The Rays have chosen the contract of right-hander Justin Sterner from Triple-A Durham, per a workforce announcement. He’ll be making his MLB debut when he first will get right into a sport. Left-hander Tyler Alexander was optioned to Durham in a corresponding transfer to create house on the lively roster. Tampa Bay already had a emptiness on the 40-man roster, so no further transfer was obligatory. Their 40-man roster is now at capability.
Sterner, 27, is a reliever whom the Rays acquired in 2021 swap sending right-hander David Hess to the Marlins. The 2024 season marks the third through which he’s logged time in Triple-A however the first through which he’s discovered a lot success. Sterner allowed eight runs in seven Triple-A frames again in 2022 and pitched to a 5.80 ERA in 35 2/3 innings there final season.
This yr in Durham, nonetheless, Sterner has notched a much-improved 3.60 ERA in 25 innings, thanks largely to very large features in his capability to overlook bats and restrict walks. Sterner has fanned one-third of his opponents in Triple-A after posting a 26.1% strikeout charge a yr in the past. His 8.1% stroll charge in 2024 is greater than three share factors south of final yr’s 11.8% mark.
For the 29-year-old Alexander, this might be his first non-compulsory project since approach again in 2019. The Rays acquired the southpaw by way of a November waiver declare after he’d been designated for project in Detroit. He’s successfully been the Rays’ fifth starter for a lot of the season, although solely six of his 11 outings have been true begins. Alexander has ceaselessly adopted a one- or two-inning opener, however even his aid appearances have averaged 5 innings apiece this season.
Alexander had an honest stretch from mid-April to mid-Could, however he’s been shelled for a dozen runs in simply 9 2/3 innings over his previous two appearances. He’s now yielded 4 or extra runs in three of his previous 4 outings. That ugly stretch has left the southpaw with a 6.19 ERA on the season, though fielding-independent metrics are extra bullish (notably his 4.09 SIERA). Alexander has a below-average 19.4% strikeout charge on the season but additionally a really sharp 5.3% stroll charge. He’s additionally an excessive fly-ball pitcher (48.6% fly-balls, 29.6% grounders) who’s seen a larger-than-average 15% of his fly-balls depart the yard this yr — a median of two.06 homers per 9 innings.
Alexander entered the season with 4.058 years of massive league service time and is as much as 4.122 as of this project. He’ll attain 5 full years of service with one other 50 days on the lively roster or main league injured listing, at which level he’d acquire the correct to refuse an non-compulsory project to the minors. For now, he’ll get a reset in Durham whereas the Rays go together with a rotation of Zack Littell, Aaron Civale, Taj Bradley and Ryan Pepiot.
Proper-hander Zach Eflin went on the injured listing due a decrease again concern on Could 20, and the Rays are awaiting returns from injured pitchers Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen and (in 2025) Shane McClanahan. Longtime high prospect Shane Baz might be a rotation candidate sooner or later as properly. He very just lately wrapped up his rehab from 2022 Tommy John surgical procedure and was reinstated from the 60-day injured listing and optioned to Triple-A himself.
