The 2025 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays - Page 5

Art Deco · 08-27-2025, 10:09 AM

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 · 08-30-2025, 09:25 AM

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 · 09-02-2025, 10:00 AM

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 · 09-05-2025, 10:39 PM

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 · 09-10-2025, 10:40 AM

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 · 09-14-2025, 06:36 PM

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 · 09-17-2025, 08:11 PM

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.

08-27-2025, 10:09 AM	#81
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	April 13-15, 2026: at Kansas City (3) 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.

08-30-2025, 09:25 AM	#82
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	April 17-19, 2026: vs LA Dodgers (3) 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

09-02-2025, 10:00 AM	#83
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	April 20-22, 2026: vs Cleveland (3) 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.

09-05-2025, 10:39 PM	#84
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	April 23-26, 2026: at Boston (4) 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.

09-10-2025, 10:40 AM	#85
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	April 27-29, 2026: at Chicago White Sox (3) 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

09-14-2025, 06:36 PM	#86
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	May 1-3, 2026: vs NY Yankees (3) 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).

09-17-2025, 08:11 PM	#87
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,435	May 4-6, 2026: at Toronto (3) 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.