Tampa Bay Rays News

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Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Bryan Baker up to Nine Saves on the Season, Making him a Must-Roster Reliever

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Bryan Baker picked up his ninth save of the season on May 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording the final out of the inning. Baker now has nine saves on the season in 11 opportunities, and currently has the sixth most saves in MLB thus far through the 2026 season. Under the hood, Baker has also looked great, holding hitters to a .169 xBA, striking out 28.6 percent of hitters, and walking only 5.4 percent. All of those metrics rank in the 85th percentile or better in all of baseball. Baker has never been a true closer before, with seven career saves in his previous five seasons, but appears to be the clubhouse leader for the Rays and the preferred option in the highest leverage moments. In a season where saves have been scarce, Baker has worked himself into a top-10 option at the position, making him a must-roster and must-start player in all formats that prioritize saves.

Yesterday

Griffin Jax • RP • Rays

Griffin Jax to Start on Thursday, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax will make the start for the Rays on Thursday against the Red Sox in Boston, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. This will be Jax's third straight "start" for Tampa. The Rays could potentially be looking to stretch Jax out as a traditional starting option after left-hander Steven Matz (elbow) landed on the injured list on Tuesday, but for Thursday's outing in Beantown, Jax most likely won't go deep enough in the ballgame to be a worthwhile streaming option for fantasy managers. In his last two opening assignments, Jax has tossed five shutout innings with two hits allowed, two walks, and four strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants. The 31-year-old veteran opened the year as Tampa's go-to closer with Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the shelf, but he struggled in that role and was demoted quickly. Overall, he has a 5.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 14:9 K:BB in 14 innings over 13 outings (two starts) in 2026. If Jax continues to get stretched out as a starter, he'll be worth a look off the waiver wire in deeper leagues for fantasy managers in need of rotation depth. Jax is rostered in 25% of Yahoo leagues currently.

3 days ago

Emmanuel Rodriguez • CF • Twins |

Manuel Rodríguez • RP • Rays

Emmanuel Rodriguez Emerging as Top Outfield Prospect to Stash

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez continues to climb the stash rankings and enters Week 6 as one of the top outfield prospects to stash in fantasy. Entering the regular season, Rodriguez was considered the team's No. 4 prospect and the overall No. 64 prospect in the sport, per MLB.com. Last summer, Rodriguez dealt with injuries but spent most of his time with Triple-A St. Paul. Over these 52 games, Rodriguez held a .258/.429/.423 line with an .852 OPS. This season, Rodriguez has spent the early going with St. Paul, and he has continued to hold his own, posting a .241/.417/.506 line with a strong .923 OPS. He has gone deep six times while swiping three bags. Given his high-end power upside and clear path to opportunities in Minnesota, Rodriguez is worth stashing in all 12-team, five-outfielder leagues that have "N/A" spots.

3 days ago

Steven Matz • SP • Rays

Steven Matz Placed on Injured List With Elbow Inflammation

The Tampa Bay Rays placed left-hander Steven Matz (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 4) on Tuesday with left-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Chase Solesky from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. It's a tough break for the Rays, as the 34-year-old veteran southpaw has been one of their best pitchers through the first month of the 2026 season. In his return to a starting role in Tampa this year, Matz has gone 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA (4.86 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 37 1/3 innings pitched over his seven starts. In his last outing versus the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, he gave up just one run over six excellent innings for his second straight quality start. Hopefully, Matz is looking at a minimal stay on the IL. It's unclear at this time who will take Matz's spot in the rotation for the next couple of weeks, but it could be either Joe Boyle (elbow) or Mason Englert (forearm) if they come off the IL soon. Matz is currently rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues.

4 days ago

Yandy Díaz • 1B • Rays

Yandy Diaz Serving as DH as he Returns From Side Injury

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (side) will serve as the designated hitter and will bat cleanup for the Rays in his return on Monday in the series opener against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Eric Lauer at Tropicana Field, according to MLB.com. Fantasy managers will want to get Diaz back into their starting lineups after he was held out of the last two games due to left-side tightness that bothered him in Friday's contest against the San Francisco Giants. The 34-year-old Cuban veteran has continued to be a hitting machine in the early going in 2026, as he enters the new week with a .333/.422/.504 slash line, .926 OPS, five home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and a stolen base in 117 total at-bats for the Rays. He's gone 9-for-27 (.333) with two of his five home runs against southpaws, and he's hitting .250 with a 1.000 OPS, a home run, and three RBI in eight career at-bats versus Lauer.

