Rays' Tyler Alexander: Blanks Detroit over five innings
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Alexander didn't factor into the decision in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers. He allowed four hits and no walks while striking out six over five scoreless innings.
Alexander has held opponents scoreless in his last two outings, allowing just six hits while recording 12 strikeouts over 9.1 innings in that span. The left-hander will finish the year at 6-5 with a 5.10 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 90:24 K:BB across 107.2 innings while working as both a bulk reliever and traditional starter.
Alexander didn't factor into the decision Friday against Toronto, allowing two hits and a walk over 4.1 shutout innings. He struck out six.
Alexander was sharp Friday, holding Toronto to just two singles, though he'd fail to qualify for the win as the Rays turned to the bullpen in the fifth inning after Alexander hit 65 pitches. Still, it was an encouraging performance from the left-hander, who had allowed 20 earned runs and eight homers in his previous six outings (27.1 innings). Overall, Alexander is 6-5 with a 5.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 84:24 K:BB over 102.2 innings this year. He's lined up to face the Tigers on the road next week in what will likely be his final start of the season.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Drawing traditional start
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Alexander will start Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander has worked bulk innings for the entire season, though he's fluctuated between working behind an opener and as a traditional starter. Topkin reports there will be no opener Friday, setting Alexander up for his eighth start of the campaign.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Takes loss in relief
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Alexander (6-5) took the loss against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over five innings.
Alexander relieved Drew Rasmussen to open the third inning and was mainly burned by a three-run sixth frame. The 30-year-old didn't allow a homer for the first time since Aug. 4, but he has yielded three earned runs or more in four of his past five outings. On the season, he owns a 5.58 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 78:23 K:BB across 98.1 total innings between the rotation and bullpen.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Following opener Saturday
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Alexander is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Drew Rasmussen on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Many of Alexander's appearances have come as a bulk reliever this season, though it hasn't necessarily benefited his performance, as he owns a career-worst 5.50 ERA through 93.1 innings. He turned in a solid outing during his last appearance against the Phillies on Monday (one earned run over 4.1 innings), but he's too inconsistent to be considered a reliable streaming option.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Slated for bulk relief
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Alexander is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Cole Sulser in Monday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander is taking over the rotation spot vacated by lefty Jeffrey Springs (elbow), who landed on the injured list Sunday. Over his 19 appearances (seven starts) with Tampa Bay this season, Alexander sports a 6-4 record with a 5.66 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 75:21 K:BB across 89 innings. He's been especially vulnerable to the long ball, giving up a career-high 22 home runs.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Back in big leagues
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The Rays recalled Alexander from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
The left-hander was optioned to Durham on Thursday but will quickly return to the big leagues with Jeffrey Springs (elbow) headed to the injured list. Alexander has a 5.66 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 19 appearances (seven starts) for the Rays this season, and he could work as a starter or bulk reliever down the stretch in place of Springs.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Rays optioned Alexander to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Alexander allowed four runs over 3.2 innings in bulk relief Wednesday, picking up a win over the Twins. He wasn't going to be available to pitch for a few days, so the Rays will replace him with a fresh arm.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Carried to win by offense
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Alexander (6-4) picked up the win Wednesday, coughing up four runs on nine hits over 3.2 innings in a 9-4 victory over the Twins. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The southpaw entered a scoreless game in the top of the fourth inning and watched the Tampa Bay offense erupt for eight runs in the bottom of the frame, but Alexander fell apart himself in the seventh, serving up homers to Kyle Farmer and Carlos Santana. Alexander is rounding out a six-man rotation for the Rays, as the team doesn't get its next day off until Sept. 16, but he's been very ineffective in that role -- over his last four appearances, he's been tagged for seven homers in 18 innings, leading to a 7.50 ERA. Assuming he gets another turn, his next outing is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Philadelphia.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Slated for bulk relief Wednesday
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Alexander is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Cole Sulser in Wednesday's game against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Even with Zack Littell returning from the injured list to start Monday's series opener versus Minnesota, the Rays will at least temporarily expand the rotation to six men to include Alexander. Since being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Aug. 17, Alexander has made three appearances, tossing 14.1 innings and striking out 10 while allowing 11 earned runs on 15 hits and five walks.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: May pitch in bulk relief Wednesday
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The Rays plan to use Alexander as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Drew Rasmussen in Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Topkin notes that with an off day on tap Thursday, the Rays could treat Wednesday's game as a full bullpen day, which would likely suppress Alexander's innings count. Alexander should at least be expected to pitch in some capacity once Rasmussen exits the contest, likely after pitching the first two innings. Alexander made his seventh start of the season in his last appearance Friday against the Dodgers, but the Rays have more frequently deployed him as a bulk reliever during his recent outings with the big club.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Fades in fifth inning
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Alexander allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over 4.1 innings in a no-decision in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers.
