Tampa Bay Rays News

EAST

Ian Seymour • RP • Rays

Ian Seymour a Strikeout-Upside Waiver Addition After 12-K Outing?

Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Ian Seymour is not just a short-term streamer after what he did to the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is 6-1 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and two saves over 61 1/3 innings, and his role has become a lot more interesting after opening the season in the bullpen. Seymour struck out a career-high 12 Yankees on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings with no walks. The ERA is not pretty enough to make him a safe ratio arm, but the strikeouts are real. Seymour owns a 28.7% strikeout rate, 3.22 xERA, .280 xwOBA allowed, and 36.1% hard-hit rate, which gives the profile more support than the surface ERA shows. Yahoo managers have already pushed him to 51% rostered, but RotoBaller still lists him as an add in 10-team leagues.

17 hours ago

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target

After a disappointing beginning to the 2026 season while working out of the bullpen, Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax has found success since being moved into his team's rotation in late April. Across 24 appearances (13 starts) on the year, Jax has recorded a 4-6 record with a 3.60 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched. Dating back to June 7, Jax owns a 3-2 record with a 2.32 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts across 31 innings (six starts). In that span, Jax owns a 30.3% strikeout rate with just a 5.0% walk rate, good for an elite 25.3% K-BB rate. In any fantasy league where Jax is not already rostered, he profiles as a priority waiver wire pickup.

19 hours ago

Ty Johnson • SP • Rays

Ty Johnson Emerging as Worthy Stash Candidate with Elite Strikeout Potential

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Ty Johnson has begun to showcase high-end strikeout potential at the Triple-A level and has put himself on the stash radar for those in deeper leagues. Over his last three contests (15 1/3 innings), Johnson has struck out at least nine hitters in each game. However, he has had varying levels of success in these three starts, surrendering six runs back on June 18, but has bounced back well, holding a 1.80 ERA over his last two games (10 innings). Overall, through 49 1/3 innings with Durham this season, the No. 18-ranked prospect in the system per MLB.com has carried a 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 65:19 K:BB. While the emergence of Ian Seymour has blocked Johnson from an immediate promotion, he is worth following in deeper formats as he could find a role later in the season.

23 hours ago

Theo Gillen • CF • Rays

Theo Gillen Surging Up Prospect Rankings Amid Impressive First Half

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Theo Gillen has seen his productivity surge dramatically over the first half of the season. Entering the All-Star break, the former 18th overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft is now listed as MLB.com's No. 9-ranked prospect (in all of baseball) and Tampa Bay's No. 1 prospect. Gillen began the 2026 season at the High-A level, where he produced at an elite level, carrying a .342/.449/.589 line with a 1.038 OPS. During this 57-game stretch, Gillen hit 12 home runs and swiped an impressive 28 bags. He has since been moved up to Double-A, where he has posted a .180/.268/.240 line with no home runs. However, given that he is only 20 years old, managers should expect some growing pains. While a 2026 debut is highly unlikely, Gillen could enter the 2027 season as a consensus top-10 prospect if he maintains this pace.

2 days ago

Ian Seymour • RP • Rays

Ian Seymour Continues to Impress as a Starter, Fans 12 on Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour had another impressive start on Tuesday against the division-rival New York Yankees after he opened the season in the Rays' bullpen. Seymour allowed three earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out a career-high 12 batters in 5 1/3 innings for his sixth win of the season. The 27-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University entered Tuesday's appearance with a 4.02 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with two saves, 60 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 56 innings over 31 appearances (four starts) in his second year in the majors with Tampa. All of the runs that Seymour allowed on Tuesday came on a three-run homer by Ben Rice. He also generated 17 swings and misses on 94 pitches. In his four starts and two bulk relief appearances, Seymour has a 2.97 ERA while going at least five innings in his last four outings. Seymour is quickly generating waiver-wire interest in his transition to a starting role, and he's rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues. His final start of the first half is scheduled to come this weekend against the Seattle Mariners.

3 days ago

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Jacob Melton the Top Stash Option for Steals?