5 days ago

Yandy Díaz • 1B • Rays

Yandy Diaz Leaves With Side Tightness, Considered Day-to-Day

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (side) left Friday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants early with left-side tightness, according to Ryan Bass. Diaz is listed as day-to-day for now, with a potential update on his condition coming after the conclusion of the game against San Fran. Diaz, who was serving as the designated hitter in this one, went 1-for-2 at the plate with his fifth home run of the year (a solo shot) before being replaced by pinch-hitter Jonathan Aranda at DH. The 34-year-old veteran Cuban infielder doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious injury, but don't be surprised if the Rays hold him out of the starting lineup for a day or two to let him heal. Diaz continues to be a hit machine for his fantasy managers in the early portion of 2026, as he entered Friday's tilt with a .330/.421/.478 slash line, .899 OPS, four homers, 20 RBI, 18 runs, and a stolen base in 115 at-bats for Tampa. Check back on Saturday to see if Diaz is feeling good enough to return to the diamond.

May 1

Ryan Pepiot • SP • Rays

Ryan Pepiot to Miss the Rest of the Season, Scheduled for Hip Surgery

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot (hip) will miss the rest of the 2026 season and is scheduled to have hip surgery on May 13, according to Rays sideline reporter Ryan Bass. Pepiot's season will come to an end before it even started due to a right-hip injury. He initially landed on the 15-day injured list before the start of the regular season with what was being called hip inflammation. Pepiot received an injection in his right hip, but it continued to feel unstable, and he'll be forced to go under the knife. It's unclear if his recovery from this injury will spill over into spring training next year or the start of the 2027 season. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues can now safely drop Pepiot to the waiver wire. He's currently rostered in 69% of Yahoo leagues. Pepiot's season-ending injury means that swingman Nick Martinez is safe in Tampa's rotation for now.

May 1

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Back in Wednesday's Lineup After Injury Scare

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (jaw) is back in action and will hit second for Wednesday's game against the hosting Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Gavin Williams, according to MLB.com. Caminero fouled a ball off the dirt that came back up to hit him in the jaw during Tuesday's game, and he was pulled early as a precaution. Thankfully, he only suffered a contusion on his jaw, and he's ready to go for the series finale on Wednesday at Progressive Field. The 22-year-old Dominican third baseman is a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues when he's active, which has been for every game so far in 2026. Caminero comes into Wednesday's tilt in Cleveland with a .257/.331/.496 slash line, .826 OPS, eight home runs, 15 RBI, and 17 runs scored in 113 at-bats. Even though he has hit just .167 in six career at-bats against Williams, he should remain in all starting fantasy lineups despite his injury scare on Tuesday. Caminero does have a solo homer against Williams previously.

Apr 29

Emmanuel Rodriguez • CF • Twins |

Manuel Rodríguez • RP • Rays

Emmanuel Rodriguez Quickly Approaching MLB Promotion?

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez has continued to heat up at Triple-A and is emerging as a sneaky stash candidate in deep formats. Through 22 games at Triple-A, Rodriguez has posted a .253/.412/.533 slash line with a .945 OPS. During this stint, Rodriguez has gone deep six times, tallied three doubles, and swiped three bags. However, over his last 11 contests, Rodriguez has raised his OPS to .994 and held a much-improved 16:14 K:BB. Last summer, Rodriguez made his Triple-A debut and held a solid .258/.429/.423 line with an .852 OPS. Seeing the No. 66-ranked prospect in the sport show steady progression at Triple-A is an excellent sign and suggests he is nearing his MLB debut. If he continues this pace, Rodriguez could debut before the end of the first half. His high-end power makes him a top prospect to stash among outfielders.

Apr 29

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Suffers Jaw Contusion on Tuesday, Considered Day-to-Day

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (jaw) was forced from Tuesday's game in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians with a right-jaw contusion after fouling a ball off the right side of his face, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The good news is that Caminero's injury isn't serious, and he's considered day-to-day. In his only at-bat before leaving, Caminero was 0-for-1 at the plate. Ben Williamson entered the game for the Rays to play second base, with Richie Palacios shifting over to the hot corner. It doesn't sound like Caminero will be forced to the injured list with this injury, but he could be held out of Wednesday's series finale against Cleveland as a precaution. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if he's back in the starting lineup for Tampa. The 22-year-old Dominican broke out in 2025 in his first full year in the big leagues, slashing .264/.311/.535 with 45 home runs, 110 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 154 games played. He is a must-start anytime he's in the Rays' lineup in traditional leagues. Coming into Tuesday's game, Caminero had gone 29-for-112 (.259) with eight homers and 15 RBI in his 28 games.

