LATEST NEWS

May 17: RHP Yonny Chirinos optioned to Triple-A Durham; RHP Zack Burdi recalled
Chirinos fared well in his first three appearances with the Rays, throwing 9 1/3 scoreless innings. But in his past four outings, the 29-year-old has allowed nine runs on 14 hits in 19 2/3 innings.

Burdi, who returns for his second stint this season, was spotless in his previous stint with the club, pitching three scoreless frames, allowing just one hit while fanning four.

May 17: 1B Yandy Díaz feeling better after injuring left groin
Three days after injuring his left groin against the Yankees, Díaz was hitting in the batting cage, but most likely will not play until Friday night when the Rays play the Brewers, according to manager Kevin Cash.

On Sunday, Díaz led off the game with a double, then appeared to hurt himself when he hustled to third base and slipped on the bag during Wander Franco's groundout to third. Díaz stayed in and scored on a groundout by Brandon Lowe but was replaced by Isaac Paredes at first base in the bottom of the first.

May 15: RHP Pete Fairbanks activated from IL; RHP Chris Muller optioned to Triple-A Durham
Fairbanks was activated from the injured list a day before Tampa Bay plays the Mets at Citi Field. Fairbanks said he was ready to go after allowing one run and recording two outs for Triple-A Durham on May 12.

After exiting the Rays' game in chilly Chicago on April 28 due to a recurrence of Raynaud's syndrome symptoms in his right hand, Fairbanks went on the IL on May 3 (retroactive to April 30) due to inflammation in his right forearm, near his wrist. 

Muller was selected on May 12 from Durham, where he posted a 3.71 ERA in 14 games, but he did not make an appearance during the Yankees series.

May 14: RHP Zack Littell added to 26-man roster; RHP Javy Guerra designated for assignment
Littell is in his sixth season in the Majors. His best year was in 2021 with the Giants, when he went 4-0 with a 2.62 ERA in 63 games out of the bullpen. Guerra appeared in six games for Tampa Bay and had a 3.60 ERA, though with nine walks in five innings.

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INJURY UPDATES

10-day and 15-day IL

RHP Tyler Glasnow (Grade 2 left oblique strain)
Expected return: TBD
After Glasnow tossed four scoreless innings for Triple-A Durham on May 16, Rays manager Kevin Cash said Glasnow will get one more rehab start before returning to the big leagues. Cash hopes Glasnow can throw about 75 pitches for Durham in his next outing.   

Glasnow opened the season on the injured list after feeling “a grab” in his left oblique during a live BP session, and he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain following an MRI. (Last updated: May 16)

LHP Garrett Cleavinger (right knee sprain)
Expected return: 2024
Cleavinger was injured in the 10th inning of the Rays’ 8-7 win over the Yankees on May 7 after tumbling to the ground during a rundown along the third-base line. Cleavinger landed awkwardly and quickly gestured toward his knee in obvious pain. Tampa Bay’s athletic training staff brought out a wheelchair to take him off the field, but the lefty declined the offer and attempted to throw a warmup pitch before walking into the dugout. He was diagnosed with a right ACL injury that likely will sideline him for the rest of the 2023 season. (Last updated: May 8)

60-day IL

RHP Drew Rasmussen (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Late August/early September
Rasmussen went on the IL a day after tossing seven scoreless innings in the Rays' 8-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. He said he believes he will avoid his third Tommy John surgery and will be back after the All-Star break. (Last updated: May 12)

RHP Shawn Armstrong (neck tightness)
Expected return: Late May/early June
Armstrong did not appear in a Spring Training game due to an unspecified neck injury. The club classified his injury only as neck tightness on his right side when he was placed on the injured list to begin the season. Armstrong threw a two-inning bullpen session at Tropicana Field on May 2, manager Kevin Cash said, and "felt good, so that's encouraging." He is scheduled to face hitters on May 12 at the club's extended spring camp. Armstrong could begin a Minor League rehab assignment relatively soon, but he is not eligible to come off the IL until May 29. (Last updated: May 9)

LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
When Springs exited his start on April 13 at Tropicana Field, the Rays initially announced his injury as ulnar neuritis in his left arm -- a nerve issue he described as feeling like “kind of a funny bone, kind of a shock, zinger kind of thing down the forearm” and hand. He was evaluated by Rays team physician Dr. Koco Eaton then received a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 22. Springs underwent successful Tommy John surgery on April 24, which will keep him out until next season. (Last updated: April 24)

RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Baz, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28 and will miss all of this season, has enjoyed a smooth rehabilitation process so far. He began playing catch near the end of March and was throwing on flat ground from 60 feet as of April 13, when he was transferred to the 60-day IL. (Last updated: April 13)

RHP Andrew Kittredge (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: July 2023
Kittredge underwent Tommy John surgery on June 22. That will knock out the valuable right-hander for at least the first half of the 2023 season. The '21 All-Star was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15 to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Trevor Kelley and is playing catch up to 150 feet. (Last updated: March 25)

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