda • 1B • Rays

Jonathan Aranda's 2026 Breakout Poised to Continue After the All-Star Break?

Across 406 plate appearances so far in 2026, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda is hitting .297/.394/.471 with 14 home runs, 64 RBI, and 48 runs scored. After mostly working in a big-side platoon role through the early portion of his Rays career, the 28-year-old has emerged as an everyday staple in the heart of the Tampa Bay lineup this season. Aranda's underlying metrics are not quite as strong as in previous years, but he still maintains a solid 10.4% barrel rate and 44.8% hard-hit rate. The lefty slugger has also posted a 12.6% walk rate while lowering his strikeout rate to a career-low 21.7%. While Aranda does not bring any speed, he profiles as a high-level source of run production and batting average with solid power. Fantasy managers should buy into his breakout season continuing into the second half of 2026.

Jul 16

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Says he Will Play on Friday

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (hand) was forced from Tuesday's All-Star Game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O'Brien, but X-rays came back negative, and Caminero says he will be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Fantasy managers can now breathe a sigh of relief after the scary scene early in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The 23-year-old didn't look his best just before this week's break, but he's a clear must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball. The Dominican third baseman came into the break slashing a cool .279/.372/.555 with a .927 OPS, 28 home runs, 59 RBI, 61 runs scored, and two stolen bases across his 355 at-bats. The two-time All-Star is tied for fourth in baseball in home runs, is tied for 20th in RBI, and is tied for 13th in runs scored.

Jul 15

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Is Jacob Melton a Top Stash Target?

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton has been among the top hitters across Triple-A since returning from injury. Melton had been on the shelf since mid-April due to a left ankle sprain. However, since the No. 5-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system returned to the Triple-A diamond on June 24, the young outfielder has been playing at an elite level. Over this nine-game stretch, Melton has carried a dominant .394/.487/.758 line with three doubles, three home runs and two stolen bases. During this stretch, he has struck out just nine times and drawn five walks. On the season (29 contests), Melton has held a .286 AVG with a .933 OPS, four home runs and an elite 19 stolen bases. Given his high-end contact skills and speed, Melton could emerge as an immediate fantasy contributor once he earns the call to Tampa Bay, making him a worthy stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues.

Jul 15

Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Bryan Baker Is Now a High-End Fantasy Closer

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Bryan Baker hit the break with 25 saves, a 1.73 ERA, and a 0.83 WHIP, then recorded the final out of the American League shutout in the July 14 All-Star Game. The spring committee talk feels ancient now. Baker is tied for second in the majors in saves, opponents are batting .150 against him, and Tampa Bay has no reason to touch the ninth inning. This is not just a hot run. His fastball is averaging 97.1 mph, his strikeout rate sits at 29.3%, and the changeup he now throws nearly as often as the heater has limited batters to a .137 average. The only reason to shop Baker is that his value may never be higher. Even that feels forced. He has the job, the stuff, and a first-place club creating chances. Treat him as a high-end closer for the second half.

Jul 15

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