Rays release roster for 2021 ALDS

The Tampa Bay Rays have released their roster for the American League Divisional Series against the Boston Red Sox, set to begin tonight.

*left-handed
**switch-hitter

PITCHERS (13)

• 11 Baz, Shane
• 84 Chargois, JT
• 29 Fairbanks, Pete
• 34 Feyereisen, J.P.
• 19 Fleming, Josh *
• 36 Kittredge, Andrew
• 62 McClanahan, Shane
• 31 McHugh, Collin
• 61 Patiño, Luis
• 57 Rasmussen, Drew
• 30 Robertson, David
• 52 Wacha, Michael
• 37 Wisler, Matt

CATCHERS (2)

• 28 Mejía, Francisco **
• 10 Zunino, Mike

INFIELDERS (5)

• 26 Choi, Ji-Man *
• 2 Díaz, Yandy
• 5 Franco, Wander **
• 8 Lowe, Brandon *
• 18 Wendle, Joey *

OUTFIELDERS (5)

• 56 Arozarena, Randy
• 39 Kiermaier, Kevin *
• 25 Luplow, Jordan
• 13 Margot, Manuel
• 17 Meadows, Austin *

DESIGNATED HITTER (1)

• 23 Cruz, Nelson

There are a few mild surprises on the roster, as a few names best known to fans didn’t make the cut.

Longtime starter/bulk pitcher Ryan Yarbrough was dropped from the pitching staff in favor of fellow lefty Josh Fleming, who had recently worked in short relief in September for the Rays. Fleming’s inclusion as a short reliever is a depth move, however, as the team’s preferred lefty reliever Adam Conley is on the COVID-IL until at least this weekend.

On offense, the Rays have opted to drop OF Brett Phillips from the roster in favor of 1B/OF Jordan Luplow, a mid-season acquisition added to provide right-handed depth off the bench. With the Rays set to face two lefties in the Boston rotation, Luplow was a logical priority for the Rays.

The other big decision that faced the Rays was whether to promote any key prospects to the roster for the playoffs, as had been done in last year’s roster. On the pitching side well known prospect Brent Honeywell Jr. and up-and-down men like lefty Dietrich Enns or righty Louis Head were not selected. On defense there was no inclusion of UTIL Mike Brosseau, SS Taylor Walls, 2B Vidal Brujan, or OF Josh Lowe.

Even though Yarbrough and Phillips are not in the roster as of Thursday, they will not be absent, as the Rays are allowed up to nine men on the major league Taxi Squad, where they are sure to be joined by some travelling, injured veterans like Tyler Glasnow and Nick Anderson.