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton is making a push for a return to the majors, blasting two home runs in his latest contest and collecting at least one hit in each of the six games since his return from the injured list. The former second-rounder has dealt with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain that has kept him out since late April, but this recent run of production has pushed his season-long slash line to .287/.393/.540 with three home runs and 18 steals through 26 games at Durham. The Rays' fifth-ranked prospect made a debut in the majors last year, without much success other than using his speed to swipe seven bags, but having shown an improved strikeout rate since his return to the lineup at Triple-A, there are reasons to believe he could be more productive the next time around. Fantasy managers searching for steals should consider him one of the top options to stash for that category, though overall, he may only be worthy of stashing in deep 12+ team leagues.

3 days ago

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax Picks Up Loss Against Yankees But Fans 10 Batters

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax strengthened his case as a waiver-wire pickup in his latest outing at home against the division-rival New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Jax took his sixth loss of the year in a 5-1 defeat and allowed three earned runs, but he gave up just one hit (a three-run homer to utility man Jose Caballero), walked two, and struck out a career-high 10 batters on the night. The 31-year-old retired the first 13 batters he faced, but he ran into trouble in the fifth frame with two walks before giving up a three-run jack to Caballero that opened the game up for the Yanks. Jax threw 51 of his 81 pitches for strikes and generated 16 swings and misses from Yankees hitters. He's now at a 3.60 ERA on the year with a 1.22 WHIP in 65 innings in what has been a successful transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation in Tampa. He's rostered in 61% of Yahoo leagues and is slated to make his final start of the first half this weekend at home against the Seattle Mariners. Since becoming a full-time starter on April 26, Jax has gone 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA (4.09 FIP) with 48 strikeouts and 13 walks in 51 innings pitched.

4 days ago

Chandler Simpson • LF • Rays

Chandler Simpson Back in Action Against Astros

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (fingers) is starting in left field and will hit fifth against the hosting Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert for the series finale on Sunday, per MLB.com. Simpson is returning to the starting nine after missing the last two games with soreness in his right index and middle fingers. The 25-year-old speedster hasn't hit a single home run in his first 190 regular-season games played, but he's still plenty useful in fantasy baseball leagues for his contact skills and speed on the basepaths. The former second-rounder has been hot lately, batting .386 (17-for-44) with four doubles, two RBI, six stolen bases, and three runs scored in his last 12 games since June 19. Simpson is returning to a .278/.317/.331 slash line on the year with a .648 OPS, 16 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his 299 at-bats in his sophomore season. He has never faced Lambert in his major-league career.

5 days ago

Chandler Simpson • LF • Rays

Chandler Simpson Sitting Again With Finger Injuries

Tampa Bay Rays speedy outfielder Chandler Simpson (fingers) will miss a second straight game on Saturday in Houston against the Astros, according to MLB.com. Victor Mesa Jr. is making another start in left field for the Rays and will bat fifth against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. Simpson is dealing with soreness in his right index and middle fingers and will miss a second straight game after he was scratched from Friday's lineup. It's not considered a serious injury, though, so fantasy managers could have Simpson back for Sunday's series finale at Daikin Park. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has not hit a single home run in his first two MLB seasons over 190 games and 765 plate appearances, so power is obviously not his forte. In 81 games in 2026, he's slashing .278/.317/.331 with a .648 OPS, 16 RBI, 20 steals, and 35 runs scored. Simpson hit just .211 (15-for-71) in 24 games in June, but he's currently riding a modest seven-game hitting streak in which he's gone 10-for-26 (.385) with three doubles, an RBI, three steals, and two runs scored.

6 days ago

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax is Approaching Must-Add Territory

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax has been making a smooth transition into the starting rotation. Over his last five outings, Jax owns a 1.73 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 26 innings of work. Jax was tagged for three runs across six innings of work during his most recent outing against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The right-hander has looked sharp as a starting pitcher and figures to remain in that role going forward. His next outing is scheduled in Houston versus the Astros. Fantasy managers seeking pitching help should check the waiver wire to see if Jax is available.

