Rays' Christopher Morel: Absent from starting nine
Rotowire
Morel is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.
After making three straight starts (two in left field, one at DH), Morel will get a night off. Richie Palacios, Jonny DeLuca and Josh Lowe fill the outfield while Brandon Lowe DHs.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Morel is not in the lineup for Sunday's contest against the Blue Jays.
Dylan Carlson will patrol left field and bat leadoff for the Rays. The Blue Jays are using a right-handed opener in Ryan Burr and are then expected to turn to lefty Ryan Yarbrough in bulk relief, so Morel is a candidate to enter mid-game.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Not in Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Morel is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Red Sox.
Morel had started the last two games after missing the two contests prior to that with a sore Achilles. His absence from the lineup Thursday appears to be a routine day off. Most of Morel's playing time lately has come in left field, but Dylan Carlson will handle that spot for the Rays on Thursday.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Back in lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Morel (Achilles) will start in left field and bat fifth in Tuesday's game versus the Red Sox.
Morel missed each of the last two contests with right Achilles discomfort, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go as the Rays open a series against the Red Sox. Each of Morel's last three starts have been in left field after he had previously only played second base since joining Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Absence continuing Sunday
Rotowire
Morel (Achilles) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Guardians.
It's the second straight game on the bench for Morel after he exited Friday's contest due to right Achilles discomfort. He'll also have Monday's team off day to help in his recovery before Tuesday's series opener versus Boston.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Morel (Achilles) is not in Saturday's lineup against Cleveland.
Morel was forced to exit Friday's game after suffering a leg injury while running the bases. The injury isn't believed to be serious, but Morel will get at least one more day to rest.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Morel was removed from Friday's game versus Cleveland due to right Achilles discomfort, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Morel appeared to tweak his lower leg while turning back to first base after hitting a single in the third inning, and he ended up getting pulled for a pinch runner. The severity of his injury remains unknown, though it's possible the Rays will give him a day or two off even if it isn't too serious.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Pair of extra-base hits
Rotowire
Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and an RBI on Tuesday against the Phillies.
Morel got off to a slow start with the Rays but has managed at least one hit in 13 of his last 20 games. He's still lacked power in that span (.368 slugging percentage), so Tuesday's effort was an encouraging sign.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Morel isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Despite recording a base hit in six of his last seven games, Morel will now sit down for the third time in Tampa Bay's last four contests. Yandy Diaz will instead serve as the Rays' DH while Austin Shenton starts at first base and bats ninth.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Morel is not in Friday's lineup against the Orioles.
This is only Morel's second time out of the lineup in the last 10 games, even though he is hitting .191 with 42 strikeouts and three home runs in 31 games since getting traded to Tampa Bay. Jose Caballero draws the start at second base while Taylor Walls mans shortstop.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Absent from Tampa Bay lineup
Rotowire
Morel is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins.
It's a routine day off for Morel, who had started each of the previous eight games. Brandon Lowe will cover second base and Junior Caminero will be in the designated hitter slot for the Rays.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Excels in leadoff spot
Rotowire
Morel went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored Saturday against the Padres.
Morel led off for the first time as a Ray, stepping into the role in the absence of Yandy Diaz (knee). Morel played a key role in rallies in the second and fourth innings, giving him at least one hit in seven of his last 10 starts. In that span, he's gone 10-for-39 with a 38 percent strikeout rate, though he's still managed three RBI and six runs scored.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Not in Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Morel posted a .907 OPS while starting the past seven games but will sit for Sunday's series finale in Los Angeles. Yandy Diaz will receive a turn at designated hitter while Brandon Lowe shifts to first base and Jose Caballero starts at second.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Lifts homer in loss
Rotowire
Morel went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers.
Morel has four multi-hit efforts over his last seven games. His homer Friday was his first in August though, and he's batting a meager .176 (12-for-68) over 18 contests this month. Morel has gotten steady playing time since being acquired from the Cubs, but he's yet to do much with it. For the season, he has a .196/.298/.363 slash line with 21 homers, 55 RBI, 51 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 123 games.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Morel is absent from Sunday's lineup against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Morel will begin the contest in the dugout after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 6-1 win over Arizona. He has struggled from the plate since the All-Star break and has slashed .128/.244/.205 with two home runs, three RBI and a 32.2 percent strikeout rate across 88 plate appearances over that span. Brandon Lowe will take over DH duties for the series finale.
Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Morel went deep in his first two games after being acquired by Tampa Bay, but he'll sit Sunday after going 0-for-5 with three walks and four strikeouts in his past two contests. Josh Lowe will serve as the designated hitter in the series finale at Houston while Dylan Carlson starts in right field.
