Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Set to open Saturday's game
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Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Saturday would have been Zack Littell's turn in the rotation, but he ended up covering 1.1 innings in relief in Friday's 11-4 loss. The Rays also deployed another starting pitcher in Taj Bradley for one inning in relief Friday, likely in a deliberate attempt by manager Kevin Cash to keep all of his rotation options available for a possible wild-card round matchup with this same Blue Jays squad. As a result, the Rays look poised to lean on a melange of relievers to cover the final two games of the regular season, with Armstrong leading off Saturday's contest. Armstrong hasn't covered more than three innings in any of his appearances in the majors or minors this season, so he's unlikely to work deep into Saturday's game to qualify for a win.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Hurls two scoreless frames
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Armstrong did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings against Colorado while striking out two.
Armstrong allowed two hits in the first inning but managed to pitch his way out of it before going 1-2-3 through the second frame. The 32-year-old reliever has not allowed a run over his last five outings, racking up 12 strikeouts to only one walk over that stretch (8.2 innings). He has, however, surrendered multiple hits in three of his last six appearances.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening pitcher for bullpen day
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Armstrong is scheduled to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He'll draw a starting assignment for the fifth time this season but likely won't be asked to cover more than few innings before exiting the contest. The Rays haven't named a designated bulk reliever to work behind Armstrong, but Erasmo Ramirez is available on five days' rest and looks like the Tampa Bay bullpen arm most likely to work the longest during Thursday's contest.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Hurls two scoreless frames
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Armstrong did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings against Cleveland. He struck out three.
Armstrong managed to keep the Guardians at bay for the first two innings, though he threw 28 pitches in the second frame. He was then relieved by Erasmo Ramirez after recording three strikeouts for the second straight outing. Armstrong has allowed just two runs since June 27, posting a 24:4 K:BB over that stretch (spanning 20.1 innings). He's also allowed just one home run all season.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Saturday
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Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game versus the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays haven't assigned a bulk reliever to work behind Armstrong, but they have a few candidates who can cover multiple innings and could also make a roster move prior to the game. The opener assignment will be Armstrong's fourth this season. Armstrong has maxed out at three innings over his 28 appearances between the minors and majors this season and likely can't be counted on to work more than once through the batting order.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Wednesday's game
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Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After being on the shelf all season with a neck issue, Armstrong was activated from the 60-day injured list last weekend and tossed two scoreless frames out of the bullpen in his 2023 MLB debut Sunday in Boston. The Rays may allow Armstrong to work into the third inning while he serves as an opener Wednesday, but right-hander Cooper Criswell is the top candidate to operate as a bulk reliever behind Armstrong and is thus the likelier of the two pitchers to qualify for a win.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Returns from injury
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Armstrong (neck) was activated off the 60-day injured list Saturday.
A neck injury has kept Armstrong out all season, but he could be a key piece of the Rays' bullpen the rest of the way. After being released by the Marlins last May and returning to Tampa Bay, he recorded a 3.60 ERA backed by a 26.0 percent strikeout rate and 6.0 percent walk rate the rest of the way, earning a pair of saves. Jose La Sorsa was designated for assignment to create space on the 40-man roster.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Activation imminent
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Armstrong (neck) is expected to be activated from the injured list sometime this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong has been out all season with a neck injury, but he's looked ready on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham, holding a 2.00 ERA and 8:2 K:BB over nine innings of work. The 32-year-old is on the 60-day IL, so the Rays will have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster in addition to the 26-man roster.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Close to rehab assignment
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Armstrong (neck) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong missed all of spring training and the first month of the season with a neck injury, but he's almost ready for game action. He's on the 60-day injured list and not eligible for activation until late May.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Goes on IL
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The Rays placed Armstrong (neck) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Armstrong didn't pitch in any Grapefruit League games due to the neck issue, so unless he dramatically ramps up his throwing program in the coming days, he'll more than likely be sidelined beyond the minimum 15 days. Once healthy, Armstrong could work as a setup or middle-relief option out of the bullpen.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Sidelined to begin season
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Armstrong (neck) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "It's highly unlikely he'll be ready to go [for Opening Day]," Cash said. "I don't think anything's been defined with what exactly is going on. But it doesn't appear that he's turning that corner in a positive way."
