Pepiot (1-2) took the loss against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out eight in six innings.
Pepiot was able to register eight punchouts for the second time this season, thanks in large part to the 17 whiffs he generated on 102 pitches (of which 70 were strikes). However, he still had issues with his command and gave up a season-high nine hits, with two of the six runs yielded coming on solo homers from Jarren Duran and Alex Bregman in the second and third innings, respectively. Pepiot has started the season with a 4.91 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB across 22 innings. He'll look to get back into the win column in his next start, tentatively slated for this weekend at home against Aaron Judge and the Yankees.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Grabs first win of 2025
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Pepiot (1-1) earned the win against the Angels on Wednesday. He gave up three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across five innings.
All three of the runs Pepiot gave up came on solo home runs, but he got enough help from the Rays' offense (mostly from Jose Caballero's grand slam in the first inning) to earn his first win of the 2025 season. Pepiot generated 16 first-pitch strikes and 15 whiffs on 91 pitches, and through three starts he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB across 16 innings. He'll look to make it two wins in a row in his next start, which is tentatively slated for next week at home against Boston.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Stuck with loss Wednesday
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Pepiot (0-1) took the loss Wednesday as the Rays were downed 4-2 by the Pirates, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.
A Ke'Bryan Hayes leadoff triple in the second inning and an Oneil Cruz solo shot in the fifth led to the only damage against Pepiot, but the right-hander had no margin for error with Paul Skenes on the mound for the Bucs. Pepiot has had a strong beginning to his season, posting a 2.45 ERA and 11:4 K:BB through his first 11 innings, but Tampa Bay has scored just five runs combined in his two starts. The right-hander will look for more support in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Angels.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Strikes out eight in no decision
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Pepiot didn't factor into the decision in Friday's Opening Day win versus the Rockies. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.
With Shane McClanahan (triceps) on the shelf, it was Pepiot who helped launch a new chapter in Rays history with their opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training facility that will be the Rays' home for 2025. Pepiot looked overpowering at times but was wild in the fourth inning. After hitting Michael Toglia with an errant curveball, the righty threw a wild pitch that advanced Toglia another 90 feet. He would eventually cross home plate on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Farmer. However, Tampa's offense came to life late and kept Pepiot out of the loss column. He is tentatively slated to face the Pirates his next time out.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Builds up to 72 pitches
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Pepiot allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four across four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
Pepiot made only his second spring start, though he's already stretched out to 72 pitches. He hasn't been particularly sharp in his pair of outings, allowing three earned runs across six innings while maintaining a 6:3 K:BB. The Rays have seven potential starters for their rotation, though Pepiot figures to be locked into a starting role throughout the campaign.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Pulled after 63 pitches in finale
Rotowire
Pepiot (8-8) took the loss Sunday against Boston, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out five in four innings.
Pepiot ran into trouble in the third inning when an RBI double by Vaughn Grissom drove in the game's first run. An unfortunate throwing error by the Rays defense compounded the damage, allowing another run to score. Pepiot wasn't given much of a chance to recover, as he was pulled after throwing just 63 pitches in the regular-season finale. Acquired from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade last winter, the 27-year-old Pepiot enjoyed a successful inaugural season for the Rays, pitching to a 3.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 142:48 K:BB in 130 innings (26 starts).
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Fans 12 batters in no-decision
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Pepiot allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out 12 batters over six innings in a no-decision against Boston on Wednesday.
Pepiot lasted just two frames in his previous start, but he had a longer leash -- and pitched much better -- Wednesday. The right-hander needed just 76 pitches to notch a quality start and record a career-high 12 punchouts, though he had to settle for a no-decision in a game during which the Rays' offense managed just one run. Pepiot may be held to less than a full workload moving forward, though he showed Wednesday that he can still be effective even when not accumulating a typical starter's pitch count.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Goes six frames in loss
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Pepiot (7-6) allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out six batters in six innings in a loss to Seattle on Monday.
Pepiot was given an early one-run lead but allowed five runs across the second through fourth frames and didn't get any additional support from Tampa Bay's offense. The right-hander was particularly impacted by the long ball, as the two homers he served up accounted for four of the Mariners' five runs. Though he wasn't great in the outing, Pepiot did get credit for a quality start, as only two of the runs he surrendered were earned. Since returning from an over-one-month stay on the injured list Aug. 16, Pepiot has given up nine runs across 17.1 frames, but just four of the runs have been earned. He's also posted a solid 16:3 K:BB during that span.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Activated ahead of Friday's start
Rotowire
The Rays activated Pepiot (knee) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Pepiot will start Friday's game against the Diamondbacks after being on the sidelines for the past month due to an infection in his right knee. The right-hander made one rehab start with Double-A Montgomery, throwing 69 pitches while striking out seven over 3.1 scoreless innings. Pepiot figures to be limited to around 80 pitches in Friday's outing.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Racks up seven Ks in rehab start
Rotowire
Pepiot (knee) struck out seven batters over 3.1 scoreless innings while scattering one hit and two walks in his rehab start Saturday with Double-A Montgomery.
