Kelly earned a save against the Red Sox on Wednesday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.
Kelly entered in the ninth inning with Tampa Bay clinging to a one-run lead, and he dispatched the first two batters he faced on strikeouts before getting Ceddanne Rafaela to ground out to wrap up his first save of the campaign. Meanwhile, Pete Fairbanks -- who is usually Tampa's closer -- pitched in the eighth inning against the heart of Boston's order and notched a hold. That usage suggests that manager Kevin Cash won't hesitate to deploy Fairbanks in the highest leverage situations, even when they come before the ninth frame. As such, other Rays relievers (including Kelly) could get save opportunities from time to time, though those chances are probably too unpredictable for fantasy managers to hassle with in leagues that don't reward holds.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Fans six in victory
Rotowire
Bradley (1-1) earned the win over Boston on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over five innings.
Bradley wasn't quite as sharp as he was in his season debut Friday versus the Yankees, when he gave up just one run and struck out seven batters over six innings, but a big difference Wednesday was that he went home with a win. The promising 23-year-old got a late start to the season after injuring his pectoral in spring training and subsequently landing on the injured list, but he's impressed in two starts since his return as he attempts to solidify the back of Tampa Bay's rotation. Bradley's next start is tentatively projected to be a rematch against Boston, this time at home.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) will pitch in the Florida Complex League on May 20, MLB.com reports.
Springs completed a two-inning live batting practice session Wednesday, lining him up to return to the mound in an official game for the first time since April 13, 2023. He'll have a significant ramp-up period before being activated from the injured list, but he is projected to return in late June.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Taking steps toward return
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Pepiot (leg) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is likely to throw a simulated game in the near future, MLB.com reports.
The exact next steps for Pepiot are unclear, but he is on the road with the team and is still aiming to return after a minimum term on the injured list. If he can reach that goal, he'd line up to start at some point during the Rays' homestand against the Red Sox and Royals.
Rays' Harold Ramirez: Losing at-bats against righties
Rotowire
Ramirez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
On the bench for the third time in four games -- all against right-handed starting pitchers -- Ramirez looks as though he's fallen into a short-side platoon role. He's been playing fairly regularly against both lefties and righties for most of the season, but Ramirez's overall opportunities will likely be more limited moving forward with the Rays recently welcoming back Josh Lowe and Jonathan Aranda from the injured list.
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Rays' Jose Siri: Regaining playing time in CF
Rotowire
Siri will start in center field and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Siri has now started in four of the Rays' last five games and may have taken back primary duties in center field from Jonny DeLuca. Though Siri brings good defense in center field, his hold on a regular gig may still be tenuous, as he's provided little production at the plate this season (.244 wOBA, 60 wRC+ in 120 plate appearances).
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Hits bench against righty
Rotowire
DeLuca is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
For the second time in three games, the right-handed-hitting DeLuca finds himself on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Tanner Houck). Upon returning from the injured list May 3, DeLuca had started in nine consecutive games, but he looks like he could move into more of a short-side platoon role now that the Rays are starting to get healthier. Two left-handed hitters in Josh Lowe and Jonathan Aranda both recently returned from the injured list, and the Rays could get another in Brandon Lowe back before the end of May.
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Rays' Amed Rosario: Retreating to bench
Rotowire
Rosario is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Rosario will head to the bench after he had started in each of the previous four games while seeing time at three different spots in the infield (second base, third base and shortstop). Though the right-handed-hitting Rosario should remain a mainstay in the lineup versus lefties, his opportunities to play against right-handed pitching could be more limited moving forward after the Rays activated the lefty-hitting Jonathan Aranda from the injured list Tuesday.
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Rays' Alex Jackson: Returns to bench
Rotowire
Jackson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Boston.
Jackson had started at catcher in five of the past six games, but he went hitless with 11 strikeouts and one walk across 14 plate appearances during that stretch. Despite his hefty workload of late, Jackson still looks to be the No. 2 option at catcher behind Ben Rortvedt, who is back in the lineup Wednesday.
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Rays' Junior Caminero: Draws start at second base in minors
Rotowire
Caminero made his first start of the season at second base with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and went 3-for-6 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run.
