Ryan Vilade, Rays chase series-clinching win over Guardians

Ryan Vilade had brief stints with four teams during his first three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old outfielder looks as if he finally has found a home with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Vilade is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a .500 on-base percentage over his past 10 games for the surging Rays.

Tampa Bay continues its three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday when Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10 ERA) takes on Guardians righty Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45).

Vilade was the catalyst behind the Rays' fifth consecutive win on Monday. He produced a career-high-tying three hits and had two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the eighth inning off Hunter Gaddis. Tampa Bay overcame a two-run deficit to pull out a 3-2 victory.

"Whenever my name is called, I want to help my team win," Vilade said. "It's been good and we're getting more gritty by the day."

Tampa Bay acquired Vilade from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash on Nov. 3, 2025. He only appeared in one game with the Reds after playing in seven for the St. Louis Cardinals earlier last season.

Those brief stops followed a 17-game stay with the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and a three-game stop with the Colorado Rockies in 2021. His career totals coming into this spring were nine hits in 64 at-bats (.141 average).

Vilade currently is batting .344 on the season, and he is 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. His two-game streaks of multiple hits and an RBI are career firsts.

"Ryno really complements our team really well and helps us all over the field," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Veteran pitcher Steven Matz, who earned the win in the series opener, also is impressed with Vilade's contributions on and off the field.

"Ryan has such a great personality and has fit right in," Matz said. "That's the great thing about this group. Everyone feels like they fit in and there aren't any cliques or anything in the clubhouse."

Assuming he remains in the lineup on Tuesday, Vilade will try to help Martinez win a second straight start.

Martinez limited the Reds to one run in eight innings while striking out a season-high six on Wednesday. He has struggled badly in six career outings (two starts) against Cleveland, going 1-2 with an 8.56 ERA.

The Guardians have lost three in a row, their longest skid of the season, and appear to have reached a turning point after falling to .500 for the first time since March 31.

Cleveland is expected to recall former No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana from Triple-A Columbus before Tuesday game and make him its everyday second baseman. The Australian had a .287 average with two homers, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games with the Clippers.

"We know it's a long season," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "We're 30 games in. There's a long way to go. And again, for a lot of our guys, they're in these situations for maybe the first or second time."

Cleveland hopes Bazzana can adapt as quickly as rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter, who hit four homers in his first three career regular-season games. DeLauter doubled in the ninth inning Monday off Bryan Baker, giving the Guardians two on with one out, but the Tampa Bay closer struck out the next two batters for his seventh save.

DeLauter has collected a hit in five of his past six contests, and he has reached base in 24 of 27 total games. He also is the eighth-hardest player to strike out in the majors.

"The moment's not too big for him," Vogt said. "Chase has been great all year and continues to have good at-bats."

Once considered Cleveland's ace in waiting, Bibee has put together strong starts in his past two outings, tossing 12 innings of two-run ball against the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. The Guardians are 1-5 in his six starts.

Bibee beat the Rays the first time he faced them in 2023, but he is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA against them in four career starts. He has worked deep into games vs. Tampa Bay, averaging more than 6 1/3 innings per appearance.