Pepiot tossed 69 pitches in the rehab outing, which should be the only minor-league start he needs before making his return from the 15-day injured list. The Rays have seemingly already reopened a spot in the rotation for Pepiot, as the club optioned Tyler Alexander -- who had been functioning as the de facto No. 5 starter -- to Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Pepiot rejoined the Rays on Sunday and played catch at Tropicana Field, and he'll likely throw a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday before Tampa Bay locks him in for a start this weekend versus the Diamondbacks.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Slated for rehab start Saturday
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Pepiot (knee) is scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Montgomery, MLB.com reports.
Pepiot has been on the shelf since July 21 with an infection in his right knee that had stemmed from a spider bite, but after the swelling in his knee subsided, he was able to complete a bullpen session before tossing a three-inning simulated game earlier this week. The right-hander looked to be a candidate to return from the injured list to take the mound Saturday against the Orioles, but the Rays will instead have him report to Montgomery for what's expected to be a one-start rehab assignment. Manager Kevin Cash said Pepiot is likely to throw 65-to-75 pitches in Saturday's rehab outing.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Sim game coming
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Pepiot (knee) is scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game as the next step in his recovery, MLB.com reports.
The Rays didn't give an exact date for when Pepiot will throw the sim game, though he's had two and three days of rest between his most recent bullpen sessions. After his next session, the club will decide whether Pepiot is ready to be activated or if he will require a rehab assignment.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Knee infection due to bug bite
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Pepiot told reporters Saturday that he spent 60 hours in the hospital to treat an infection in his right knee due to a bug bite, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Pepiot was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right knee infection, though the details of that injury didn't surface until Saturday. He told reporters that the bug bite caused his knee to swell up "like the size of a softball... I couldn't put any weight on my leg." Pepiot is slated to throw up to 25 pitches off the mound Saturday, and how his knee reacts after the session will determine whether the 26-year-old right-hander will need to go on a rehab assignment. Pepiot holds a 6-5 record over his 17 starts this season with a 3.92 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 94:31 K:BB across 87.1 innings.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Heads to IL with knee infection
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The Rays placed Pepiot on 15-day injured list Sunday with a right knee infection.
Tampa Bay hadn't previously provided any indication that Pepiot was battling an infection, as he had already been confirmed to start Tuesday in Toronto. The Rays will now need to find a spot starter for Tuesday, but Jeffrey Springs (elbow) -- who is expected to make his final rehab appearance at Triple-A Durham on Sunday before being activated from the 60-day injured list -- should eventually take over Pepiot's spot in the rotation. A timeline for Pepiot's return won't be available until he's cleared to resume throwing.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Lasts just four innings Wednesday
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Pepiot (4-5) took the loss Wednesday against the Royals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in four innings. He did not strike out a batter.
Pepiot made it through the first two innings unscathed, but the Royals got to him for two runs in the third on a couple of hits. He made quick work in the fourth but was replaced after throwing 87 pitches. The Rays offense mustered up just two runs, leaving Pepiot in line for the loss. His last win came back on June 4 against Miami. Pepiot also never had fewer than two strikeouts in any MLB game, as a starter or reliever, before recording none Wednesday. It was another short start for the 26-year-old, who has failed to complete six frames in each of his last four starts. Pepiot will take a 4.40 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 83:28 K:BB (75.2 IP) into a start against the Yankees next week.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Fans eight in no-decision
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Pepiot allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out eight batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Wednesday.
Pepiot only allowed three runners to reach in a solid showing that was spoiled by his bullpen after he was pulled in the sixth. For the fourth time this season, he struck out eight or more batters in a start. Despite the good strikeout numbers, the 26-year-old struggles to get deep into games as he has yet to pitch past the sixth inning in 14 starts. He'll take a 4.40 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP into his next start in Kansas City.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Rays activated Pepiot (lower leg) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Red Sox in Tampa.
Pepiot will rejoin the rotation Wednesday after missing the previous two weeks with a lower left leg contusion. The right-hander didn't make a rehab start, so it's possible he will be relatively limited from a pitch-count perspective versus Boston. Pepiot will bring a 3.68 ERA and nifty 41:11 K:BB over 36.2 innings into Wednesday's proceedings.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Rejoining rotation Wednesday
Rotowire
Pepiot (lower leg) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 26-year-old righty landed on the shelf with a bruised lower left leg after his May 5 start versus the Mets, but he'll return Wednesday after being sidelined for the 15-day minimum. Any workload limitations for Pepiot will likely be minor, given the brevity of his absence.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Successful bullpen session
Rotowire
Pepiot (leg) threw a three-inning bullpen session ahead of Friday's game against the Blue Jays, MLB.com reports.
Pepiot continues to make progress toward a return, as he's now thrown three successful bullpen sessions. His activation could come as soon as the Rays' upcoming series against the Red Sox, though no final decision has been reached.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Taking steps toward return
Rotowire
Pepiot (leg) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is likely to throw a simulated game in the near future, MLB.com reports.
The exact next steps for Pepiot are unclear, but he is on the road with the team and is still aiming to return after a minimum term on the 15-day injured list. If he can reach that goal, he would line up to start at some point during the Rays' homestand next week against the Red Sox and Royals.
