Armstrong did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings against Colorado while striking out two.
Armstrong allowed two hits in the first inning but managed to pitch his way out of it before going 1-2-3 through the second frame. The 32-year-old reliever has not allowed a run over his last five outings, racking up 12 strikeouts to only one walk over that stretch (8.2 innings). He has, however, surrendered multiple hits in three of his last six appearances.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening pitcher for bullpen day
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Armstrong is scheduled to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He'll draw a starting assignment for the fifth time this season but likely won't be asked to cover more than few innings before exiting the contest. The Rays haven't named a designated bulk reliever to work behind Armstrong, but Erasmo Ramirez is available on five days' rest and looks like the Tampa Bay bullpen arm most likely to work the longest during Thursday's contest.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Hurls two scoreless frames
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Armstrong did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings against Cleveland. He struck out three.
Armstrong managed to keep the Guardians at bay for the first two innings, though he threw 28 pitches in the second frame. He was then relieved by Erasmo Ramirez after recording three strikeouts for the second straight outing. Armstrong has allowed just two runs since June 27, posting a 24:4 K:BB over that stretch (spanning 20.1 innings). He's also allowed just one home run all season.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Saturday
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Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game versus the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays haven't assigned a bulk reliever to work behind Armstrong, but they have a few candidates who can cover multiple innings and could also make a roster move prior to the game. The opener assignment will be Armstrong's fourth this season. Armstrong has maxed out at three innings over his 28 appearances between the minors and majors this season and likely can't be counted on to work more than once through the batting order.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Serving as opener
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Armstrong will open the second half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The Rays may be playing two games in one day, but they only had to use two members of a well-rested bullpen in the afternoon contest, so Armstrong won't face much pressure to eat innings. He did throw three innings as an opener in his final appearance before the break, but he hasn't lasted more than two frames in any of his other 12 outings. Cooper Criswell is expected to follow Armstrong as the bulk reliever.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Thursday's game
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Armstrong will serve as the Rays' starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Phillies, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays haven't officially confirmed that Armstrong will be operating as an opener, but considering that he hasn't covered more than two innings in any of his 19 appearances in the majors or minors this season, he's unlikely to work more than once through the Phillies batting order. Tampa Bay doesn't have an obvious pitcher available to work in bulk relief behind Armstrong, so the Rays could treat Thursday's series finale as more of a bullpen day.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Opening Wednesday's game
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Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After being on the shelf all season with a neck issue, Armstrong was activated from the 60-day injured list last weekend and tossed two scoreless frames out of the bullpen in his 2023 MLB debut Sunday in Boston. The Rays may allow Armstrong to work into the third inning while he serves as an opener Wednesday, but right-hander Cooper Criswell is the top candidate to operate as a bulk reliever behind Armstrong and is thus the likelier of the two pitchers to qualify for a win.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Returns from injury
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Armstrong (neck) was activated off the 60-day injured list Saturday.
A neck injury has kept Armstrong out all season, but he could be a key piece of the Rays' bullpen the rest of the way. After being released by the Marlins last May and returning to Tampa Bay, he recorded a 3.60 ERA backed by a 26.0 percent strikeout rate and 6.0 percent walk rate the rest of the way, earning a pair of saves. Jose La Sorsa was designated for assignment to create space on the 40-man roster.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Activation imminent
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Armstrong (neck) is expected to be activated from the injured list sometime this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Armstrong has been out all season with a neck injury, but he's looked ready on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham, holding a 2.00 ERA and 8:2 K:BB over nine innings of work. The 32-year-old is on the 60-day IL, so the Rays will have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster in addition to the 26-man roster.
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Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Thriving early on during rehab
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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
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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.
