Franco (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 22-year-old sat out Game 2 of Saturday's twin bill due to the hamstring injury he picked up during the matinee, and it's not a major surprise the Rays will give him at least one full day to rest up. According to Topkin, Franco is receiving treatment and could be back in the lineup for Monday's series finale in Boston. Taylor Walls will make another start at shortstop Sunday for Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Franco will be absent from the lineup for the evening portion of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox due to a hamstring injury, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Franco returned from a minor shoulder injury in the afternoon contest and looked healthy, grabbing three hits and scoring a pair of runs while stealing his 21st base of the year. He wasn't removed from the game at any point but evidently picked up another injury. It remains to be see whether or not this particular issue will require a trip to the injured list. Taylor Walls will move to shortstop for Saturday's nightcap, with Isaac Paredes entering the lineup at third base.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Back in action
Rotowire
Franco (shoulder) will return to the lineup for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, batting second and playing shortstop, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Franco hadn't played since Tuesday due to a minor left shoulder injury. He was set to return Friday but had to wait one more day after that game got rained out. It's possible the Rays won't ask him to start twice in one day immediately after his return, but he'll be taking part in at least one contest, squaring off against Garrett Whitlock.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Returns to lineup Friday
Rotowire
Franco (shoulder) is back in the lineup Friday against the Red Sox.
Franco missed Wednesday's series finale against the Cubs due to left shoulder discomfort, but the issue has proven to be minor. He will start at shortstop and bat second Friday versus the Red Sox and right-hander Garrett Whitlock. The 22-year-old rising star boasts a .298/.362/.482 slash line with seven home runs and 20 stolen bases through 55 games this season.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Tending to left shoulder injury
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco is being held out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs due to the infielder's left shoulder being "a little dinged up," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cash said he still expects Franco will be available off the bench Wednesday, so the 22-year-old's absence from the lineup could be more maintenance-related than out of any legitimate concern about the shoulder issue, which he picked up while sliding into home plate in Tuesday's 2-1 loss. The Rays are off Thursday before returning to action in Boston on Friday, when Franco will most likely be back in the lineup at shortstop.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Resting in series finale
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Franco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
With an off day coming Thursday, Rays manager Kevin Cash likely viewed Wednesday's day game as an optimal time to rest Franco, who had started in each of the last 12 games. Taylor Walls will spell Franco at shortstop in the series finale after Franco extended his hitting streak to seven and also chipped in his 20th stolen base of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 loss.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Records 19th theft
Rotowire
Franco went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Monday in a loss to the Cubs.
Franco notched Tampa Bay's only hit of the game, breaking up Marcus Stroman's no-hitter in the seventh inning with a leadoff single. The speedy shortstop proceeded to steal second base but didn't advance any further. Franco extended his hitting streak to six games with the base knock, and he's swiped five bags over that span. He ranks third in the majors with 19 thefts on the campaign.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Triple, two steals in win
Rotowire
Franco went 1-for-2 with a triple, two runs scored and two steals in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays.
The 22-year-old ripped a one-out triple in the first inning before scoring the game's first run on a Randy Arozarena base hit. Franco would later draw a pair of walks and tallied two of the Rays' seven stolen bases in the contest. He finished the four-game set against Toronto 6-for-14 with two triples and three stolen bases. Franco is slashing a stellar .288/.355/.490 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 30 runs scored while going 17-for-22 in stolen base attempts.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Busy offensive day in win
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Franco went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, one run scored and one steal in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the Blue Jays.
Franco singled in his first at-bat and scored the first run of the game on an RBI knock by Isaac Paredes. The shortstop walked his next time up and proceeded to steal second but was stranded to end the second inning. He added run-scoring singles in the fourth and eighth to extend Tampa Bay's lead, marking his fifth game with at least three hits this season. Franco has been as advertised to start 2023, slashing .286/.347/.480 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Not in Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Franco is absent from the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's Franco's first day off this month after he played each of the last 15 contests. Taylor Walls will be at shortstop.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Nabs two steals Wednesday
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Franco went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and thefts in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Mets.
Franco didn't get a hit in the contest, but he took advantage of a pair of walks by swiping second base after each one. The shortstop has racked up seven thefts over his past 10 games, and he hasn't been caught attempting to steal over that span. On the season, Franco's 14 stolen bases are tied for third-most in the majors.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Strikes out twice Friday
Rotowire
Franco went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts Friday against the Yankees.
Franco exited Thursday's game against the Yankees with a neck injury but was able to immediately return to the lineup. He had a subpar performance Friday and struck out multiple times in a game for the sixth time this season. That's hardly a reason for concern, however, as he has a .307/.363/.536 slash line across 168 plate appearances on the campaign.
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Rays' Wander Franco: In Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Franco (neck) is in the Rays' lineup for Friday's game versus the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Franco was forced from Thursday's game with neck spasms, but he's feeling well enough a day later to be back in action. The youngster is playing shortstop and batting second against Gerrit Cole.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Hopes to play Friday
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Franco (neck) hopes to play Friday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Franco exited Thursday's game in the fifth inning but spoke to reporters after the game and said he was feeling better. Both he and manager Kevin Cash said it's possible that he will be able to return to the lineup Friday.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Dealing with neck spasms
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Franco exited Thursday's game against the Yankees with neck spasms and tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Franco was removed in the fifth inning after appearing uncomfortable during an at-bat. He'll be re-evaluated Friday, but there's no further detail for the time being. If Franco is forced to miss additional time, Taylor Walls is likely to step in at shortstop for Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Exits Thursday's game
Rotowire
Franco was removed from Thursday's game against the Yankees with an apparent neck injury, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Franco exited in the fifth inning after appearing uncomfortable during an at-bat. There are no further details regarding the issue or the potential severity. Isaac Paredes entered the game in Franco's place to play third base, while Taylor Walls shifted to shortstop.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Two steals in loss
Rotowire
Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two steals in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles.
Franco swiped a bag both times he reached base and is now up to 11 on the year, which is tied for sixth best in baseball. The 22-year-old is taking advantage of the new base sizes and pickoff restrictions after combining for only 10 steals across 153 games in his previous two seasons combined. Franco has now hit safely in six straight games and overall is slashing .310/.369/.552 with seven homers, 23 RBI, 23 runs and a 12:24 BB:K over 160 plate appearances.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Homer, steal in loss
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Franco went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss against the Orioles.
Franco opened the scoring Tuesday with a solo homer in the first inning. The long ball was Franco's seventh of the year, matching his career high in just 137 at-bats this season. The 22-year-old shortstop would later swipe his ninth base, setting another new personal best. Franco has been on a tear, going 13-for-36 with three home runs and four stolen bases in his last nine games. He's now slashing .310/.365/.556 with 22 RBI and 23 runs scored through 156 plate appearances this season.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Swipes seventh bag
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Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base Tuesday against the Pirates.
Franco grounded into a pair of double plays but rebounded with an RBI single in the fifth inning. He proceeded to swipe second base on a double steal, during which Jose Siri also stole home. Franco now has seven stolen bases across 121 plate appearances on the season after swiping only 10 bases across 652 career plate appearances entering the campaign.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Gets breather against White Sox
Rotowire
Franco is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Franco gets a day of rest after appearing in nine straight games while contributing a homer and stolen base in Saturday's victory over the White Sox. Taylor Walls will get the start at shortstop for the series finale against Chicago and will hit sixth.
