The Rays are back in a better rhythm, and the rotation is getting lined up to match it.
After stumbling through a rough patch from May into June, Tampa Bay has steadied itself with a strong finish against the Royals and then carried that momentum into its series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. With Drew Rasmussen on the mound, the Rays were chasing a sweep and trying to hold onto first place in the American League East.
Now comes another three-game set with Kansas City starting June 30, and the off day on June 29 gave manager Kevin Cash a chance to arrange the pitching staff for the final push before the All-Star break. He used it.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Times, Tampa Bay has made some tweaks to its projected starters against the Royals. Griffin Jax is set for Game 1, and the converted starter has been giving the Rays exactly what they needed since moving out of the bullpen. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder adjusted his pitch mix, and Jax has responded with steady production on the mound.
There is still the question of how deep Tampa Bay wants to push him. Jax spent the offseason and spring training preparing to be a reliever, so his innings load will be something to watch.
Game 2 will bring Shane McClanahan, who has come all the way back after missing 2.5 seasons because of injuries. He has rejoined the rotation and given the Rays a high-level arm right away, though he is also likely operating under some kind of workload limit to keep him healthy for the rest of the season and the playoffs.
The adjustment also means McClanahan will start one of the games against the New York Yankees at home before the break, giving Tampa Bay another key arm for a big series.
The third spot remains tied to Ian Seymour, the new No. 5 starter who replaced the ineffective Steven Matz. Like Jax, Seymour is another former reliever turned starter.
Starting was not the plan for him heading into 2026, but he does have some experience in the role. He is also coming off the best outing of his big league career against these same Royals, and he’ll be looking to do it again.
In Other News...
Former Cub Christopher Morel Gets Another Shot After Tumultuous Exit
Christopher Morel is getting another chance to reset his career path after a rough stretch that included stops with the Cubs and Rays, two organizations that saw both his raw power and his inconsistency. The 27-year-old outfielder and infielder has now landed a minor-league opportunity as he looks to work his way back into big-league consideration, a familiar kind of move for a player whose talent has long kept him on the radar even when the results have not always matched.
The arrangement gives him some flexibility, too, with opt-outs built in if the path to the majors does not open quickly enough. For the Mets, it is a low-risk way to add depth while they sort through their roster ahead of the trade deadline, and for Morel it is another chance to force his way into a picture that could include several different spots if he hits enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Finally Have The Kind Of Injury Update Fans Needed
Yandy Daz was back in the Rays starting lineup, a welcome sight for a club that has spent plenty of time juggling its health. Daz had been working through a left shoulder strain, and getting him back on the field at all is a useful step for Tampa Bay, which has been trying to stabilize its everyday mix while key pieces work their way back.
Manuel Rodrguez also moved a step closer to a return by resuming live batting practice as he comes back from forearm and elbow surgery, with an expected timeline after the All-Star break. Elsewhere on the rehab front, Jake Fraley and Gavin Lux began assignments with Triple-A Durham, giving the Rays a little more movement on the injury front than theyve had in a while, even if the final stretch of each recovery still matters. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rays Reliever Makes Tough Admission About How His Career Ended
Ryan Sherriffs path through pro baseball took him from a long run in the majors with the Cardinals, Rays and Red Sox to the Mexican League and the Dominican Winter League, a late-career stretch that underscored just how far he was willing to keep going. For Tampa Bay fans, hes best remembered as part of the Rays 2020 World Series bullpen, when he gave them important left-handed innings on the biggest stage.
Sherriff recently opened up about how the end came into focus after years of trying to stay in the game. He also reflected on a spring training moment with Boston in 2023 when the organization sent him to minor league camp, a conversation that marked another difficult turn in a career that had already asked plenty of him. [Read more 🡒]