7 days ago

Chandler Simpson • LF • Rays

Chandler Simpson Scratched With Sore Fingers

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (fingers) has been scratched from Friday's starting lineup against the hosting Houston Astros due to sore right index and middle fingers that he jammed while sliding into second base during Thursday's game, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Manager Kevin Cash said that Simpson is fine, and the move to hold him out on Friday is just a precautionary move. Victor Mesa Jr. is starting in left field and will bat sixth against Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti at Daikin Park. The speedy Simpson should be considered day-to-day, and he should be ready to roll as the series continues in Houston on the Fourth of July on Saturday. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Georgia Institute of Technology is still searching for his first major-league home run 190 games into his career, but his speed (64 stolen bases) and contact abilities make him relevant in fantasy baseball. In 81 games (324 plate appearances) this year, Simpson has hit .278 (83-for-299) with 20 steals, 16 RBI, and 35 runs scored.

7 days ago

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Homers in Sixth Straight Game on Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero is on quite the run in the power department lately. In the team's 4-0 shutout win over the hosting Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, Caminero went 1-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run and three strikeouts to homer for the sixth straight contest. The 22-year-old has tied the franchise record for most consecutive games with a homer. In his last eight games played, Caminero has been absolutely en fuego, going 14-for-31 (.452) with nine home runs, 20 RBI, and 10 runs scored to boost his overall slash line in 2026 to .293/.383/.561. The Dominican third baseman has also added 24 total home runs, 54 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a .943 OPS in his fourth year in the majors and third full season with the Rays. Caminero ranks in the 94th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 85th percentile in barrel rate, the 91st percentile in xwOBA, and the 90th percentile in xSLG, so the underlying metrics support his encore in 2026 after he hit 45 homers and drove in 110 runs in his breakout season in 2025.

Jul 2

Yandy Díaz • DH • Rays

Yandy Diaz Back in Rays Lineup Versus Royals

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (shoulder) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting leadoff for Tuesday's contest in Kansas City against Royals left-hander Noah Cameron, according to MLB.com. Jonathan Aranda is starting at first base and batting second. Diaz was pulled from Sunday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a strained left shoulder, but he's back in there for Tuesday's series opener against KC after a scheduled day off on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups in all traditional formats, especially with how well he has swung the bat in June. The 34-year-old Cuban veteran has gone 36-for-92 (.391) with a homer, six doubles, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 25 games and 109 plate appearances, boosting his season slash line to .336/.416/.515 with a .932 OPS. Diaz is also hitting .400 with a .900 OPS and an RBI in a small sample size of five career at-bats against Cameron.

Jun 30

Shane McClanahan • SP • Rays

Shane McClanahan to Return to the Rotation on Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan will return to the starting rotation and will pitch on Wednesday versus the Kansas City Royals, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. After that, he'll make one more start against the division-rival New York Yankees before the All-Star break. McClanahan had his turn in the rotation skipped last week, so he'll be on seven days of rest in Kansas City this week. The 29-year-old southpaw is fully healthy, but the Rays are monitoring his workload a bit at the tail end of the first half of the season given his lengthy injury history. He hasn't been as sharp in four June starts, either, going 0-4 with a 5.79 ERA (5.35 FIP) with 16 runs (12 earned) allowed on 25 hits (four homers) while walking nine and striking out 20 in 18 2/3 innings pitched. McClanahan has a 6-5 record, 3.30 ERA (3.40 FIP), 1.22 WHIP, and 73:28 K:BB in 73 2/3 frames across 15 starts in 2026 after missing each of the last two seasons due to injury. He gets a rematch against the Royals after allowing six runs (two earned) while walking one and striking out four in six innings in a loss on June 23 against them.

