Tampa Bay Rays: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Rays Announce Unexpected Major Role Change for Steven Matz

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Steven Matz got off to a great start this season, transitioning back to the rotation full-time for the first time since the 2021 campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Rays Hoisted By Their Own Petard: Marlins 4, Rays 3

For ‘tis the sport of baseball to have the engineer of infield hits and great defense hoist with his own petard. The Marlins stole the Rays’ playbook and beat them at their own game with infield hits, excellent defense mixed around some timely extra base hits while employing a Jonny Bullpen plan to stifle the Tampa Bay offense.

Tampa Bay Rays News / MLB Trade Rumors / June 6

Rays Move Steven Matz To Bullpen

Left-hander Steven Matz is heading to the Rays’ bullpen, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The veteran failed to escape the second inning on Tuesday against the Tigers.

Steven Matz News / Field Level Media / June 6

Rays moving struggling LHP Steven Matz to bullpen

Struggling Rays left-handed pitcher Steven Matz will be removed from the rotation and sent to the bullpen, Tampa Bay announced Saturday. Matz's ERA climbed to 5.48 after two poor outings, including Tuesday's 8-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers in which he allowed five runs and six hits, including two home runs, in 1 2/3 innings.

Shohei Ohtani News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Foreign-born 250-HR club' quiz

How many of the 53 Major League Baseball players not born in the United States of America with 250 or more career home runs can you name in seven minutes?

The 'Last 30-HR season by MLB team' quiz

The 'Most K's to start an MLB career' quiz

The 'Active 40-HR MLB seasons' quiz

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in MLB history

Not every all-timer has instant success at the next level. For many baseball players, it takes a few bumps in the road out of the gate before they ever reach stardom.

Aaron Judge News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 6

Why Rays Can Create Separation in AL East With Yankees Star Aaron Judge Injured

Entering Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays hold a 1.5 game lead in the American League East, and the team has a real chance to create some separation over the next few weeks. Coming into the season, the Rays were not expected to be a powerhouse of a team.

Tampa Bay Rays News / DRaysBay / June 6

Rays Trade Candidate: Luis Arraez

With the uncertainty surrounding Gavin Lux’s health, the Rays are relatively thin in the middle infield. Richie Palacios (103 wRC+ vs righties) and Ben

Shane McClanahan News / Field Level Media / June 6

Rays' Shane McClanahan puts stellar streak on line vs. Marlins

The Tampa Bay Rays will turn to their most reliable pitcher of late when left-hander Shane McClanahan takes the mound Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 6

Rays Wisely Seen as Potential Landing Spot for Twins Slugger

With the trade deadline about two months away, buzz is starting to generate about some potential options for teams. For the Tampa Bay Rays, they should be buyers, and the team has a few areas that they could look to address. The Rays have been easily one of the biggest surprises in baseball with the best record in the American League.

Drew Rasmussen News / Field Level Media / June 5

Drew Rasmussen dominant in Rays' 2-hit shutout of Marlins

Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen was nearly unhittable over seven outstanding innings, allowing just one hit as the American League East-leading Rays opened a three-game road series with a 6-0 blanking of the Miami Marlins on Friday night.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Field Level Media / June 5

Amid rough week, Rays’ Chandler Simpson (thumb) leaves vs. Marlins

Chandler Simpson left in the third inning of the Tampa Bay Rays' road game against the Miami Marlins on Friday with what the team called left thumb discomfort.

MLB News / Yardbarker

Which 20 players have hit four home runs in an MLB game?

The only two things rarer in modern-day baseball than the four-homer game is the Triple Crown and the unassisted triple play. The former is, of course, done over an entire season, while there's a large level of lucky in the unassisted triple play.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 4

Orioles Slugger Wisely Named Potential Trade Target for Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a great season, but they are in the midst of a bit of a hiccup of late. However, the recent stretch should not deter them from trying to make some upgrades. In their last 10 games, the Rays have a record of (2-8), and there is understandably a little concern.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 4

Rays Wisely Named Potential Landing Spot for Mets' Pitcher

The Tampa Bay Rays have hit a bit of a rough patch of late, but are still one of the best teams in the American League and should be seeking to improve this summer. While expectations might not have been high coming into the year, the Rays have been one of the best teams in baseball so far.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The ''Madden' cover athletes' quiz

The 'Last 30-point NBA Finals game' quiz

The 'Most 1,400-yard NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Most field goals-per-game by playoffs' quiz

Nick Martinez News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 4

Rays Need To Be Prepared for Further Regression From Veteran Pitcher

One of the best stories thus far in the 2026 MLB regular season has been the performance of Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nick Martinez. A signing that was panned when it was announced at the onset of spring training, he far exceeded even the most positive of expectations.

