Tampa Bay Rays

Placed on the IL with left mid-back tightness after leaving his most recent start. McClanahan is in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery and has been excellent (9-6, 3.09 ERA, 91 K in 99 IP), making the back issue worth monitoring closely. The Rays recalled Alex Cook to fill the rotation slot and are publicly optimistic about a short absence. Expected return: around August 22.

Started @ Colorado Rockies (10W-3L, 2.77 ERA)

Placed on the 15-day IL with back tightness after exiting a start early. Rays president Erik Neander called the injury 'pretty minor,' expecting McClanahan to miss roughly two starts. Alex Cook was recalled from Triple-A to fill the spot.

Seymour added a sweeper this year (now 24% usage, up from 5% last season) that gives him a genuine weapon against left-handed hitters. Operating below 92 mph but generating elite whiff rates — his five-pitch mix creates deception his velocity doesn't. With McClanahan on the IL, he absorbs even more high-leverage innings in Tampa. Skip his Colorado start; hold for the weeks after.

McClanahan exited July 31 vs. Texas in the fourth inning with left mid-back tightness and was placed on the 15-day IL the next day. Third significant injury event in three years: Tommy John surgery (August 2023), nerve irritation surgery (August 2025), and now the back. The Rays say they hope he misses only two starts; his earliest return is around August 17. The Rays acquiring Freddy Peralta at the deadline tells you everything about their confidence in that timeline.

McClanahan exited his July 31 start after facing just two batters with lower back tightness and was officially placed on the 15-day IL. The Rays are hopeful he misses only two starts, but any back issue carries added risk given the context of his Tommy John surgery history.

Left July 30 start in the 4th inning with left mid-back tightness after walking two batters. Removed after trainer examined him on the mound. Currently listed as day-to-day, but given the Rays' cautious approach to McClanahan all season (he's returning from two straight lost years to Tommy John), an IL move before his next start is likely. No imaging results reported yet.

Simpson is the speed story of the waiver wire. He was on pace for 58 stolen bases before a June slowdown, and at 38% ownership he's still available in most standard leagues. The Rays' thin lineup limits his counting stat upside, but in roto/categories formats the stolen base production alone justifies the roster spot — few players can match the pace. His .282 average is perfectly league-startable for an outfield flex.

His 91.6 mph fastball plays up big off his changeup — hitters can't locate either pitch cleanly. Four earned runs over his last 18 innings with a 12-K outing against Kansas City headlining the stretch. The top streaming arm on the wire this week.

The full-season line looks bad, but Mullins has a seven-game hit streak and slashed .313 with a 131 wRC+ in June. The power-speed combo at 10% ownership is a steal in 14+ team leagues — stolen base upside alone makes him worth a roster spot.

His sweeper runs a 39.5% whiff rate — among the best for any single pitch in baseball right now. Beat the Yankees on July 7 in six innings. The Rays have an elite track record with arms just like this; add in all formats before ownership catches up.

Seymour spent his first two months in a non-descript relief role but has emerged as one of Tampa's most consistent starters over the past five outings. His K rate has jumped from 24.7% to 29.1% in that stretch, and exit velocity suppression at 87.9 mph confirms the contact quality is real. The full-season 4.02 ERA oversells the risk — strip out two rough early appearances and this profiles as a low-3s ERA arm with improving stuff. Clear add in 12-teamers; borderline in 10-team leagues depending on SP depth.

Mullins had an ugly first two months at the plate (.143 AVG in April) but has been a quietly efficient fantasy contributor since then — 14 stolen bases, genuine power production, and consistent plate appearances in Tampa's everyday lineup. The speed is real and sustainable; he's on pace for 25+ steals if the second half mirrors the last 10 weeks. At 38% ownership he's drifting off wires and should be headed the other direction. Target in all 10–12 team leagues before Week 15 waiver deadlines close.

Seymour opened 2026 in Tampa's bullpen but has been stretched out as a bulk-starter since early June and has been electric in that role: 2.84 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 19/5 K/BB in 19 innings. His changeup is a genuine weapon (.141 BA against, .197 SLG) and he's been averaging close to a strikeout per inning. At 25% ownership while functioning as a rotation piece, he's one of the clearest market inefficiencies in deeper leagues. Add in 14+ team leagues while the Rays keep sending him out as a starter.

Jax transitioned from Rays closer to rotation piece mid-season and the surface results are catching up to elite underlying stuff (35%+ K rate). His last three starts have been dominant — 0.00 ERA over 10 innings — and at 14% owned he's a streaming SP with a predictable slot you can actually plan around.

Started vs Boston Red Sox (3W-0L, 5.23 ERA)

Started vs Detroit Tigers (0W-0L, TBD ERA)

Baker has 14 saves and a clean ERA as Tampa's incumbent closer — but the Rays just signed Craig Kimbrel to a MLB deal off the Mets' DFA list. Kimbrel hasn't been given the role yet and Baker remains the man, but any dip in performance could accelerate the transition. Monitor Rays usage for the next 7-10 days.

OBP .195 → .263 (Δ +0.068)

Started @ Baltimore Orioles (1W-2L, 3.54 ERA)

OBP .195 → .255 (Δ +0.060)

OBP .316 → .382 (Δ +0.066)

Started @ Baltimore Orioles (5W-2L, 2.82 ERA)

Leading Tampa Bay's revolving ninth inning with 3 saves in May, but Ian Seymour has also earned a save. The Rays don't have a defined hierarchy and haven't for weeks. Speculate on Baker as the slight favorite, but don't count on consistent volume.

Started @ New York Yankees (4W-1L, 1.51 ERA)