Jun 30

Yandy Díaz • DH • Rays

Yandy Diaz Expects to Play on Tuesday After Spraining his Shoulder

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (shoulder) said he will be ready to play on Tuesday after exiting early from his team's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday with a shoulder injury, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin reports that Diaz said he is "hurting a little bit," but that the shoulder issue is something he's managed previously. The 34-year-old has been excellent so far in 2026, hitting .336/.416/.515 with 12 home runs, 53 RBI, 45 runs scored, and one stolen base across 341 plate appearances. Diaz's 13.3% strikeout rate is the lowest of his career, and he's a career .294 hitter across over 4,000 MLB plate appearances. While it sounds as though Diaz may avoid missed time, fantasy managers should check back to make sure he's in the Rays lineup for the start of their three-game set against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

Jun 28

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax Emerging as a Must-Add Arm Amidst June Surge

After opening 2026 in a relief role, Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax was moved to the starting rotation in late April. It took a few outings for Jax to ramp up to a full starter's workload, but he's started to come into his own in recent weeks. Dating back to June 7, Jax has allowed just two earned runs while recording 21 strikeouts and two wins across 20 innings (four starts). For the season overall, the 31-year-old is averaging 96.5 miles per hour on his fastball and has pitched to a 3.33 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 54 innings. Jax has yet to go more than exactly five innings in a start, which limits his production upside to some degree. Still, his effectiveness since joining the Rays rotation makes him a quality starting pitcher streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

Jun 28

Shane McClanahan • SP • Rays

Shane McClanahan Being Pushed Back for Extra Rest

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan, who was slated to start on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be pushed back in the starting rotation several days to give him a breather, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays want to monitor McClanahan's workload heading into the end of the first half of the season after he missed the last two-plus seasons due to elbow injuries. Additionally, the 29-year-old southpaw has gone 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in his last four starts. The good news is that it doesn't appear that McClanahan is dealing with anything physically, so hopefully, a little rest will do him good as the mid-July All-Star break approaches. Overall, the former 31st overall pick in 2018 out of the University of South Florida has gone 6-5 for the Rays in his return in 2026 with a 3.30 ERA (3.40 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 28 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched across his 15 starts. If the two-time All-Star can stay healthy in the second half, he could easily rebound and be a major pitching asset for fantasy managers.

Jun 26

Ian Seymour • RP • Rays

Ian Seymour Strikes Out Six in Stellar Bulk Outing

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ian Seymour was dominant on the mound during Thursday's outing against the Kansas City Royals. He came into the game after Casey Legumina retired the first four batters of the game. Seymour would toss 6.2 hitless innings while striking out seven batters along the way. Since moving to the bullpen, Seymour owns a 2.84 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 19/5 K/BB ratio in 19 innings. The southpaw figures to remain in this role moving forward. His excellent K/BB numbers in his role make him an appealing fantasy option at the moment. Seymour could be someone worth scooping up in deep leagues at the minimum.

Jun 26

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Flexes his Muscles in Three-Homer Game Against KC

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero put on a show in Thursday's series finale against the visiting Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field in a 13-2 blowout victory, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three home runs, six RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .285 and his OPS to .896. Caminero's first two long balls of the day came off veteran starter Seth Lugo, and then he took position player Tyler Tolbert deep in the eighth inning for his 19th homer of the 2026 season. It was the first three-homer game of his career and the second time that he has driven in six runs in a single contest. The 22-year-old Dominican right-handed slugger came into Thursday's clash with the Royals with a .279/.374/.486 slash line, .860 OPS, 16 homers, 37 RBI, and 46 runs scored in 290 at-bats in his fourth year in the big leagues. Caminero hit 45 homers and drove in 110 in his breakout last year, and he's now 10th in the league in home runs this year and 14th in OPS. He's one of the best all-around hitters in the game and is a must-start in fantasy every day.

Jun 25

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax is a Must-Add Starting Pitcher From the Waiver Wire

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax earned his third win of the season on Wednesday and continues to prove himself as a very solid pickup from the waiver wire. Jax went five innings and gave up five hits while racking up seven strikeouts. He has worked exactly five innings in four straight outings, going 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA, 3.05 FIP, and a 1.05 WHIP. Jax has successfully moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation, and he can be a great way to fortify your rotation, even though his innings aren't maxed out yet. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday on the road in Kansas City, and he will likely be a two-start pitcher for that week since he'll turn around and face the Astros the following Sunday.

Jun 25

Tampa Bay Rays News

LEGEND