Rodriguez (3-4) allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk to take the loss Sunday against the Padres.
Rodriguez entered the game with the score tied at 3-3 in the ninth inning. He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, which was enough to allow the Padres to scratch across the game-winning run. Rodriguez has recorded two of the five saves for the Rays since Pete Fairbanks (lat) went down but has also suffered two losses and given up three earned runs across 7.1 innings.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Earns save Tuesday
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Rodriguez earned the save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Mariners, allowing a hit and striking out a batter over a scoreless inning.
Rodriguez received the save opportunity Tuesday and converted for his second save over the last week. He's been a trustworthy bullpen option throughout the season, posting a 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB in 27.2 innings, but he will likely remain in a closing committee with manager Kevin Cash also giving save opportunities to Edwin Uceta and Garrett Cleavinger over the last 10 days.
Rodriguez picked up the save over the Athletics on Wednesday, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.
Rodriguez took over with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and needed nine pitches to get through the leadoff batter before ultimately retiring the side in order for his first save of the campaign. Rodriguez now appears to be working in a closer-by-committee situation since Pete Fairbanks is on the injured list due to a lat strain, as Edwin Uceta recorded the Rays' previous save on Aug. 20. The 28-year-old right-hander has yet to allow a run in August, posting a 10:3 K:BB over that seven-inning stretch (eight appearances).
The Rays recalled Rodriguez from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The Rays traded Phil Maton to the Mets on Tuesday, so Rodriguez will now be called upon to fill the vacancy in Tampa Bay's bullpen. The 27-year-old righty allowed three earned runs in 9.2 innings during a brief stint in the majors earlier this year, and he's posted an impressive 1.09 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through 24.2 innings at Durham. He'll likely be used in middle relief while with the Rays.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Sent down to minors
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The Rays optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Rodriguez holds a 2.79 ERA in nine relief appearances with the Rays this season, although that's come with a 1.55 WHIP. Richard Lovelady is taking his spot in the bullpen.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Summoned to big leagues
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The Rays recalled Rodriguez from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
It will be the first stint in the majors this season for Rodriguez, who has posted a 1.08 ERA and 13:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings with Durham in 2024. Assuming he makes an appearance, it would be the 27-year-old's first at the big-league level since 2022.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Rays optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rodriguez was competing for a spot in the bullpen but will head to Durham for now. He should still wind up spending a good amount of time with the big club this season.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Joins 40-man roster
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The Rays selected Rodriguez's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Rodriguez, whom the Rays acquired from the Cubs on Aug. 1, excelled down the stretch for Triple-A Durham, pitching to a 3.06 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 17.2 innings over the final two months of the season. Now a member of the Rays' 40-man roster, the 27-year-old right-hander will look to secure a spot in the big club's Opening Day bullpen. Rodriguez previously made 34 relief appearances with the Cubs between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, logging a 4.88 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 31.1 frames.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Dealt to Tampa Bay
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The Cubs traded Rodriguez and Adrian Sampson to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Roberson, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Rodriguez looked like a promising young arm in the Cubs' system at one point, but he turns 27 years old this coming Sunday and has registered an underwhelming 4.42 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 38.2 innings of relief this season at Triple-A Iowa. He'll likely report to Triple-A Durham.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Rodriguez cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday,Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rodriguez went unclaimed after being designated for assignment on Friday. The right-hander put together a 3.29 ERA over 13.2 innings with an 8:9 K:BB in his limited time with the Cubs in 2022. He'll provide organizational depth in 2023.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Cast off 40-man roster
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The Cubs designated Rodriguez for assignment Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Rodriguez was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Julian Merryweather, whom the Cubs claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays. The 26-year-old right-hander posted a 3.29 ERA in 14 appearances with the Cubs while registering a 8:9 K:BB over 13.2 innings.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Tallies fourth save
Rotowire
Rodriguez retired the final two batters in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Phillies to record the save.
Rodriguez now has four saves since getting activated from the injured list on Aug. 26. He's seemingly moved ahead of Rowan Wick in the closer pecking order, though Brandon Hughes is also in the mix from the left side. With seven games left in the season, Rodriguez could squeeze out a little more fantasy value if he sees a few more save chances.
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Cubs' Manuel Rodriguez: Records third save
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Rodriguez picked up the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Phillies with a clean inning. He did not record a strikeout.
In his first appearance since blowing the save and earning the win against Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, Rodriguez was called upon to pick up the save with a runner on first base in the ninth inning. He delivered by getting J.T. Realmuto to ground into a fielder's choice and Alec Bohm to bounce into the double play to end the game and record his third save of the season. In 12 innings this season, Rodriguez has a 3.00 ERA and is 3-for-5 in save opportunities.
