Rays' Richie Palacios: Hitting bench against lefty
Rotowire
Palacios is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
He'll join fellow left-handed-hitters Josh Lowe, Brandon Lowe and Ben Rortvedt on the bench as the Rays stock up on extra right-handed bats with southpaw Patrick Corbin on the hill for Washington. Palacios has logged just 22 plate appearances against lefties all season.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Getting day off versus lefty
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Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
The lefty-hitting Lowe will hit the bench for the series finale while Washington sends southpaw Patrick Corbin to the hill. Jose Caballero checks in at second base for Lowe.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Getting afternoon off
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Alex Jackson will draw the start behind the plate while Rortvedt hits the bench for the series finale. Rortvedt caught all nine innings of Saturday's 8-1 loss, going hitless in three at-bats.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Returns to action for Bowling Green
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Isaac (undisclosed) has started in two of High-A Bowling Green's last three games against Asheville, going 0-for-8 with a walk and an RBI.
Before checking back into the lineup Thursday, Isaac hadn't played for Bowling Green since June 13 due to an unspecified issue. Despite his two-week absence, Isaac was never placed on Bowling Green's 7-day injured list. The first base prospect is slashing .298/.384/.556 with 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases across 237 plate appearances in the South Atlantic League this season.
Lowe went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Saturday in a loss to the Nationals.
Lowe returned to the starting lineup after logging just a single pinch-hit appearance over Tampa Bay's previous five games due to a broken toe. The second baseman didn't seem to have any rust, as he belted a 405-foot solo shot in his first at-bat of the contest for what turned out to be the Rays' only run. Lowe has hit five homers over 19 games in June after going deep just once across his first 18 contests of the campaign.
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Rays' Aaron Civale: Takes sixth loss Saturday
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Civale (2-6) was tagged with the loss against Washington on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.
Civale threw only 58 of 102 pitches for strikes and handed out four free passes, but he managed to mostly weave out of trouble and finished one out shy of a quality start. Nonetheless, he ended up in the loss column since the Rays' offense gave him only one run of support. Civale has gone 14 straight outings without a victory, and he hasn't pitched well overall with a 5.79 ERA over that span. The right-hander has been better of late, however, giving up two or fewer earned runs while hurling at least five frames in five of his past seven starts.
Lowe (toe) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second for Saturday's game against the Nationals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After missing five games with a fractured right pinky toe, Lowe returned to action Friday as a pinch hitter for Amed Rosario in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lowe will wear a guard over his toe Saturday in his first start since June 22, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. For the month of June, Lowe is slashing .254/.324/.476 with four home runs and 14 RBI over 63 at-bats.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Ready to return to lineup
Rotowire
Lowe (toe) went 0-for-1 with a strikeout Friday against the Nationals.
Lowe has been out of the lineup for five straight games with a fractured pinky toe, and Friday's appearance as a pinch hitter was his first since suffering the injury. Manager Kevin Cash said that Lowe was physically capable of being a starter, but Lowe remained on the bench due to a matchup against lefty Mitchell Parker, per MLB.com. Lowe wore a protective guard over his right cleat.
DeLuca went 2-for-4 with a stolen base Friday against the Nationals.
DeLuca has been serving as the Rays' fourth outfielder, primarily getting playing time when a lefty is on the mound or when the team shifts Josh Lowe to designated hitter. DeLuca hasn't made a strong case for more playing time, batting just .163 across 138 plate appearances, though he managed his sixth stolen base of the year Friday.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Earns 13th save
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Fairbanks earned a save against the Nationals on Friday, walking one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Fairbanks was asked to protect a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning and worked around a one-out walk to secure his 13th save of the season. The closer has rebounded from a blown save June 20 to nail down three consecutive scoreless saves. He is now 13-for-15 in save chances with a 3.14 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 30:13 K:BB over 28.2 innings this season.
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Rays' Jose Siri: Homers twice in win
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Siri went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in a 3-1 win over the Nationals on Friday.
Siri led off the second inning with a home run off Mitchell Parker, walked in the fourth and then opened the sixth with another long ball off Jacob Barnes. The outfielder now has eight multi-hit efforts and six home runs in June, though he has not stolen any bases in the month. On the season, Siri is hitting .219 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 36 runs scored and seven steals in 246 plate appearances.
Rays' Zach Eflin: Throws six scoreless innings in win
Rotowire
Eflin (4-5) earned the win against the Nationals on Friday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out six over six scoreless innings.
Eflin threw 66 of 93 pitches for strikes and earned his first victory since May 13 and first quality start since May 7. The 30-year-old has now recorded at least six strikeouts over each of his past three outings and has only walked three batters in 28.1 June innings. On the season, Eflin owns a 3.92 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 69:7 K:BB over 87.1 innings and lines up to face the Royals next week.
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Rays' Richie Palacios: Getting break Friday
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Palacios is out of the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The lefty-hitting Palacios will begin the game in the dugout as southpaw Mitchell Parker takes the mound for Washington. The 27-year-old outfielder started every game of Tampa Bay's most recent series against Seattle, going 4-for-12 with four runs and two RBI.
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Rays' Josh Lowe: Out against left-hander
Rotowire
Lowe is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.
With southpaw Mitchell Parker on the hill for the Nationals, the left-handed hitting Lowe will begin this one on the bench. Jonny DeLuca will occupy right field.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Held out again Friday
Rotowire
Lowe (toe) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.
Lowe hasn't played since suffering a fractured right pinky toe June 22. The Rays are facing a lefty in Mitchell Parker on Friday, so Lowe might not have been in the lineup anyway. If he remains out Saturday against righty Jake Irvin, a stint on the injured list may have to be considered. Jose Caballero is at second base Friday.
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Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Out against lefty
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Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Washington, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The lefty-hitting Rortvedt will retreat to the bench as the Rays take on southpaw Mitchell Parker. Alex Jackson will take over catching duties and bat ninth.