Apr 28

Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Bryan Baker Notches Seventh Save, Reaching Must-Start Territory

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Bryan Baker picked up his seventh save of the season in his team's 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday. Baker pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits and recording two strikeouts. Across 11 1/3 innings so far in 2026, Baker has pitched to a 3.18 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 13 strikeouts. He's recorded saves in seven of his last nine outings and has emerged as the clear go-to ninth-inning option for the Rays. With Tampa Bay right-hander Edwin Uceta (shoulder) recently being transferred to the 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury, Baker should have an extended runway as the Rays' closer, provided he continues to produce. At this point, Baker has reached must-start closer territory across most fantasy formats.

Apr 27

Shane McClanahan • SP • Rays

Shane McClanahan Turns in Best Start of the Season, Regaining High-End Value?

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan was sharp on the mound during Saturday's outing against the Minnesota Twins. The southpaw tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, while striking out seven batters in the win. This was McClanahan's best outing of the season and hopefully a turning point for him. The Rays continue to ease him into things, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to work deep into games yet. He'll take a 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 25:13 K:BB ratio into his next start against the San Francisco Giants. The southpaw has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his first five starts of the season. It's going to take time for the southpaw to build up his stamina, but he could be an elite option once he's back to full speed.

Apr 26

Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Rays Turn to Bryan Baker to Close Friday's Game, Emerging as Must-Roster Pitcher

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless ninth inning en route to earning the save during Friday's win over the Minnesota Twins. Trevor Martin had allowed a home run, single, and double to open the ninth, creating a situation where the tying run was on deck for the Twins. That's why they turned to Baker, and he effectively slammed the door by getting three straight outs without allowing a run to score. This isn't exactly uncharted territory for the veteran righty, who is now up to five saves across seven situations in 2026. In fact, each of his last seven outings has been a save opportunity. He currently owns an impressive 2.43 xERA with 9.64 K/9, 2.89 BB/9, and a 48% ground ball rate across 9.1 innings of work. He has also gotten his fastball up to a career-high average velocity of 97 mph. All signs point to Baker being the Rays' go-to closer moving forward. As a result, he's an intriguing fantasy baseball waiver wire target, given his potential to accrue saves.

Apr 25

Edwin Uceta • RP • Rays

Edwin Uceta is Transferred to 60-Day Injured List

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Edwin Uceta (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day Injured List on Friday. Uceta has been sidelined since the beginning of the season due to a shoulder impingement. He recently suffered a setback while attempting to return, which will get him moved from the 15-day to the 60-day IL. This move opens up a 40-man roster spot, but also means that Uceta won't be eligible to return until late May. The Rays have already filled the roster spot by acquiring right-hander Casey Legumina from the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Uceta could be in the mix for saves once he returns, but fantasy managers won't see that happen for another month or so.

Apr 24

Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Bryan Baker Running Away with Closer Job in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Bryan Baker appears to be the preferred bullpen option for saves right now. The 6-foot-6 hurler was charged with a blown save his last time out, but he had come on to face the meat of the Pirates' order in the eighth in an attempt to preserve a win, so it shows the confidence the team has in him. Before that, the right-hander had converted four save chances, and for the season, he owns a 4.32 ERA (2.70 xERA), 1.20 WHIP, and a 9:3 K:BB in 8 1/3 innings pitched. Griffin Jax (8.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP) lost the closer role in the early going and has yielded runs in two of his last three appearances, so the struggles continue for him, and Garrett Cleavinger (calf) is on the injured list with a calf issue. Edwin Uceta (shoulder) has encountered setbacks in his recovery from a shoulder injury and won't be back any time soon, so Baker's job looks to be secure for the time being. The 31-year-old is still available in 70 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Apr 24

Griffin Jax • RP • Rays

Griffin Jax Remains Difficult to Trust Amidst Prolonged Struggles

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Griffin Jax got off to a disastrous start to the 2026 season, allowing five earned runs across his first four outings (two innings pitched). The 31-year-old has stabilized his numbers to some degree since then, posting scoreless outings in five out of his last seven appearances. Still, Jax owns an 8.00 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP across nine innings pitched on the year. Jax's strikeout rate is down from 35% to 22.7%, while his 15.9% walk rate is more than double his 7.4% rate from 2025. The Rays' closer job remains largely up for grabs with the news that reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) experienced a setback in his recovery from a shoulder injury. Jax could eventually work his way back into the ninth-inning mix, but his early-season struggles make him very difficult for fantasy managers to rely on with any degree of confidence.

