Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Thriving early on during rehab
Rotowire
Armstrong (neck) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on May 16 and has struck out six over six innings while allowing two runs on one hit and two walks through his first five appearances.
Since he's been sidelined since spring training with the neck injury, Armstrong will be eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list whenever the Rays deem him ready. The right-hander has looked sharp over the course of his rehab assignment and could work his way back into Tampa Bay's late-inning mix, which looks more unsettled at the moment after closer Pete Fairbanks (hip) was placed on the 15-day IL on Monday.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Close to rehab assignment
Rotowire
Armstrong (neck) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong missed all of spring training and the first month of the season with a neck injury, but he's almost ready for game action. He's on the 60-day injured list and not eligible for activation until late May.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Rays transferred Armstrong (neck) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Cooper Criswell, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Durham. Armstrong has been dealing with a neck issue since spring training and now isn't eligible to make his 2023 debut with the Rays until at least late May.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Goes on IL
Rotowire
The Rays placed Armstrong (neck) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Armstrong didn't pitch in any Grapefruit League games due to the neck issue, so unless he dramatically ramps up his throwing program in the coming days, he'll more than likely be sidelined beyond the minimum 15 days. Once healthy, Armstrong could work as a setup or middle-relief option out of the bullpen.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Sidelined to begin season
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Armstrong (neck) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "It's highly unlikely he'll be ready to go [for Opening Day]," Cash said. "I don't think anything's been defined with what exactly is going on. But it doesn't appear that he's turning that corner in a positive way."
Armstrong has been sidelined all spring with a neck issue, and though he could theoretically have a chance at being ready to go for Opening Day if he accelerates his throwing program over the next three weeks, the reliever doesn't appear to have made enough tangible progress in his recovery from the injury to put himself on track for the start of the regular season. Whenever he's back to 100 percent, Armstrong could be a factor in the middle innings or as a setup man after logging a 3.60 ERA and two saves across 43 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2022 following his signing with the team last May.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Sidelined with neck injury
Rotowire
Armstrong has been sidelined during camp with a neck injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's unclear how severe the injury is. The right-hander was a key contributor to the Rays bullpen in 2022 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, and he agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million deal to avoid arbitration last month. If healthy, he should be a middle-relief or set-up option for Tampa Bay in 2023.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Armstrong signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Rays on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
After being released by Miami and signed by Tampa Bay in May, Armstrong recorded a 3.60 ERA and 1.27 WHIP as a member of the Rays bullpen. His impressive 9.63 K/9 from last year also makes him a candidate to pitch more often in high-leverage situations in 2023.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opener Saturday
Rotowire
Armstrong will serve as the opener during Saturday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong tossed 48 pitches during Tuesday's matchup against the Blue Jays, and he'll begin Saturday's game on the mound after having a few days of rest. Ryan Yarbrough will likely follow Armstrong as the primary pitcher.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Tallies final out
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Armstrong tallied the final out in Friday's win over the Yankees to earn the save.
J.T. Chargois began the ninth inning as the Rays held a three-run lead, but he allowed a homer and a walk before being yanked. Armstrong came in and got Gleyber Torres to fly out to record the final out and his second save of the season. Both of those have come in the last three weeks, though a trio of other Rays' relievers have picked up saves in between. For the season, Armstrong has recorded a 4.59 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with a 54:13 K:BB across 51 innings.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Suffers loss as opener
Rotowire
Armstrong (2-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing a run on one hit and one walk over three innings against the Yankees. He struck out two.
On the second pitch of the game, Armstrong served up a belt-high sinker which Aaron Judge crushed to the third deck of Tropicana Field. Armstrong was otherwise effective through three innings as he only allowed one other batter to reach base, a walk to Josh Donaldson. Despite the effort, Armstrong took the loss as the Yankees held Tampa Bay to one run. The 31-year-old now owns a 4.62 ERA through 50.2 innings this season, mainly as a reliever.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opening pitcher
Rotowire
Armstrong will work as the Rays' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Yankees at Tropicana Field, MLB.com reports.
