Raley went 2-for-3 with a triple, a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 7-0 win over the Twins.
Raley scored the game's first run in the fourth inning after leading off with his first career triple. He'd then break the game open in the fifth, crushing a 450-foot, two-run homer off Louie Varland to give Tampa Bay a 5-0 lead. Raley is now 5-for-11 with four extra-base hits in his last three games. He's slashing an impressive .261/.355/.590 with 11 homers, 27 runs scored, 24 RBI and seven stolen bases through 155 plate appearances this season.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Returns to lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Raley (side) is hitting sixth and playing first base against the Red Sox on Sunday.
Raley was scratched from the lineup in the first game of a doubleheader against Boston on Saturday, and he was held out for the second game as well. The 28-year-old is feeling well enough to hit in the middle of the Tampa Bay lineup versus the Red Sox on Sunday, and he should be good to go for the Rays' upcoming slate.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Expected back for nightcap
Rotowire
Raley (side/stomach) is expected to play in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Raley was scratched from the Rays' lineup for the early tilt at Fenway Park after feeling something in his right side or stomach, but it's not considered a serious concern. Harold Ramirez is handling DH duties and batting fifth to open the twin bill in Boston.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Scratched for Game 1
Rotowire
Raley was scratched from the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's unclear why Raley was taken out of the lineup, but the Rays should provide more information shortly. Harold Ramirez will enter as Tampa Bay's designated hitter instead.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Remains sidelined
Rotowire
Raley (side) will not start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Boston, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Raley was scratched from the lineup for the afternoon game due to side soreness, and while initial reports indicated that he'd be available for the nightcap, he won't be involved from the start. Instead, Randy Arozarena will rest his legs in the designated hitter spot while Harold Ramirez starts in left field.
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Rays' Luke Raley: On bench for series finale
Rotowire
Raley is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The lefty-hitting Raley started each of the past three games, but he'll head to the bench for the series finale while southpaw Justin Steele toes the rubber for Chicago. Though he doesn't have a direct path to a regular lineup spot at any one position, Raley's ability to play first base and the corner outfield or to serve as a designated hitter should afford him fairly steady playing time while he's wielding a hot bat.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Swipes seventh bag
Rotowire
Raley went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a steal in Sunday's 11-10 victory over the Dodgers.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Raley has emerged as an unlikely source of steals -- he's now 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts, all coming in his last 12 games. Raley has had a productive season with the bat as well. He's now slashing .254/.346/.568 with 10 homers, 21 RBI and 23 runs scored through 136 plate appearances while playing the long side of a platoon in Tampa.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Picks up another start
Rotowire
Raley will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Raley's path to playing time at first base is more muddled now that Yandy Diaz has returned to the team following a brief absence due to a personal matter, but Raley could continue to see semi-frequent starts as a fourth outfielder or designated hitter. The 28-year-old -- who has posted an .862 OPS while chipping in six stolen bases thus far in May -- will spell a resting Randy Arozarena in left field in Sunday's series finale.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Chipping in stolen bases
Rotowire
Raley went 0-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Raley didn't have a big game at first glance, though his pair of stolen bases gives him six on the campaign. He entered the season having failed to even attempt a stolen base across 144 career plate appearances. Raley is also a significant source of power production with 10 home runs and is a regular in the Rays' lineup against right-handed pitchers.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Pops ninth homer
Rotowire
Raley went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Monday against the Blue Jays.
Raley popped his ninth home run of the season off Chris Bassitt in the seventh inning. It was his first homer since April 30, a span of 15 games and 43 at-bats. Raley remains a regular in the lineup with right-handers on the mound, though he has yet to start against a southpaw this season.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Slugs eighth homer in win
Rotowire
Raley went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's win 3-0 win over the Orioles.
Raley continues to be an all-or-nothing hitter, slugging eight home runs over 85 plate appearances while striking out 30 times. Given his prolific power numbers, it'll be hard to keep him out of the starting lineup. However, the Rays have numerous offensive threats, so they may choose to keep playing him exclusively against right-handed starters.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Gets start at first base
Rotowire
Raley is starting at first base and batting eighth for the Rays on Monday in Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Yandy Diaz will slide into the designated hitter spot while Raley handles first. Raley has been a true all-or-nothing hitter this season, slugging seven home runs while posting a 39.7 percent strikeout rate.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Swats two homers
Rotowire
Raley went 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in Sunday's 12-9 loss to the White Sox.
Raley went back-to-back with Taylor Walls in the fourth inning for his first home run of the day, which was a solo shot. He then went back-to-back again, this time with Christian Bethancourt in the eighth for a two-run blast. Raley now has five hits, three homers and six RBI over his last three games and continues to be a lineup fixture against righties only. He upped his slash line to .226/.300/.613 and raised his OPS to .913 after the two-homer day.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Has first three-hit game of season
Rotowire
Raley went 3-for-5 with one double, one home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the White Sox.
This was Raley's best game at the plate since April 3 against Washington, when he smacked two homers. That was the outfielder's only other multi-hit game of the year. The 28-year-old will look to keep improving on his .214/.286/.536 slash line, but he does have five home runs and 12 RBI in 19 games.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Goes long Sunday
Rotowire
Raley went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Raley got the scoring started for the Rays with a two-run blast off Lucas Giolito in the second inning, keeping the streak alive for the Rays who have now homered in each of their first 22 games. Raley broke a five-game hitting slump and is struggling to a slash line of .188/.273/.479. He has four home runs, nine RBI and a 4:19 BB:K and has solely hit against righties this year.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Moves to bench Monday
Rotowire
Raley is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Raley, Josh Lowe and Harold Ramirez all appear to be vying for two regular spots in the lineup versus right-handed pitching, and Raley will find himself as the odd man out Monday. Since slugging three home runs in his first five games of the season, Raley has slashed .174/.269/.261 over a stretch of eight contests.
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Rays' Luke Raley: Garners another start
Rotowire
Raley is starting in left field and batting fifth for the Rays on Friday in Toronto.
Raley has been in the lineup all nine times the Rays have faced a right-hander this season and hasn't hit lower than fifth. He hasn't done much outside of a two-game stretch against the Nationals earlier this month, but Tampa Bay clearly wants to see what he can do versus righties.