The start at second base came on the same day Brandon Lowe visited a specialist due to continued concerns with his right oblique. Lowe ultimately received good news, and the expectation is that he will be able to resume his rehab assignment with Durham soon. However, it's notable that the Rays seem to be prepping Caminero as a contingency plan at second base, a position he hadn't started a game at since 2022. Caminero is slashing a robust .316/.385/.582 with seven long balls on the season. Prior to Tuesday, he had been exclusively playing third base for Durham.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Cleared for activity
Rotowire
Walls (hip) reported to the Rays' spring training facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. earlier this week and will go through workouts for the next 10-to-14 days before beginning a rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
According to Topkin, Walls will be going through a modified version of his own spring training while he builds up stamina and stacks up at-bats as he works his way back from the surgery he required last October to address a labral tear in his right hip. The Rays opted to shut Walls down in late April for two weeks after he experienced renewed inflammation in his hip, and the 27-year-old seemingly responded well to the extra time off. Since he's been on the injured list all season, Walls will presumably be in store for an extended minor-league rehab assignment, making it unlikely that he's activated before the end of May. Whenever he's ready to go, Walls could threaten Jose Caballero for everyday duties at shortstop.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Should resume rehab assignment soon
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Lowe (oblique) will rejoin the team in Tampa Bay and will resume swinging the bat before heading back out on a minor-league rehab assignment in short order, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cash's comments came after Lowe was pulled off his assignment with Durham when he experienced renewed soreness in his right oblique during his fourth rehab game Sunday. Lowe visited a spine surgeon Tuesday for further consultation on his injury, with Cash noting that further imaging showed the second baseman was "heading in the right direction" with his recovery. Cash said that Lowe may still have to manage some pain moving forward, but the 29-year-old at least appears to have steered clear of a major setback. If he's able to return to Durham and resume playing in games by this weekend, Lowe could be ready to come off the 10-day injured list at some point next week.
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Rays' Brayden Taylor: In control at High-A
Rotowire
Taylor is slashing .253/.421/.440 with three home runs and nine steals in 27 games for High-A Bowling Green.
The Rays' first-round pick in last year's draft, Taylor has been at least 40 percent better than the average hitter in each league he has played in thus far. He has shown a very patient approach, with a 26.4 percent strikeout rate and a 23.1 percent walk rate. Taylor has an excellent batted-ball profile, with a 23.7 percent groundball rate, 7.1 percent infield-flyball rate, 21.3 percent Oppo% and a 36.1 percent hard-hit rate. In other words, he's hitting the ball hard and in the air with great frequency. Taylor has started 16 games at shortstop and 11 games at third base, and he should be able to move around the diamond as needed.
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Rays' Chris Devenski: Nearing live batting practice
Rotowire
Devenski (knee) is expected to face hitters in live batting practice in the near future, MLB.com reports.
Devenski has been throwing regular bullpen sessions and recovered well from each. He was placed on the injured list in late April and will likely be back before the close of May.
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Rays' Randy Arozarena: Power trending up
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Arozarena went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Arozarena slugged his eighth home run of the season and fifth in his last 11 games. He's also stolen three bags in that span. While his counting stats have been trending positively, Arozarena has still struck out at a 31.5 percent clip in May, leading to a .205 batting average for the month.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Pitches well in return
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Fairbanks struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner across a scoreless inning Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Fairbanks was briefly sidelined due to a cut on his throwing hand, but he returned to pitch the ninth inning of a tied game Tuesday. He showed no ill effects from the injury and has turned in two scoreless outings since returning from a nerve issue in his arm.
Lowe went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox.
The 26-year-old outfielder connected on his first long ball of 2024 when he took Nick Pivetta deep in the first inning. Lowe is quickly making up for lost time after missing the first month-plus of the season due to an oblique strain, and in seven games since being activated from the IL he's batting .320 (8-for-25) with four doubles and a homer.
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Rays' Aaron Civale: Fans six in no-decision
Rotowire
Civale came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox, giving up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The right-hander kept Boston off the board his first time through the order, but a two-run double by Dominic Smith in the fourth inning and a solo shot by Ceddanne Rafaela in the fifth sent Civale packing after 76 pitches (53 strikes). He's failed to last more than five innings in any of his last five starts, a stretch in which he's stumbled to an 8.87 ERA and 1.71 WHIP, and his rotation spot could be in jeopardy if he doesn't turn things around by the time Ryan Pepiot (leg) and Shane Baz (elbow) are ready to rejoin the team. Civale lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Toronto.
