Fleming did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and two walks over six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out three.
The home run ball was Fleming's downfall against the Dodgers -- five out of the 12 hits he surrendered left the yard. The 27-year-old southpaw had been pitching well coming into Sunday's matchup, allowing just three earned runs over 15 innings in his last three starts. Fleming's ERA is up to 4.62 with a 1.44 WHIP and 24:19 K:BB across 48.2 innings this season. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, tentatively scheduled for next week against the Red Sox in Fenway Park.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Fires six innings
Rotowire
Fleming (1-0) yielded two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings Monday, striking out two and earning a win over the Blue Jays.
Fleming entered the game after a pair of scoreless innings from opener Trevor Kelley and looked solid aside from the two-run homer he allowed to Whit Merrifield in the fourth frame. After getting rocked for six runs May 7, Fleming has allowed three runs over his last 15 innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.59. He's recorded two or fewer strikeouts in six straight outings and now owns a 21:17 K:BB through 42.2 innings this season.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Filling bulk-relief role Monday
Rotowire
Fleming is expected to work in bulk relief behind opener Trevor Kelley in Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Despite working as a traditional starter in his last turn through the rotation May 17 and tossing five scoreless frames, Fleming will return to the bulk-relief role that he's typically filled over the past few weeks. Kelley is slated to open Monday's game and will presumably work 1-to-2 innings before giving way to Fleming, who should be the Rays pitcher most likely to qualify for a win. Even so, Fleming has yet to factor into a decision in any of his nine appearances on the campaign, despite working three or more innings on every occasion.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Tosses five scoreless frames
Rotowire
Fleming did not factor in the decision against the Mets on Wednesday, pitching five scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Fleming worked in a traditional starting role for just the second time this season and delivered five shutout frames to counteract a strong start by opposing hurler Kodai Senga. Fleming's approach was the opposite of Senga's -- he notched just four whiffs and two strikeouts to Senga's 18 and 12 -- but the efficiency helped him get through five frames on a modest 67 pitches. Fleming doesn't have the strikeout stuff to be a popular option in fantasy, though he's posted a decent 3.68 ERA through 36.2 innings on the campaign.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Solid as primary pitcher Friday
Rotowire
Fleming didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Yankees, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over four relief innings. He struck out two.
Entering the game in the third inning after Trevor Kelley was deployed as the opener, Fleming was handed a 2-1 lead but eventually gave up the tying run before exiting after 52 pitches (29 strikes). The southpaw has been erratic this season -- 11 of his 15 earned runs allowed have come in just two of his eight appearances -- and his 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 17:14 K:BB through 31.2 innings are far from enticing for fantasy GMs. Nonetheless, he'll continue to factor into the rotation mix, either as a traditional starter or bulk reliever, due to all the injuries on the Rays' staff. His next turn is likely to come on the road next week against the Mets.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Slated for bulk role Friday
Rotowire
Fleming is in line to work as a bulk reliever behind opener Trevor Kelley in Friday's game against the Yankees in New York, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Since re-entering the Tampa Bay rotation in late April, Fleming has made each of his last three appearances as a bulk reliever. In those three outings, Fleming has covered between 3.1 and 6.0 innings, pitching to a 4.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP while walking more batters (eight) than he's struck out (four). Though he's the most likely Rays pitcher to record a win Friday, Fleming's recent form suggests he's not a reliable streaming option, especially on a day when all 30 teams are playing.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Gives up six runs in five innings
Rotowire
Fleming allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out one over five innings during Sunday's 8-7 win over the Yankees in extras.
As expected, Fleming served as a bulk reliever after Javy Guerra handled the first inning. Fleming was able to complete five frames, his second most this year, but he surrendered a season-high six runs, including his first two home runs, and saw his ERA balloon from 3.18 to 4.55. Tyler Glasnow (oblique) recently completed his first of three rehab outings, so Fleming should handle a similar long-relief role for at least one more turn through the rotation.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Handling bulk role Sunday
Rotowire
Fleming will serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Javy Guerra in Sunday's contest versus the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Fleming will be making his return to the mound following a foot contusion he suffered in his last outing Tuesday against the Pirates, which forced him to exit the contest. The left-hander threw a bullpen session Friday and is expected to be able to handle the bulk of the innings out of the bullpen for Tampa Bay on Sunday. Fleming has appeared in six games this season, including one start, producing a 3.18 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 22.2 innings.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Cleared for Sunday
Rotowire
Fleming (foot) has been cleared to pitch Sunday versus the Yankees after getting through a 15-20 pitch bullpen session Friday with no issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fleming had to leave an appearance Tuesday against the Pirates after being hit by a liner in the left foot, but he's progressed well since then and will be fine. It's not clear whether he'll serve as a traditional starter Sunday or bulk reliever.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: MRI, CT scan are clean
Rotowire
An MRI and CT scan taken of Fleming's left foot Wednesday came back negative, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The MRI and CT results confirm that Fleming escaped with merely a bruise when he had to leave an appearance Tuesday against the Pirates after being hit by a liner. He will try to play catch Thursday as a gauge for whether he'll be ready for his next turn through the rotation. At this stage, Fleming appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Diagnosed with foot contusion
Rotowire
Fleming left Tuesday's game against the Pirates with a left foot contusion, Bally Sports Sun reports. X-rays returned negative.
