Tampa Bay Rays place OF Brett Phillips on the Injured List, Activate RHP J.P. Feyereisen

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed outfielder Brett Phillips on the 10-day Injured List due to a right ankle sprain that he suffered during Sunday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, possibly sustained when Phillips attempted to rob Ryan Mountcastle of a homerun.

The Rays also optioned left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming to Triple-A Durham.

Taking their two spots on the active roster will be right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen and left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns.

Feyereisen rejoins the Rays after a brief stint on the Injured List. Acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in June, Feyereisen has been largely successful in the Rays bullpen despite gaudy walk numbers. Overall in 2021, he has a 2.81 ERA / 4.46 FIP with a 21.8 K% and 14.9 BB% over 41 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.

Enns is back for another stint with the Rays, after making his first big league appearance since 2017 earlier in the month of August. He has now made three appearances for the Rays, allowing four runs on six hits over 7 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.

Fleming has been enduring struggles throughout the month of August, finishing the month with an abysmal ERA of 8.84. Opponents are hitting .369/.423/.560 against Fleming over the second half of the season. Thus, leading to the Rays decision to demote Fleming to Triple-A.

Phillips is having the best season of his big league career so far as he is hitting .215/.311/.411 with 10 HR over 253 plate appearances. Phillips is also posting stellar defensive numbers to go along with his surprising offensive production, meriting him with 1.5 fWAR over 103 games.