The 2025 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



McClanahan has yet to allow a run in three starts this year and has a combined line of 19.1 7 0 0 4 19, not too shabby.

Game 2:



Game 3:



Rasmussen left with elbow inflammation and will miss his next start, which Faedo will likely make or we'll just skip the spot with an off-day.

The Rays are two behind the Yankees and Red Sox in the early going. Next up: A World Series rematch as the Dodgers visit the Trop for 3 after an off-day.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



The matchup of pitchers traded for each other after the 2023 season did not go the Rays way and in fact Pepiot ended up getting ejected (and suspended for 6 games) after hitting a man following a Will Smith homer.

Transaction: Pepiot goes on the restricted list, and meanwhile Drew Rasmussen's elbow inflammation isn't subsiding as quickly as originally thought so he'll go on the IL backdated. Coming up from Durham are relievers Kevin Kelly and Nate Lavender with Alex Faedo moving into the rotation. Another move may be coming for a starter given we have no off days through this turn.

Game 3:



McClanahan keeps doing it - that's now 26 1/3 scoreless to start the year and his combined line is 26.1 8 0 0 5 27, just incredible.



Players of the Week:

AL: Marcell Ozuna (BOS), 10-23, 4 HR, 12 RBI
NL: James Wood (WAS), 12-23, 2 HR, 4 RBI

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



DeLuca was suspended for 4 games after the brawl so he goes on the restricted list and Jake Mangum is up from Durham to fill in at CF.

Game 2:



Even though it's only April it's going to be hard to top this one for most thrilling win of the year as the Rays erased a 6-1 deficit in the final two innings with Williams walking it off.

Game 3:



Taking 2 of 3 enabled the Rays to move within one game of the Yankees and Red Sox, who are tied for the division lead.

Next up: 4 games in Boston.

MLB News: The Dodgers will be without star starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto for 7 weeks with a partially torn labrum.

[Art Deco]

Transaction: We claimed OF Alek Thomas on waivers from Arizona and DFA'd OF Michael A. Taylor, who was unimpressive in his handful of appearances for us. Thomas didn't live up to his prospect potential in the desert but is a younger option with more upside.

Game 1:



Well this was a remarkable game. Not only did McClanahan extend his shutout streak to start the season to 33 1/3 innings but he no-hit Boston for 7 innings. He's allowed a ridiculous 8 hits so far this season and obviously his .103 BABIP is not sustainable but it's been quite a ride to enjoy. The team lost the combined no-hitter in the 9th when Bender gave up a hit and then they lost Bender, who sprained his elbow and will be out a couple weeks. And as you can see the offense had a field day including a big game for Alek Thomas in his Rays debut, going 3-5 with a homer and 3 RBI.

Game 2:



Transactions: DeLuca and Pepiot completed their suspensions so Mangum and Englert were optioned back to Durham. Englert went toe-to-toe with Garrett Crochet before it all fell apart in the 6th.

Game 3:



Rays got their second one-hitter in three days.

Game 4:



Rays had to settle for a split, not a terrible result in Fenway.



Players of the Week:

AL: Kyle Manzardo (CLE), 15-28, 2 HR, 5 RBI
NL: Bo Bichette (SD), 11-22, 1 HR, 7 RBI

MLB News: Cleveland reliever Cade Smith will miss 8 weeks with a bone spur in his elbow.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Game 3:



Shane McClanahan proved he was human, allowing a pair of runs in the first inning to end his season-opening scoreless streak at 33 1/3 innings, but the Rays and McClanahan still got the win in a sweep of the lowly White Sox. The Rays remain 1/2 game behind the Yankees in the AL East however.

Players of the Month (April):

AL Batter: Jorge Soler (SEA), .337-8-15
NL Batter: Rafael Devers (SF), .323-7-37
AL Pitcher: No surprise here:



NL Pitcher: Logan Webb (SF), 6-0, 1.64, 39K in 44IP
AL Rookie: Domingo Robles (ATH), 3-0, 2.01
NL Rookie: Cam Collier (CIN), .304-5-18

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Transaction: Brandon Lowe suffered a herniated disc in his back in this game and will miss a week, so since we're thin at MI he went on the IL and we purchased the contract of 2B prospect Brayden Taylor, our first-round pick in 2023. Also, Drew Rasmussen comes off the IL to start the series finale and Kevin Kelly is optioned back to Durham.

Game 3:



Fresh off the IL Rasmussen leaves in the first inning, this time with a sore ankle that won't keep him from his next start.



Did not have Packy Naughton pitching for the Rockies and leading MLB with an 0.30 ERA on my bingo card.

Players of the Week:

AL: Colt Keith (DET), 9-24, 3 HR, 9 RBI
NL: Randy Arozarena (SD), 8-14, 2 HR, 11 RBI

MLB News: A couple of pitchers go down with season-ending injuries as Tony Gonsolin (BAL, stretched elbow ligament) and closer Ben Joyce (LAA, fractured elbow).

