First-place Rays announce major news about ace pitcher

The Rays announced Saturday morning that they’ve activated right-hander Tyler Glasnow from the injured list. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cooper Criswell was optioned to Triple-A. Glasnow will start Saturday afternoon’s game against the Dodgers.

Saturday’s start will not only be Glasnow’s 2023 debut, but just his third regular-season appearance since he underwent Tommy John surgery midway through the 2021 campaign. One of the most talented pitchers in the sport, the hulking 6-foot-8 righty owns a phenomenal 2.75 ERA, 51% better than league average, with a 2.87 FIP since the start of the 2019 season with a phenomenal 36% strikeout rate and a 7.8% walk rate. Of course, that amazing production has come across just 212 2/3 innings of work in that four-year span, as Glasnow has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. The 29-year-old has eclipsed 100 innings pitched in a season just once to this point in his career, when he threw 111 2/3 innings in 2018.

Despite the volume issues, it’s hard to overstate what a boost to the Rays a healthy Glasnow figures to be. While the club’s collective 3.67 ERA ranks fourth in baseball — even after a 20-1 drubbing by the Blue Jays that saw the club’s position players give up half of the total runs — the losses of Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs have left the club’s rotation largely operating with just three regular starters in Shane McClanahan, Zach Eflin and Taj Bradley. Glasnow’s return figures to not only solidify that group, but add bona fide ace-caliber production to the front of the rotation.

As for Criswell, the 26-year-old righty has pitched 15 1/3 innings for the Rays this season, but the results have left much to be desired as Criswell owns a 6.46 ERA and 5.37 FIP in that time. Although his 23.9% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate are both acceptable figures, and a .381 BABIP suggests there could be some flukiness to his results, three home runs allowed in his four appearances certainly leaves plenty of reason for concern. Criswell will attempt to get things back on track at Triple-A Durham, serving as depth for the club in the meantime.