The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the biggest stories of the American League so far this season. With a record of 23 wins and 12 losses, they have the second best record in the junior circuit. The only team that has been better are the New York Yankees at 25 wins and 11 losses.
On Friday it was reported by Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors that starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot of Indianapolis, Indiana would miss the entire 2026 Major League Baseball regular season with a hip injury. Pepiot experienced hip inflammation during spring training. Initially, it was expected the injury would be a minor ailment, but it was significantly more serious than first thought. As a result, Pepiot will have hip surgery a week from today according to the Associated Press.
Pepiot had a record of 11 wins and 12 losses last season with an earned run average of 3.86. In 31 games, Pepiot pitched 167 2/3 innings pitched, and gave up 134 hits, 72 earned runs, 26 home runs and 61 walks, to go along with 167 strikeouts, 14 quality starts and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.16. Even though Pepiot had 14 quality starts, his last quality start came on July 26.
It will now be interesting who the Rays can acquire to fill the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Joe Boyle has three starts for the Rays in 2026, but has an earned run average of 5.17. The top four Rays starters have been excellent to start the season. They are Nick Martinez of Miami, Florida, Steven Matz of Stony Brook, New York, Drew Rasmussen of Puyallup, Washington, and Shane McClanahan of Baltimore, Maryland.
I was wrong so far with Martinez. I first believed the Rays overpaid Martinez after he signed a one year contract worth $13 million. So far this season, his earned run average is 1.71, and has only given up eight earned runs in 42 innings.