Armstrong has been sidelined all spring with a neck issue, and though he could theoretically have a chance at being ready to go for Opening Day if he accelerates his throwing program over the next three weeks, the reliever doesn't appear to have made enough tangible progress in his recovery from the injury to put himself on track for the start of the regular season. Whenever he's back to 100 percent, Armstrong could be a factor in the middle innings or as a setup man after logging a 3.60 ERA and two saves across 43 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2022 following his signing with the team last May.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Sidelined with neck injury
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Armstrong has been sidelined during camp with a neck injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's unclear how severe the injury is. The right-hander was a key contributor to the Rays bullpen in 2022 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, and he agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million deal to avoid arbitration last month. If healthy, he should be a middle-relief or set-up option for Tampa Bay in 2023.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opener Saturday
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Armstrong will serve as the opener during Saturday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong tossed 48 pitches during Tuesday's matchup against the Blue Jays, and he'll begin Saturday's game on the mound after having a few days of rest. Ryan Yarbrough will likely follow Armstrong as the primary pitcher.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Tallies final out
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Armstrong tallied the final out in Friday's win over the Yankees to earn the save.
J.T. Chargois began the ninth inning as the Rays held a three-run lead, but he allowed a homer and a walk before being yanked. Armstrong came in and got Gleyber Torres to fly out to record the final out and his second save of the season. Both of those have come in the last three weeks, though a trio of other Rays' relievers have picked up saves in between. For the season, Armstrong has recorded a 4.59 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with a 54:13 K:BB across 51 innings.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Suffers loss as opener
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Armstrong (2-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing a run on one hit and one walk over three innings against the Yankees. He struck out two.
On the second pitch of the game, Armstrong served up a belt-high sinker which Aaron Judge crushed to the third deck of Tropicana Field. Armstrong was otherwise effective through three innings as he only allowed one other batter to reach base, a walk to Josh Donaldson. Despite the effort, Armstrong took the loss as the Yankees held Tampa Bay to one run. The 31-year-old now owns a 4.62 ERA through 50.2 innings this season, mainly as a reliever.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opening pitcher
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Armstrong will work as the Rays' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Yankees at Tropicana Field, MLB.com reports.
Armstrong will be make his second straight appearance in a starting role after he led off a bullpen game in a 7-2 win over the Marlins on Tuesday, when Shane McClanahan (shoulder) was scratched ahead of the contest and then placed on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander stepped in to deliver three shutout innings, but don't expect the Rays to have him work much longer than that in Sunday's contest. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to serve as the Rays' bulk reliever and is more likely than Armstrong to factor into any decision.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Strong effort in surprise start
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Armstrong didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Marlins, allowing three hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Pressed into duty as a spot starter after Shane McClanahan (shoulder) was a late scratch, Armstrong fired 36 of 48 pitches for strikes in an impressive performance. The Rays will look for a more permanent replacement in the rotation for McClanahan, so Armstrong should return to the bullpen, but the right-hander has worked more than one inning in six of his last nine appearances and would likely be a key part of any future bullpen days for Tampa. In 33 games since joining the Rays, he sports a 3.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB through 41 innings.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Earns first save
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Armstrong picked up the save in a perfect inning Monday against the Angels. He struck out one.
Armstrong entered the Rays' saves carousel with his first save of the season Monday, as he retired the Angels in order to end the game. Interestingly, manager Kevin Cash turned to lockdown reliever Jason Adam in the eighth, opening the door for Armstrong to earn the save. The righty is now the 10th reliever to earn a save for Tampa Bay, so it is unlikely that he will provide many more down the stretch as the team tends to move players in and out of ninth inning duties.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Takes loss against Yankees
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Armstrong (0-1) surrendered one earned run on one hit in the ninth inning Thursday against the Yankees to take the loss.
Armstrong entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 1-1. He retired the first batter he faced but surrendered a home run to Anthony Rizzo to take the loss. Since being recalled by the Rays on May 31, Armstrong has allowed two earned runs across 8.1 innings while maintaining an 11:2 K:BB.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Receives call from Triple-A
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Tampa Bay selected Armstrong's contract from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
The Rays designated lefty reliever Ben Bowden for assignment and placed shortstop Wander Franco (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list. Before signing with the Rays on a minor-league deal earlier this month, Armstrong made seven appearances in the majors with Miami this season, covering 6.2 innings and giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks.