Aaron Judge News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 3

Rays Relief Pitcher Beat Yankees, Aaron Judge With Increased Confidence

The Tampa Bay Rays are mired in a slump, losing seven out of nine games heading into their matchup with the Detroit Tigers on June 3. Despite the tough stretch, the Rays still own the best record in the American League entering play.

Jon Heasley News / MLB Trade Rumors / June 3

Rays Place Jon Heasley On Injured List

June 2: Tampa Bay announced that Heasley has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right elbow, which he evidently suffered while on the big league roster.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / June 2

Rays Wisely Seen as Sleep Trade Parter for All-Star Pitcher

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a great start to the season. Now, the franchise must make sure they capitalize on their early success. Coming into the year, not too many people would have predicted that the Rays would have the best record in the American League entering June.

Andrew Wantz News / MLB Trade Rumors / June 2

Andrew Wantz Elects Free Agency

The Rays announced that right-hander Andrew Wantz has cleared waivers and elected free agency. Tampa designated him for assignment a few days ago. He has a previous career outright, which gives him the right to reject further outright assignments in favor of the open market.

Tarik Skubal News / MLB on ClutchPoints / June 2

How Rays can shock MLB world with Tarik Skubal trade

The Tampa Bay Rays have missed the playoffs the last two seasons. While a small market team, the Rays have had success in the past. Since 2008, they have made the playoffs nine times and won the American League twice, but they do not have a World Series title.

Chandler Simpson News / Larry Brown Sports / June 1

Chandler Simpson suffers a bizarre injury on a stolen base

Chandler Simpson was a victim of his own blinding speed during Monday’s game. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Simpson suffered an unusual injury in the middle of his team’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers.

Craig Kimbrel News / Larry Brown Sports / June 1

Craig Kimbrel’s Rays stint takes an unfortunate turn after just one appearance

The Tampa Bay Rays will have to wait a little longer before they can send veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel back to the mound. After just one appearance with Tampa Bay, Kimbrel was placed by the Rays on the 15-day injured list on Sunday due to a right wrist strain, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Carson Williams News / Athlon Sports / May 29

Why Did the Rays Demote Former Top Prospect Carson Williams After 12 Games?

The Tampa Bay Rays have chosen to send their former No. 1 prospect Carson Williams back to Triple-A Durham after a rough 12 game stretch. The shortstop was drafted by the Rays in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft and quickly soared to the top of the organizations prospect rankings.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Just Baseball / May 28

Will the Rays’ Rotation Continue To Shine Brightly This Season?

The Tampa Bay Rays have emerged as a dominant force in the American League to begin this season. While many pegged them as a likely last-place finisher in a division filled with big spenders, they are pacing the pack at 34-19.

Craig Kimbrel News / Yardbarker / May 27

Future Hall of Fame closer joins the best team in AL

His dominance in the closer role for the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2015 was among the greatest four-year stretches for any closer ever. Recently, though, it has been a rough go for the soon-to-be 38-year-old veteran.

Tigers manager drops huge Tarik Skubal injury update

How the Tigers could boost the trade market for ace Skubal

Luis Castillo showed frustration after getting pulled from his start against A's

Jacob Misiorowski had the best response to his historic performance

Yankees make franchise history with hit parade in 15-1 win over Royals

Wander Franco News / Larry Brown Sports / May 26

Wander Franco sentenced in sexual abuse case

Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been sentenced after being alleged to have sexually exploited a minor. Franco was found guilty of sexual and psychological exploitation of a minor stemming from his relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

MLB News / Yardbarker / May 22