Fleming was hit in the left foot by a liner from Ke'Bryan Hayes, and he was unable to continue after throwing a couple of warmup pitches. The left-hander should be considered day-to-day, and he has a chance to work as a bulk reliever for Tampa Bay this weekend if there are no setbacks.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Leaves with injury vs. Pirates
Rotowire
Fleming left Tuesday's game against the Pirates after taking a comebacker off his leg, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports. He allowed one run over 3.2 innings with three walks and one strikeout before exiting.
Fleming threw a couple of warmup pitches after taking a Ke'Bryan Hayes liner off his leg, but he was unable to continue. Colin Poche came into the game to take Fleming's place on the mound.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Working behind opener Tuesday
Rotowire
Fleming is slated to work the bulk of the innings in relief behind opening pitcher Javy Guerra in Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fleming had followed Calvin Faucher in both of his last two turns as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen, but he'll enter the contest behind a new opener after Faucher was optioned to Triple-A Durham over the weekend. In his most recent outing April 26 against the Astros, Fleming covered a season-high six innings and struck out two while allowing no runs and permitting just five baserunners.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Sharp as bulk reliever
Rotowire
Fleming didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Astros, allowing four hits and a walk over six scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.
The left-hander entered the game in the third inning, taking over from opener Calvin Faucher, and while Fleming did an outstanding job stifling the Houston offense, Tampa Bay's bats were just as silent. He tossed 69 pitches (43 strikes) in his best performance of the season, and Fleming should continue to plug a hole in the Rays' rotation -- either as a bulk reliever behind an opener, or as a traditional starter -- until Tyler Glasnow (oblique) is ready to return. Fleming's still looking for his first win of 2023, but it should come quickly if he continues to pitch well. He has a 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 19.1 innings.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Set to follow Faucher on Wednesday
Rotowire
Fleming is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind starter Calvin Faucher in Wednesday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin and Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times report.
Faucher built up to 46 pitches in his second start of the season last weekend against the White Sox and is returning to the hill on four days' rest, so he and Fleming could be used in more of a piggyback arrangement rather than an "opener"/"primary pitcher" pairing. In that same game against the White Sox, Fleming came on in relief of Faucher to strike out three batters over three scoreless innings, but he didn't factor into the decision. Another 3-to-4-inning workload could be on tap for Fleming on Wednesday.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: In line for opportunity
Rotowire
Fleming could re-enter the Tampa Bay rotation following the demotion of Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's not clear whether Fleming will be in line for traditional starts and/or bulk relief appearances, but he should be in store for an expanded role regardless. Fleming has worked as both a starter and bulk reliever this season, making four appearances of at least three innings apiece.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Deployed in long relief Wednesday
Rotowire
Fleming worked three shutout innings of relief and collected a hold in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Reds. He struck out three while giving up one hit and issuing no walks.
Since making his season debut as a starter April 4 in Washington, Fleming has made each of his subsequent three appearances out of the bullpen. Unlike Wednesday, however, Fleming's prior two relief outings had come as a primary pitcher behind an opener. After starter Drew Rasmussen exited after five innings while the Rays held a 7-0 lead, Fleming stepped in to retire nine of the 10 batters he faced before Pete Fairbanks took over in the bottom of the ninth. The Rays' decision to use Fleming as a more traditional reliever Wednesday suggests that Calvin Faucher -- who is expected to work around four innings as a starter Friday versus the White Sox -- will end up being the primary No. 5 option in the rotation until Tyler Glasnow (oblique) returns from the shelf.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Likely set for bulk relief Friday
Rotowire
Fleming is expected to work as a bulk reliever behind Calvin Faucher in Friday's game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays have confirmed that Faucher will make a second straight start after he worked 2.2 innings as an opener in front of Fleming in last Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays. Topkin notes that the Rays plan to have Faucher cover around four innings Friday, and while Fleming should still be in good position to factor into any decision assuming that he's the first man out of the bullpen, the southpaw may end up serving as more of a piggyback option behind Faucher rather than a primary pitcher. The arrangement will likely lower Fleming's overall innings ceiling and could result in him transitioning into more of a full-time relief role if Faucher continues to build up his innings and pitches in his subsequent outings.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Gives up pair as bulk hurler
Rotowire
Fleming allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out one over 3.1 innings Saturday against Toronto.
Fleming followed opener Calvin Faucher and Trevor Kelley as the bulk hurler for the Rays, and he wasn't at his best. Fleming walked in a run with a free pass to George Springer in the sixth inning and gave up another run on an Alejandro Kirk single in the seventh. The 26-year-old was strong against Boston with four innings of one-hit, shutout baseball Monday, but wasn't close to as effective against the Toronto lineup. Fleming will likely work in a similar role at some point next week.
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Rays' Josh Fleming: Following opener Saturday
Rotowire
Fleming will follow opener Calvin Faucher during Saturday's game in Toronto, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Fleming has followed an opener once in two appearances this year, and it's something he has plenty of experience with over the past few seasons. The 26-year-old southpaw has better underlying metrics (54.2 GB%, 18.8 K-BB%) than surface stats (6.43 ERA, 1.71 WHIP) in this small sample. If Faucher can deliver a scoreless appearance, this arrangement would give Fleming a better chance of qualifying for the win.