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Game 3:



A tough back-and-forth loss in the finale as the Rays dropped the series in Toronto. The good news is that Baltimore did a number on the Yankees so Tampa Bay is only 1/2 game back in the division. Next up: A day off then 3 at home against 15-16 Boston.

MLB News: Kansas City lost one of their top starters as lefty Cole Ragans tore his UCL and will undergo Tommy John surgery. And in the series finale above Toronto lost closer Aroldis Chapman for five weeks due to a strained forearm.

Rays News: 2022 first-round pick Xavier Isaac continues to mash at AAA Durham, culminating in a 5-for-5 game last night in which he hit his 12th homer and drove in 4 runs. He's hitting 315/417/667 with those 12 homers and 29 RBI in 29 games so performance is not an issue but position is - we have Yandy, Aranda and Duran at 1B/DH/LF so there's no apparent place for him to play right now. And he would be a big defensive downgrade from Duran in left. We could move Duran to CF and sit the Thomas/DeLuca platoon but they're both hitting well too, and that was also compromise the defense. A trade of Yandy in his final contract year could be a possibility but he's probably our best RH bat and Isaac's a lefty. So for now Isaac will be raking at Durham.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Transaction: Anthony Bender rejoins the bullpen off the IL and Dylan Lee is optioned to Durham.

Game 3:



Just an ugly, ugly series all around especially the pitching and even more specifically the bullpen, which lost the last two games late. As a result the Rays' position has taken a hit in the standings:



Yes it's Packy Naughton's world and we're all just living in it as the Colorado lefty pitched another 8 1/3 scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 0.23. No, I can't explain how a journeyman who has 45 stuff and pitches half his games in Coors Field is doing it.

Players of the Week:

AL: Wyatt Langford (TX), 10-20, 4 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 9-27, 5 HR, 9 RBI

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



McClanahan's unbelievable run to start 2026 continued as he also now as a 9/57 BB/K ratio in 52 IP. Also he was 8-0 after coming off the IL last season so he's now won 15 straight decisions or 17 if you count his 2-0 in last year's postseason. Just amazing.

Game 2:



Pepiot has been so bad that he's headed to the bullpen and Faedo will take his rotation spot for now.

Transaction: Brandon Lowe comes off the IL and Brayden Taylor, who filled in nicely, goes back to Durham.

Game 3:



What a game for B.Lowe in his return and Williams' heroics overcame another blown save from Fairbanks to enable the Rays to take 2 of 3 from the surprise team of MLB in Colorado. Next up: A day off then we head out west starting with 3 in Anaheim against the Angels.

MLB News: The Dodgers will be without utilityman Tommy Edman for 3 months due to a broken finger.

[Art Deco]

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Game 2:



Game 3:



Well things went about as bad as they could in the finale with Shane McClanahan suffering a torn triceps. He'll be out 3-4 months, which means he's likely not back until early September. Whether it will still matter at that point remains to be seen but without him until then it seems much less likely. Ryan Pepiot and his 10.73 ERA were set to be booted from the rotation for Alex Faedo but for now Pepiot gets a reprieve and he'll need to turn it around. As for the game the Rays somehow managed to hit five homers and lose 6-5, all of them coming off one-time Rays farmhand Tobias Myers, famously traded to Cleveland for a rookie ball guy named Junior Caminero about five years ago.



Players of the Week:

AL: Carlos Correa (MIN), 10-23, 3 HR, 5 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 11-20, 2 HR, 4 RBI

MLB News: Cleveland superstar Jose Ramirez hit career homer #300, and San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. is out six weeks with a hamstring strain.

[Art Deco]

Transaction: Shane McClanahan goes on the 60-day IL with his torn triceps and swingman Mason Englert is recalled from AAA Durham.

Game 1:




Even with the McClanahan injury Pepiot is out of the rotation after today's most recent debacle - we'll give Englert a chance next time.

Game 2:



Game 3:



This team is in free fall now, dropping below .500 after being swept and losing five straight overall. The pitching has been horrible and with the McClanahan injury the team may really be in trouble. We'll try to get right at home against Philadelphia after an off-day.

MLB News: Longtime 3B great and current Cardinal Nolan Arenado picked up his 2000th career hit.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Finally a win! The Rays snapped a 6-game losing streak with the win although Rasmussen suffered a sore elbow and will miss a week. As a result tomorrow's scheduled starter Englert was pressed into action meaning Pepiot gets yet another reprieve and will start tomorrow in the finale.

Game 3:



Whaddya know? Pepiot pitched by far his best game of the season and got his ERA into the single digits, and the offense went nuts from the 5th inning on as the Rays got back to .500.

Next up: A day off then the A's come to town for 3 games.



