Rays' Tyler Alexander: Collects win as bulk reliever
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Alexander (3-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing three hits over three scoreless innings of relief in a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out four without walking a batter.
The southpaw entered the game in the third inning after Shawn Armstrong gave the Rays two scoreless innings as the opener, and Alexander kept the goose eggs coming to lower his ERA on the season to 5.88. It was his first appearance in the majors since May 30, but Alexander's latest stint as a bulk reliever figures to be a short one with both Jeffrey Springs (elbow) and Ryan Pepiot (knee) expected to rejoin the rotation in late July or early August. Alexander will likely get one more turn, however, and lines up for an outing at home against the Reds this weekend.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Officially called up
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The Rays recalled Alexander from Triple-A Durham, and he's expected to serve as a bulk reliever Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Shawn Armstrong will open Tuesday's contest for Tampa Bay, and Alexander is likely to follow as the primary pitcher. The left-hander has struggled in a swingman role this season and has a 6.19 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:13 K:BB across 56.2 innings.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Set for bulk role Tuesday
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The Rays are expected to recall Alexander from Triple-A Durham prior to Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays and have him serve as a bulk reliever, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Shawn Armstrong is slated to open the game for Tampa Bay, but he's likely to be limited to one or two innings before handing the ball over to Alexander. The 30-year-old southpaw is back with the big club for the first time since late May, as he was demoted to Durham after turning in a 6.19 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:13 K:BB in 56.2 innings with the Rays. With Jeffrey Springs (elbow) closing in on a return from the 60-day injured list, Alexander likely won't be in line for an extended stay in the Tampa Bay rotation.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Rays optioned Alexander to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
It was just two weeks ago that Alexander flirted with a perfect game in Toronto, but that outing sticks out like a sore thumb on his game log. The lefty allowed four runs over 4.2 frames versus the Athletics on Thursday to push his ERA on the season up to 6.19. With Zach Eflin (back) poised to rejoin the Rays' rotation soon, Alexander has lost his spot.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Strikes out seven in bulk role
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Alexander didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Athletics, allowing four runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.
While his seven punchouts matched a season high, Alexander struggled initially after opener Shawn Armstrong delivered two scoreless innings. The southpaw allowed four runs in the third, including a pair on a Shea Langeliers homer. It's been a tough stretch for Alexander of late -- he's now given up 21 runs in his last four outings (24 innings). Overall, he's 2-3 with a 6.19 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:13 K:BB across 56.2 innings this year.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Likely to work in bulk relief
Rotowire
Alexander won't start Thursday's game against the Athletics but is expected to be deployed in bulk relief behind opener Shawn Armstrong.
Though he was roughed up for eight earned runs over five innings while working behind Armstrong in his last turn through the rotation May 24 versus the Royals, Alexander won't be used as a traditional starter Thursday and will instead enter the game after Armstrong once again. Despite the poor showing his last time out, Alexander has generally been reliable this season at the back end of the Tampa Bay rotation. In his seven outings prior to the blowup against the Royals, Alexander delivered a 4.30 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 37.2 innings.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Rocked by Royals
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Alexander (2-3) took the loss Friday as the Rays fell 8-1 to the Royals, surrendering eight runs on 11 hits and a walk over five relief innings. He struck out four.
The lefty entered the game after Shawn Armstrong delivered two perfect innings as the opener, but Kansas City quickly got to Alexander. The eight runs and 11 hits were both seasons worsts for the 29-year-old, and over his last three outings he's been tagged for 17 runs in 19.1 innings. Alexander will carry a 6.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB through 52 innings into his next appearance, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the A's.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Slated for bulk relief
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Alexander is in line to serve as a bulk reliever in Friday's game versus the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The left-hander carried a perfect game into the eighth inning of his last outing in Toronto as a traditional starter, but he's slated to follow opener Shawn Armstrong on Friday. Alexander holds a 5.06 ERA in six traditional starts and a 5.40 ERA in bulk relief this season.
Alexander (2-2) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on three hits over 7.1 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out four.
His final line doesn't look quite so impressive, but the left-hander was perfect through seven innings before a Danny Jansen bloop single with one out in the eighth started a Toronto rally that chased Alexander from the game. He's now worked at least seven innings in back-to-back starts, although Alexander got tagged for six runs by the Yankees in his last start prior to Friday. He'll carry a 5.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB through 47 innings into his next appearance, but despite the length he's provided of late, it's unclear whether Alexander will remain in the rotation when Ryan Pepiot (lower leg) returns.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Knocked around by Yankees
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Alexander (1-2) yielded six runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Yankees.
