Rays vs Red Sox

Cleavinger, who's recovering from right calf tightness, wasn't sharp at all in his first game action since March 30. The Rays will presumably want the southpaw to get a few rehab outings under his belt to knock off the rust before they consider reinstating him from the injured list, likely positioning Cleavinger for a return in late April if all goes well in the minors.

After opening the season on the injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, Lux kicked off a rehab assignment with Durham on April 2 and slashed .103/.297/.172 with a 27 percent strikeout rate over nine games before being shut down after rolling his left ankle April 11. Lux has apparently made good progress following a week-and-a-half-long layoff and is ready to rejoin the Durham lineup, though he'll likely need to show some improvement at the plate before the Rays are ready to activate him from the IL. Tampa Bay has gotten by with a timeshare of Richie Palacios and Ben Williamson at second base through the first three-plus weeks of the season, but Lux should settle in as the primary option at the position once he's reinstated.

The Rays are hopeful that the right-hander will be able to throw a bullpen session by the end of April. Boyle is on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow strain, and he may need a minor-league rehab assignment before being cleared to rejoin Tampa Bay's rotation. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be available until sometime in May.

An earlier report indicated Rodriguez will need Tommy John surgery, and while that remains a possibility, the full extent of the reliever's procedure won't be determined until the flexor tendon repair takes place. While Rodriguez is almost certain to miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign regardless, he could pitch in 2026 if Tommy John surgery is not needed. If Rodriguez is indeed done for the current campaign, he'll finish with a 2.08 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB over 30.1 innings spanning 31 appearances while notching 12 holds.

With the Rays up by three and normal high-leverage relievers Griffin Jax and Bryan Baker likely unavailable after both pitched Friday and Saturday, Englert was tasked with trying to wrap up the win. Things got dicey two batters in, as Aaron Judge cut the deficit to one with a home run. Later, the tying run reached second base and the go-ahead run was on first, but Englert was able to slam the door en route to earning the first save of his career. In five appearances this season, the 26-year-old has a 10.57 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP in 7.2 innings.

Pepiot suffered a setback with his right hip last week when he threw a bullpen session, which resulted in him being shifted to the 60-day injured list. He was given an injection and shut down for a few days, and it seems the hip issue is still lingering. It's unclear whether Pepiot will be shut down again, but clearly the righty is not progressing as well as hoped. He is not eligible to return until late May.

Fraley will remain on the bench Friday for a second straight game after fouling a pitch off himself during Tuesday's game against the Reds. Jonny DeLuca is starting in right field and batting fifth against Minnesota righty and former teammate Taj Bradley.

Driscoll appeared in 15 games for the Rays last season and slashed an unforgettable .171/.189/.257 with one home run, five RBI, two runs scored and a 1:6 BB:K across 37 plate appearances. Driscoll rolled his ankle during spring training and hasn't played in 2025.

The moves frees up a 40-man roster spot for the addition of Jack Anderson. Oviedo was diagnosed with a flexor strain last week and will remain shut down from throwing for another five weeks, so the transaction doesn't alter his timetable.

Slaten landed on the 15-day injured list April 8 due to a right oblique strain. He's progressed enough in his recovery to start playing catch and will likely need some turns in a rehab assignment before being cleared to return to major-league action. Slaten appeared in four regular-season games prior to his IL stint, recording two holds while allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

Gray is nursing a strain, but Cora's words Thursday suggest the strain is the Grade 1 variety. The skipper added that Gray will likely play catch Friday as he slowly ramps things back up. Gray is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list May 6, and he has a chance to be ready on that date or shortly after.

It's the first time he's thrown a baseball since he underwent a UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair six months ago. Houck will continue a deliberate rehab process over the next several months and hopes to make a late-season return, but it's likely the Red Sox will hold him back until 2027.

The Red Sox had been hopeful that Anthony would return to action Friday, but his absence is now set to reach four consecutive games after missing out on Saturday's starting nine. Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu will start across the outfield while Andruw Monasterio starts as Boston's designated hitter.