Players of the Week:

AL: Zach Neto (LA), 12-25, 5 HR, 14 RBI
NL: Nick Castellanos (PHI), 11-25, 3 HR, 8 RBI

MLB News: Young Boston star Roman Anthony's sophomore season comes to an early end as he tore his PCL.

[Art Deco]

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Game 2:



Game 3:



The Rays swept the A's with a trio of thrilling wins at the Trop, including a brilliant outing from Bailey Ober in the finale in which he took a no-hitter into the 6th and Tampa Bay pitching combined for a 1-hitter in the game. They're now 3 1/2 back of both Baltimore and the Yankees and a game out of the third wild card.

MLB News: Former Ray and current Angel Robert Stephenson, who missed the previous two seasons with injuries, is going to miss the rest of 2026 with a torn labrum.

[Art Deco]

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Game 2:



Game 3:



Always good to win a series on the road and this keeps the Rays' recent good run going. The bullpen was exceptional in the finale with 5 hitless innings to buy the offense time to come back. Next up: the road trip continues with 3 in Houston.



The Rays remain a game back of the third wild card.

Players of the Week:

AL: This guy:



NL: Josh Naylor (MIA), 13-29, 2 HR, 10 RBI

Players of the Month (May):

AL Batter: Zach Neto (LA), .353-10-27
NL Batter: Michael Harris II (ATL), .343-9-25
AL Pitcher: Bryan Woo (SEA), 4-0, 2.72, 35 K in 39.2 IP
NL Pitcher: Landen Roupp (SF), 4-1, 1.95, 41 K in 37 IP
AL Rookie: Cooper Bowman (CHI), .301-3-10
NL Rookie: Orelvis Martinez (MIL), .291-3-15

Also getting Player of the Month honors in the FCL was our Gavin Fien as the 2025 2nd-round pick hit .368-8-27 for the complex Rays.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Baz's injury was minor and will not keep him from his next start.

Game 2:



Game 3:



Just when it looked they were turning things around the Rays go out and get swept in Houston to drop one game over .500, 5 1/2 back in the division and 3 in the wild card race. Pepiot continues to be a liability but due to injuries he keeps getting starts.

MLB News: The Angels signed OF Taylor Ward to a 5/77 extension.

[Art Deco]

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Game 2:



Game 3:



A good series in San Diego which could have been a sweep had Cleavinger not allowed a late 2-run homer to Manny Machado in the second game.



The Rays are 1 1/2 games back of the third wild card.

Players of the Week:

AL: Luke Raley (TOR), 9-21, 5 HR, 9 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 15-28, 2 HR, 6 RBI

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Game 3:



Mediocrity, it is thyne name as the Rays drop to one game above .500 after a disheartening series loss at home to the White Sox. The finale encapsulated their season-long struggles as Rasmussen was brilliant but lost the lead on a Williams error and a bases-loaded walk from Speier, who relieved him. The Rays are now 8 1/2 back in the division and are fifth in the wild card race, 1 1/2 out of third. Next up: A home series with division-leading Baltimore, having a great year at 41-23.

MLB News: Houston's Yordan Alavarez is hurt once again, out three weeks with hamstring tendinitis. Meanwhile the Reds extended their superstar Elly De La Cruz for 8/212.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Game 3:



A truly horrific weekend for the Rays which saw them allow 37 runs over 3 games while being swept by the division-leading Orioles and in which they fried their bullpen. The sweep dropped them two games below .500 and any kind of title defense looks like the longest of longshots as they are now 3 1/2 behind the third wild card in fifth position. Interestingly our owner changed the team goal from "win now" to "neutral", and if things don't turn around soon a fire sale could be on the horizon.



Players of the Week:

AL: Parker Meadows (DET), 14-27, 3 HR, 14 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 11-25, 3 HR, 7 RBI

Seems like every week it's Harris in the NL - for the season he's hitting 375/409/719 with 22 HR and 66 RBI in only 63 games.

Rays News: We made a minor league signing: veteran OF Chas McCormick, who spent several years with Houston before being recently released.

[Art Deco]

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Game 2:



Game 3:



Another bad series for the Rays, although they at least snapped a 7-game losing streak by winning the finale. Before that they dropped a couple of 9th-inning heartbreakers and seem to be going nowhere fast.

[Art Deco]

Game 1:



Game 2:



Game 3:



Well that was pathetic as the Rays were swept in Baltimore by a combined score of 22-6 as they continue to circle the drain. The current run has seen them lose 10 of the last 11 games and they've dropped into last place in the AL East. I've already started shopping some of the free agents-to-be (B.Lowe, Y.Diaz, Fairbanks) and don't be surprised if deals are made soon.



Players of the Week:

AL: Adley Rutschman (BAL), 8-14, 2 HR, 9 RBI
NL: Corbin Carroll (ARI), 9-19, 3 HR, 6 RBI

MLB News: Cleveland's Shane Bieber tore his UCL again and this time he'll be out through the 2027 season, and it's possible his career is in jeopardy.