After working as a bulk reliever his last time out, the Rays deployed Alexander in a traditional starting role Friday. The lefty was steady early on, but he ran into trouble in the fifth inning and exited the game after yielding a three-run home run to Enrique Hernandez. Alexander now maintains a 5.22 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 69:20 K:BB over 81 innings across 17 appearances (seven starts) this season. He is lined up to make his next appearance at Seattle, but it hasn't been revealed if he'll start or work behind an opener if he gets another turn through the rotation.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Pitches well in bulk role
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Alexander did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out five.
Alexander entered at the start of the third inning and pitched all the way into the eighth, allowing just one run prior to a two-run homer by Corbin Carroll. He then allowed a single to Lourdes Gurriel that ended his outing one out short of six full frames. Despite the two late runs allowed, Alexander was still in line for the win until the Diamondbacks touched up closer Pete Fairbanks for three runs in the ninth to send the game into extras. The 5.2 innings represented Alexander's longest outing since tossing 7.1 innings on May 17.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Pitching in bulk relief Sunday
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Alexander will serve as the Rays' bulk reliever Sunday against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Tampa Bay recalled Alexander from Triple-A on Saturday in the wake of Zack Littell's (shoulder) move to the 15-day injured list. While Alexander won't officially start Sunday's contest, he'll be the Rays' primary pitcher behind opener Drew Rasmussen. Alexander has allowed two runs across his last four big-league appearances, racking up 15 strikeouts across 14.1 innings.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Joining Rays on Saturday
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The Rays will recall Alexander from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander had been scheduled to start for Durham on Friday, but he was scratched and is now headed back to the big leagues, where he'll presumably work as a long reliever. A corresponding move will be announced once the 30-year-old's promotion is official.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Returns to minors
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The Rays optioned Alexander to Tripel-A Durham on Sunday.
The lefty pitched well in bulk relief in Saturday's loss to the Orioles with one run allowed over 4.2 innings and has a 1.26 ERA in his past four appearances, but he'll head to the minors with Ryan Pepiot (knee) nearing a return from the 15-day injured list to fill an opening in the rotation. Cole Sulser was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move to bolster Tampa Bay's bullpen depth.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Claims win in bulk relief
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Alexander (5-3) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Astros, striking out five batters in 4.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen while giving up two hits and one walk.
After piggybacking starter Jeffrey Springs in his 2024 debut with the Rays in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Marlins, Alexander operated as more of a bulk reliever Sunday, with opening pitcher Hunter Bigge exiting the contest after retiring two of the five batters he faced. Alexander came on to strike out Jon Singleton to close out of the bottom of the first inning with the bases loaded, then cruised through the next four frames before departing with a 1-0 lead. Alexander should remain the Rays' de facto No. 5 starter until Ryan Pepiot (knee) is ready to return from the 15-day injured list.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Set for bulk relief Sunday
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Alexander is expected to serve as a bulk reliever for Sunday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander will follow opener Shawn Armstrong, who's slated to cover one or two innings before exiting the contest. The lefty threw three innings of bulk relief in his last appearance Tuesday against the Blue Jays and owns a 5.88 ERA in 59.2 innings in the majors this season.
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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: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
