Bradley will not be part of the Rays' AL Wild Card Series roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays need only three starting pitchers for the series and plan to carry 15 position players, so Bradley isn't going to make the cut. They will have the ability to reset their roster prior to the ALDS, if they advance, and it's possible Bradley could be added on then.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Comes out of bullpen against Jays
Rotowire
Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits in an inning of relief. He struck out one without walking a batter.
The rookie right-hander tossed 21 pitches (16 strikes) in his brief appearance, but this usage doesn't necessarily mean Bradley is shifting to the bullpen for the postseason. With Tampa Bay already locked into the top wild-card spot in the American League and likely to face Toronto to begin the playoffs next week, manager Kevin Cash elected not to give the opposition a good look at any of the starting pitchers the Rays might be using -- Aaron Civale got the start but left the mound after 40 pitches, while Zack Littell also tossed 35 pitches in relief. Bradley finishes the regular season with a shaky 5.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through his first 103.2 big-league innings, but the 22-year-old righty's 129:39 K:BB highlights his upside.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Falls to Blue Jays
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Bradley (5-8) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings against Toronto. He struck out four.
Toronto did most of its damage against Bradley in the second inning, scoring five runs, including three on George Springer's inside-the-park home run. The 22-year-old Bradley has now allowed four or more runs in three of his five starts since he was recalled from Triple-A earlier this month, pitching to a 5.14 ERA in that span. The rookie right-hander will likely face Toronto again in his next outing as he looks to wrap up the regular season on a high note.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Sharp in no-decision
Rotowire
Bradley did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over five innings against the Angels. He struck out six.
The right-handed rookie retired 11 of the first 13 batters Tuesday before Logan O'Hoppe ripped a solo homer in the fourth inning, accounting for the Angels' lone tally against Bradley. In four starts since being recalled from Triple-A on Sept. 3, the 22-year-old has posted a 4.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB across 21 innings with six of his 10 earned runs during that stretch coming via solo home runs. Bradley tentatively lines up for a home matchup with divisional foe Toronto this weekend.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Allows two home runs
Rotowire
Bradley did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over 4.2 innings against Minnesota. He struck out seven.
Bradley cruised through the first two innings before surrendering back-to-back home runs to open the third, each coming on the first pitch of the at-bat. He got himself into trouble again in the fifth after walking two of the first three batters he faced, which led to the right-hander being relieved by Jake Diekman with two outs in the frame. Bradley has now allowed four earned runs and multiple homers in back-to-back starts and is still looking for his first win since June 21.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Recalled ahead of start
Rotowire
The Rays recalled Bradley from Triple-A Durham ahead of his start Sunday against the Guardians.
Bradley will be making his first appearance in the majors since July 29, when he surrendered five runs in just 3.1 frames against Houston. He's pitched to a 2.91 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 21.2 innings in the minors since being optioned to Durham, but fantasy managers should be cautious with Bradley until he can re-establish himself as a regular part of the Tampa Bay rotation.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Roughed up by Astros
Rotowire
Bradley (5-7) took the loss Saturday, allowing five runs on three hits and four walks over 3.1 innings in a 17-4 loss to the Astros. He struck out four.
Bradley gave up a two-run home run to Yainer Diaz in the second inning, marking his seventh consecutive appearance allowing a long ball. Despite surrendering five runs, Bradley allowed just three hits, tying his season low in the category while doling out four walks. Though Bradley has thrown six innings just once this season (16 starts), he'll likely be worth a look as a streaming option during his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Lasts five frames versus Orioles
Rotowire
Bradley allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six across five innings Sunday against the Orioles. He did not factor into the decision.
Bradley gave up a run in the first and then a two-run blast to Gunnar Henderson in the second to put the Rays in a quick 3-0 hole. He went on to allow just one more baserunner after that frame but failed to make it past five innings, which is something he's done just once in 15 starts. The 22-year-old did register an impressive 34 percent whiff rate but also surrendered a home run for a sixth consecutive outing. He sits at a 5.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 95:22 K:BB over 71.1 innings. He's expected to face the Astros in Houston this weekend.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Fans nine in loss
Rotowire
Bradley (5-6) took the loss Tuesday at Texas after he struck out nine and gave up two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings.
Bradley entered Tuesday's contest having surrendered 16 runs across his past three starts, so his performance against the AL West-leading Rangers was an encouraging sight. The rookie right-hander gave up a solo homer to Marcus Semien in the third inning and continues to be hurt by the long ball with 12 home runs allowed through 14 starts. A matchup with the Orioles this weekend is likely next up for Bradley.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Records career-high 11 strikeouts
Rotowire
Bradley did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against the Athletics. He struck out 11.
Bradley was dealing Thursday, striking out the first six batters he faced and nine of the first 12 overall. However, the rookie began to struggle with his command in the fifth inning, issuing back-to-back walks before eventually allowing three runs to come home as Oakland took a 3-1 lead. He was replaced by Kevin Kelly with one out in the inning, but not before notching a career-high 11 strikeouts. On the downside, Bradley has now failed to make it through five innings in two of his last three starts, issuing 10 walks over that stretch.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Impresses but takes loss
Rotowire
Bradley (3-2) was tagged with the loss against the Cubs on Monday, allowing an unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over 5.2 innings.