Armstrong will be make his second straight appearance in a starting role after he led off a bullpen game in a 7-2 win over the Marlins on Tuesday, when Shane McClanahan (shoulder) was scratched ahead of the contest and then placed on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander stepped in to deliver three shutout innings, but don't expect the Rays to have him work much longer than that in Sunday's contest. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to serve as the Rays' bulk reliever and is more likely than Armstrong to factor into any decision.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Strong effort in surprise start
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Armstrong didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Marlins, allowing three hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Pressed into duty as a spot starter after Shane McClanahan (shoulder) was a late scratch, Armstrong fired 36 of 48 pitches for strikes in an impressive performance. The Rays will look for a more permanent replacement in the rotation for McClanahan, so Armstrong should return to the bullpen, but the right-hander has worked more than one inning in six of his last nine appearances and would likely be a key part of any future bullpen days for Tampa. In 33 games since joining the Rays, he sports a 3.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB through 41 innings.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Earns first save
Rotowire
Armstrong picked up the save in a perfect inning Monday against the Angels. He struck out one.
Armstrong entered the Rays' saves carousel with his first save of the season Monday, as he retired the Angels in order to end the game. Interestingly, manager Kevin Cash turned to lockdown reliever Jason Adam in the eighth, opening the door for Armstrong to earn the save. The righty is now the 10th reliever to earn a save for Tampa Bay, so it is unlikely that he will provide many more down the stretch as the team tends to move players in and out of ninth inning duties.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Takes loss against Yankees
Rotowire
Armstrong (0-1) surrendered one earned run on one hit in the ninth inning Thursday against the Yankees to take the loss.
Armstrong entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 1-1. He retired the first batter he faced but surrendered a home run to Anthony Rizzo to take the loss. Since being recalled by the Rays on May 31, Armstrong has allowed two earned runs across 8.1 innings while maintaining an 11:2 K:BB.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Receives call from Triple-A
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Tampa Bay selected Armstrong's contract from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
The Rays designated lefty reliever Ben Bowden for assignment and placed shortstop Wander Franco (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list. Before signing with the Rays on a minor-league deal earlier this month, Armstrong made seven appearances in the majors with Miami this season, covering 6.2 innings and giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Back in Tampa Bay organization
Rotowire
Armstrong signed a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay on Wednesday and was assigned to Triple-A Durham, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Armstrong was on the open market for just under a week after he elected free agency May 4 upon clearing waivers when the Marlins designated him for assignment. The 31-year-old right-hander will be continuing his career in a familiar organization, as he spent the second half of the 2021 season in Tampa Bay after coming over in a mid-season trade with the Orioles. He had gotten off to a rough start over his seven relief appearances with Miami this season, giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 6.2 innings.
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Marlins' Shawn Armstrong: Earns spot in Opening Day bullpen
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Armstrong's contract was selected by the Marlins on Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Armstrong joined the Marlins as a non-roster invitee in mid-March and posted a 2.08 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 4.1 innings across five Grapefruit League starts. He'll presumably pitch in low-leverage situations out of Miami's bullpen.
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Marlins' Shawn Armstrong: Invited to big-league camp
Rotowire
Armstrong signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Sunday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.
Armstrong made 31 relief appearances for the Rays and Orioles last year and posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 36 innings. The right-hander will compete for a spot in the Marlins' bullpen ahead of Opening Day in 2022.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Clears waivers, sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Armstrong accepted an assignment to Triple-A Durham after clearing waivers Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Armstrong was DFA'd by the Rays on Sunday when Nick Anderson was activated from the 60-day injured list. The right-hander holds a 6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB across 36 innings with Tampa Bay and Baltimore this season, so it's not overly surprising to see him go unclaimed on waivers.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: DFA'd Sunday
Rotowire
The Rays designated Armstrong for assignment Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The righty gets demoted after allowing four earned runs total in his last two appearances. Armstrong's 4.50 ERA in 16 innings since joining the Rays is respectable, and the Rays' frequent bullpen shuffling suggests he could find himself back with the club in the near future. That is, unless he gets claimed off waivers. Nick Anderson (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list to fill Armstrong's 40-man roster spot.