Alexander was taken deep three times Sunday, including a pair of two-run shots from Jose Trevino and Aaron Judge. Alexander had given up just two home runs over his previous five appearances before Sunday. Despite the poor final line, it was his longest outing of the year. He owns a 5.45 ERA with a 33:12 K:BB through 39.2 frames. Alexander's next start is lined up to be in Toronto.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Strikes out seven in no-decision
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Alexander did not factor into the decision Friday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over four innings. He struck out seven.
Alexander looked especially sharp Monday night against a weak White Sox team, striking out a season-high seven batters while generating 13 whiffs. The Rays left-hander has pitched to the tune of a 4.96 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB over 32.2 innings this season. However, his time in the starting rotation is likely over as Taj Bradley (pectoral) appears on track to return from the injured list this week.
Alexander (1-1) took the loss Tuesday against Milwaukee after allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters across four innings.
Alexander was unable to keep the Brewers off the basepaths Tuesday, allowing three runs to score in the first two innings. He managed to keep Milwaukee from scoring over the next two frames but had to be pulled after needing 85 pitches to complete four innings, tying his shortest outing of the season. The 29-year-old southpaw owns a 5.02 ERA and 1.40 WHIP this season, though he'll have a good chance to bounce back during his next scheduled start Monday against the White Sox.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Solid in bulk relief
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Alexander came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over four relief innings. He struck out four.
The lefty entered the game in the second inning as the primary pitcher after Shawn Armstrong worked the first frame as the opener, but Alexander wound up missing out on a win after Chris Devenski coughed up a 4-3 lead in the sixth. Alexander tossed 56 pitches (38 strikes), and he's lasted at least four innings in all five of his outings this season, including two starts. He'll take a 4.74 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 24.2 innings into his next appearance, which should come early next week in Milwaukee if he remains on turn. With Taj Bradley (pectoral) about to begin a rehab assignment, though, Alexander's time as a rotation stopgap figures to last only a few more weeks.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Won't start, but should pitch Wednesday
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Alexander is no longer scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Tigers, but he's likely to pitch in bulk relief while Shawn Armstrong serves as the Rays' opening pitcher.
Though Alexander operated as a starter his last time out Friday against the Yankees and struck out four over 5.1 scoreless innings, he looks set to appear out of the bullpen for his upcoming turn through the rotation. Working in bulk relief isn't anything out of the ordinary for Alexander, who previously tossed six innings of two-run ball behind Armstrong in an April 14 win over the Giants. The arrangement should put Alexander in better position to be credited with a win, if the Rays are able to come away with a victory in the series finale versus Detroit.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Strong start wasted Friday
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Alexander came away with a no-decision Friday in a 5-3 loss to the Yankees, scattering two hits and a walk over 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out four.
The left-hander didn't allow a Yankee to get past second base and left the game with a 1-0 lead, but the Rays' struggling bullpen made a mess once again. Alexander tossed 52 of 79 pitches for strikes, and after two straight strong performances, he appears to be locking down a regular turn in the Tampa Bay rotation either as a traditional starter or a bulk reliever -- he's made two appearances this season in each role so far. Alexander will take a 4.79 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB through 20.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Tigers.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Starting Friday
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Alexander will start Friday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander has shifted between a bulk relief and a traditional starting role. It appears he's in line for the latter Friday, and he should have no limitations after working six innings in his last appearance, which came against San Francisco on Sunday.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Earns first win
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Alexander (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over the Giants.
After Shawn Armstrong threw two frames, Alexander took the mound in the third inning. Alexander allowed one run through his first four innings before coughing up a solo homer in the seventh. It was his longest outing of 2024 and the first time he's allowed fewer than four runs. He lowered his ERA to 6.46 with a 12:5 K:BB through 15.1 frames. Alexander will likely continue working behind an opener or as a back-end starter.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Slated for bulk relief duty
Rotowire
Alexander will serve as a bulk reliever for the Rays on Sunday against the Giants, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Shawn Armstrong will handle opener duties before handing things over to Alexander. The left-handed Alexander has had a rough go of it so far in his first season in Tampa Bay, permitting nine earned runs on 14 hits through 9.1 innings.