A fourth-inning Tampa Bay error helped Chicago notch the game's only run, resulting in Bradley taking his second career loss despite another strong outing. The rookie righty tossed a season-high 5.2 frames to fall one out shy of his first quality start, and he punched out eight batters while walking only one. Bradley's pitch count is being kept in check -- the 90 pitches he threw Monday marked a campaign high -- but he's still been able to complete at least five innings in all but one of his six starts. Overall, he has looked every bit deserving of a big-league rotation spot, compiling a 3.60 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 42:5 K:BB over 30 innings.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Fans four against Mets
Rotowire
Bradley did not factor in the decision against the Mets on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five frames.
Bradley was called up from Triple-A to make the start, and he gave the Rays five innings of two-run ball. The rookie righty failed to take home a win for the first time in his four starts as a major-leaguer, but he tied a season-best mark by allowing just three hits. Bradley continues to impress and could stick around in the Rays' rotation for the long term with Drew Rasmussen hitting the 60-day injured list last Friday due to a flexor strain.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Starting Thursday for Rays
Rotowire
Bradley will start for the Rays on Thursday in New York against the Mets, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Ideally, the Rays would probably like to keep Bradley in the minors a little longer as he works on his pitch mix and getting used to a traditional five-day schedule. However, with the big-league club's rotation hit hard by injuries, the team doesn't have much of a choice here. While Bradley struggled lately at Triple-A Durham, he was excellent in his three starts with the Rays earlier this season and will have a shot to remain in the rotation for the long haul.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Headed back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rays optioned Bradley to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Topkin notes that a major reason for the move is to transition Bradley to a traditional five-day schedule as opposed to the six-day schedule he's been working on. The Rays are expected to replace Bradley in the rotation with Yonny Chirinos and/or Josh Fleming. Bradley is still likely to be a major part of the Tampa Bay pitching staff this season, though as a result of the demotion, it's possible that Tyler Glasnow (oblique) beats him back to the big-league rotation.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Keeps winning Monday
Rotowire
Bradley (3-0) picked up the win Monday in an 8-3 victory over the Astros, giving up three runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The rookie right-hander showed some blemishes, serving up the first two homers of his career, but Bradley has now won each of his first three big-league starts, although it should be noted the red-hot Rays have averaged nine runs a game for him so far. He fired 53 of 82 pitches for strikes before exiting, and his 23:2 K:BB through his first 15.1 MLB innings has all the hallmarks of an ace. Bradley will look to make it four wins in a row in his next outing, likely to come on the road this weekend against the White Sox.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Remaining in rotation
Rotowire
Bradley is scheduled to make his next start Monday versus the Astros in Tampa, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Given that he's now turned in a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB over 10.1 innings between his first two starts along with the fact that Tampa Bay has four other starters on the injured list, Bradley looks like he'll have some longevity in the big-league rotation. Zach Eflin (back) remains on track to return from the IL on Sunday to help restore some starting depth for the Rays, but Bradley's spot is secure while Jeffrey Springs (elbow) and Shane Baz (elbow) are out for the season and Tyler Glasnow (oblique) is likely sidelined until at least the middle of May.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
So much for Taj Bradley being one-and-done. His return to Triple-A Durham was merely a layover on his trip to Cincinnati, where he looked even more impressive than during his debut against the Red Sox last week, collecting three or more whiffs on each of his fastball, cutter and changeup. Between the two starts, he now has 17 strikeouts to just two walks in 10 1/3 innings. The Rays might yank him earlier than we'd prefer at times, but Bradley, a consensus top-25 prospect with a career 2.66 ERA in the minors, looks poised to take off. And since he's obviously going to stick around with Jeffrey Springs being lost for the season, he might be the most attractive pitcher pickup off the waiver wire so far.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Officially recalled for start
Rotowire
Bradley was recalled from Triple-A Durham by the Rays on Tuesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Bradley will rejoin the Rays' rotation Tuesday in Cincinnati, taking the spot vacated by Jeffrey Springs (elbow). The young right-hander impressed in his major-league debut versus the Red Sox last week, striking out eight while yielding three runs over five frames. With Springs expected to miss multiple months, Bradley will have an opportunity to establish himself as a long-term fixture in the major-league rotation.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: In line to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Bradley has been added to the Rays' taxi squad and is in line to start Tuesday in Cincinnati, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Bradley was optioned to Triple-A Durham a day after making his major-league debut last Wednesday, but he's now positioned for a long-term stay in the Rays' rotation with Jeffrey Springs (elbow) likely to miss at least the next two months. Bradley struck out eight in his debut versus the Red Sox, getting charged with three runs over five innings along the way. He should be scooped back up in fantasy leagues where he was dropped.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
Taj Bradley's major-league debut Wednesday was impressive enough, especially when you consider that he retired 10 of the first 12 batters he faced. He may have been a little gassed stretching to 78 pitches after throwing no more than 55 in either of his two minor-league starts, but he certainly showed why he's soared up the prospect rankings the past couple years. Last year, he had a 2.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 between Double- and Triple-A. Because he wasn't sent right back down after his debut, he didn't seem worth adding at the time, but since then, Jeffrey Springs has suffered an injury that could keep him out a couple months. When Bradley returns this week, it may be for good.
