Miami, meanwhile, just swept the Nationals in D.C. behind a Max Meyer gem and a Sandy Alcantara start, dragging themselves back to within shouting distance at 29-34. The catch: Gusto is the guy taking the ball tonight, and he's only on the mound because the Marlins rotation is held together with tape. Eury Perez, Janson Junk, Robby Snelling, and Adam Mazur are all on the IL. Gusto surrendered 3 runs in 2 innings of relief Tuesday and now gets stretched out against a lineup that, even slumping, ranks among the league's better offenses.
- Day-To-DayTaylor Walls (SS) — Walls (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/03
- Day-To-DayAustin Vernon (RP) — The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.05/08
- Day-To-DayTre' Morgan (1B) — Triple-A Durham placed Morgan on the 7-day injured list with a quad injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga (RP) — no05/08
- 10-Day-ILJonny DeLuca (RF) — DeLuca is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/25
- 10-Day-ILJake Fraley (RF) — Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Fraley (hernia) will require surgery and will face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/18
- 15-Day-ILJonathan Heasley (RP) — Heasley cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/03
- 15-Day-ILCraig Kimbrel (RP) — The Rays placed Kimbrel on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right wrist strain.05/31
- 15-Day-ILJesse Scholtens (RP) — Scholtens was charged with a blown save and dropped to 5-3 on the season in Monday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles in 13 innings after yielding five runs (three earned) on four hits across 1.1 frames. He struck out one batter.05/27
- 60-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP) — Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILSteven Wilson (RP) — The Rays hope Wilson (back) will be able to start bullpen sessions June 8, MLB.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP) — Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Uceta (shoulder) suffered a setback and received a PRP injection, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILMichael Grove (RP) — Grove (shoulder) started a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Rays on Saturday.05/28
- 60-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF) — The Rays transferred Lux (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/27
- 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP) — Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayKemp Alderman (RF) — Triple-A Jacksonville placed Alderman on the 7-day injured list Tuesday due to a left wrist injury, Michael Germanese of Roundtable.io reports.05/25
- Day-To-DayThomas White (SP) — Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said Sunday that White is recovering from "a bit of a shoulder thing," Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.05/25
- 15-Day-ILJosh Ekness (RP) — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Monday that Ekness is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to a right calf strain, Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.06/02
- 15-Day-ILJanson Junk (SP) — The Marlins placed Junk on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shin bone inflammation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILEury Perez (SP) — The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.05/29
- OutJesus Tinoco (RP) — The Marlins re-signed Tinoco (elbow) to a minor-league contract Jan. 5.05/08
- 60-Day-ILGriffin Conine (LF) — Conine (hamstring) appears to be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi (RP) — The Marlins transferred Nardi (ribcage) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
- 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling (SP) — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.05/22
- 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez (RP) — The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur (SP) — The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
The Rays' bullpen is the part nobody's talking about enough. Craig Kimbrel is on the 15-day IL with a wrist strain, Jesse Scholtens went down after blowing a save in extras, and Manuel Rodriguez, Steven Wilson, Edwin Uceta, and Michael Grove are all parked on the 60-day. That's a lot of arms missing for a team that was already leaning on its pen to cover starter innings. Add Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) and Jake Fraley (hernia surgery) to the outfield casualty list and Kevin Cash is duct-taping lineups together.
On paper Tampa is still the better team, and a bounce-back spot against a 9.00-ERA opener on the mound is about as inviting as it gets. But the Rays have lost four in a row and the Marlins are playing their best baseball of the season. If Rasmussen settles in early, this gets ugly fast. If he doesn't, Miami might just have something cooking.