Fairbanks allowed one run on one hit and two walks over one inning to record a save against the Yankees on Thursday.
Fairbanks got the ball with a two-run lead in the ninth frame and nearly blew the opportunity. He walked two of the first three batters he faced but managed to get Aaron Judge to foul out with one out. However, Ben Rice followed with an RBI single to plate a run and put the tying run on third base. Fairbanks escaped the jam by getting Gleyber Torres to pop out and thus recorded his 16th save. The run he allowed Thursday was just his second over his past seven appearances, and he's gone 6-for-6 in save chances during that span.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Can't complete fifth frame
Rotowire
Baz allowed three runs six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Yankees on Thursday.
Baz allowed solo homers to Austin Wells and Juan Soto in the second and third innings, respectively, but entered the fifth holding a 5-2 lead. He didn't stick around long enough to qualify for the victory, however, since he was removed in that frame with two runners on base and one out. It's not necessarily surprising that Baz was pulled in that situation given that it was just his second big-league appearance since his 2022 Tommy John surgery, though he had thrown only 68 pitches and demonstrated good control with 48 strikes after tossing 92 pitches in a six-inning win in his season debut July 5. It's not yet clear if Baz will remain in the rotation when Jeffrey Springs (elbow) returns to action, which could happen shortly after the All-Star break.
Lowe isn't in the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The lefty-hitting Lowe and his .429 OPS against southpaws will retreat to the bench Thursday while Nestor Cortes starts on the mound for New York. As a result, Jonny DeLuca will get a chance to start in right field, batting eighth.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Resting Thursday
Rotowire
Walls isn't in the Rays' lineup Thursday versus the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After going 2-for-3 during Wednesday's loss, Walls will take a seat for Thursday's series finale against Nestor Cortes. Jose Caballero will get the nod to start at shortstop instead.
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Rays' Richie Palacios: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Palacios isn't in the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
With lefty Nestor Cortes set to start on the bump for New York, the lefty-hitting Palacios will step out of the lineup. He'll give way to Amed Rosario, who will bat fifth while starting at the keystone.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting against lefty
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Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Left-hander Nestor Cortes will toe the slab Thursday for the Yankees, meaning the left-handed bat of Rortvedt will stay put in the Rays' dugout. Alex Jackson will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.
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Rays' Richie Palacios: Tallies stolen base
Rotowire
Palacios went 1-for-3 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Yankees.
Palacios has started six of the Rays' last 10 games as he regularly sits with lefties on the mound. His primary fantasy value continues to come from stolen bases, as he swiped his 14th bag of the campaign Wednesday. Palacios has also increased his walk rate to 12.4 percent this season, giving him an extra boost in leagues that reward on-base percentage.
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Rays' Zach Eflin: Stuck with tough loss
Rotowire
Eflin (5-6) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk over seven innings as the Rays fell 2-1 to the Yankees. He struck out six.
The right-hander put together one of his better performances of the season, but a lack of run support forced Eflin to settle for his sixth quality start of the year rather than a win. His control remains impeccable -- Eflin has walked one batter or fewer in 11 straight outings, posting a 3.94 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 48:5 K:BB through 64 innings over that stretch. He'll enjoy a breather as he doesn't line up to make another start ahead of the All-Star break.
The Rays will place Franco (personal) on the restricted list Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Franco had previously spent the entirety of the season on administrative leave, but MLB granted the Rays' request to move the 23-year-old to the restricted list after he had charges formally filed against him by prosecutors in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. According to Marc Topkin and Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times, Franco faces charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor as well as human trafficking, the latter of which carries a 15-to-20-year prison term if convicted. Major League Baseball isn't expected to issue any disciplinary action for Franco until the legal process is completed, but he won't accrue MLB service time or receive a salary while he's on the restricted list.
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Rays' Jose Caballero: Not in Wednesday's lineup
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Caballero is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Caballero had started five of the previous six contests, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Taylor Walls and Richie Palacios will form the Rays' double-play combination Wednesday.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Works four innings again
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) completed four innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out two in a rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Springs worked four innings for the second consecutive rehab outing, though he struggled to get strikeouts at the same rate as his past appearances. Nevertheless, Springs remains on a positive trajectory and is projected to return to the Rays in late July.
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Rays' Amed Rosario: Playing time remains uneven
Rotowire
Rosario went 2-for-3 with a run scored Tuesday against the Yankees.
Rosario drew a start with lefty Carlos Rodon on the mound for the Yankees, and he remains primarily in a small-side platoon role for the Rays. Since returning from a face injury June 26, Rosario has started six of 11 games while going 7-for-23 with one RBI and one run scored.
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Rays' Randy Arozarena: Swiping bags efficiently
Rotowire
Arozarena went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Tuesday against the Yankees.
Arozarena has struggled significantly for long stretches this season and has a .202 average and a .674 OPS across 359 plate appearances. Since June 1, however, he's hit .286 with an .868 OPS in 32 games. Arozarena's ability to get on base has also translated to more stolen bases, as he's swiped five bags in six tries in his last 17 games.
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Rays' Isaac Paredes: Adds 15th homer
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Paredes went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Yankees.
Paredes provided the key blast in the first inning Tuesday, taking Carlos Rodon deep for a three-run shot, putting the Rays ahead 4-1 early. It's the fourth homer in 12 games for the third baseman, though he's gone just 9-for-44 (.205) in that span. Overall, Paredes is batting .267 with an .830 OPS, 15 homers, 50 RBI and 35 runs scored through 86 games this season.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Pegged for relief this season
Rotowire
The Rays plan to bring Rasmussen (elbow) back as a reliever this season, Evan Closky of 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reports.
Rasmussen had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last July. Between the Rays' rotation depth and the length of time it would take to build him back up as a starter, it makes sense that the righty is being viewed as a reliever in 2024. The plan will be to return Rasmussen to the rotation in 2025. Rasmussen is slated to throw a live batting practice session Saturday, with the goal to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break.