Apr 22

Ryan Pepiot • SP • Rays

Ryan Pepiot's Hip Feels "Unstable" While Playing Catch

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said on Monday that right-hander Ryan Pepiot (hip) had a bad day on Monday, as his right hip felt "unstable" while he played catch, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays moved Pepiot to the 60-day injured list last week after he suffered a setback with his right-hip injury, and things continue to go poorly for him despite receiving an injection. Since he's on the 60-day IL, the 28-year-old will not be eligible to return to the major-league roster until late May, and fantasy managers should be preparing for the possibility that it could be longer than that until he's reinstated. When healthy, Pepiot is one of the team's aces, and he's currently rostered in 79% of Yahoo leagues. Right-hander Jesse Scholtens has appeared in bulk relief for the Rays in his first two outings in 2026, but he'll be making his first start on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds, and he could stick in Tampa's rotation with Pepiot out if he continues to pitch well.

Apr 20

Edwin Uceta • RP • Rays

Edwin Uceta Shut Down for 2-3 Weeks; Is he Still Stash-Worthy?

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) has a right-shoulder strain, which is a new injury from the discomfort that initially landed him on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 regular season, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Uceta will be shut down from throwing for two to three weeks and will then have to build back up, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to make his season debut for the Rays for a while. It's a tough break for those who have been stashing the 28-year-old in fantasy leagues in hopes that he'll become the team's primary closer when he's fully healthy. In a best-case scenario, Uceta may not rejoin Tampa's bullpen until mid-to-late May. He's still worth holding onto in fantasy leagues, though, if you have an available IL spot. Uceta has been pretty solid for the Rays the last two seasons and was one of only five relievers in 2025 to have over 100 strikeouts. Until further notice, Bryan Baker is the reliever to roster for saves in Tampa.

Apr 20

Shane McClanahan • SP • Rays

Shane McClanahan Unable to Regain Pre-Injury Form

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his latest start on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five batters in a 6-3 loss to the Pirates. On the bright side, the lefty threw 72 percent of his pitches for strikes and did not walk a batter, something that plagued him in his first three starts, where he walked 11 hitters. In all, the 28-year-old has posted a 5.00 ERA (4.48 xFIP), 1.33 WHIP, and an 8.8 percent K-BB%. It's a far cry from the 3.02 ERA (3.15 xFIP), 1.10 WHIP, and 20.9 percent K-BB% that he recorded in 74 starts from 2021 to 2023. The former 31st-overall draft pick dealt with Tommy John surgery that disrupted his 2023 season and caused him to miss all of 2024, then encountered a setback with a nerve issue that completely derailed 2025, so there could still be more rust to knock off. However, a couple more subpar starts and he may be headed to the cut list for fantasy. The 6-foot-3 hurler will get Minnesota at home his next time out, a team that is top 12 in runs scored per game (5.09), wOBA versus LHP (.327), and wRC+ versus LHP (107).

Apr 20

Edwin Uceta • RP • Rays

Edwin Uceta Remains Top Injured Stash Candidate Ahead of Week 4

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) appeared to be on the doorstep of making his 2026 debut, but his rehab hit a setback earlier this week after he experienced renewed soreness in his injured shoulder. Uceta is now reportedly back in Tampa to meet with team doctors. However, if Uceta can avoid being fully shut down, he may still be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a stash candidate. Rays right-hander Bryan Baker has settled in as the team's primary closer, but Baker currently owns a 4.32 ERA and has already blown two saves so far this season. Uceta was arguably Tampa Bay's most valuable high-leverage reliever in 2025, as he posted a 10-3 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 103 strikeouts, and 21 holds across 76 innings. He's posted strikeout rates north of 32% in consecutive seasons and could easily assume the ninth-inning role for the Rays if he can get back to full health. Pending further news regarding his most recent injury setback, Uceta could still be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a stash candidate.

Apr 19

Tampa Bay Rays News

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