Cole

Sulser

Scholtens will take the ball after opener Cole Sulser. The 32-year-old was called up over the weekend when starter Joe Boyle hit the injured list with elbow inflammation. He’s tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the big leagues this season. It’s a decent enough matchup that he might have some appeal as a streaming option in extremely deep mixed leagues.

Sulser’s contract could be a split deal according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The right-hander will be a mid-inning arm for Tampa Bay in 2026; assuming he makes the club out of spring training of course.

Sulser rejoins Tampa Bay’s bullpen mix prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Guardians with Mason Englert heading to the shelf with a shoulder ailment. The well-traveled 35-year-old veteran has registered a respectable 3.21 ERA across 14 innings over 13 appearances in the big leagues this season.

Sulser has been a solid bullpen option for Tampa Bay with a 3.21 ERA, but he’ll head back to Triple-A again to create room for Connor Seabold. Sulser will assuredly be back before the end of 2025, but he’s nothing more than an up-and-down option.

Sulser was just demoted to Durham on Sunday, but the 35-year-old is eligible to rejoin the Rays a few days later after Emanuel Rodríguez was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain.

Sulser returns to the minors after posting a solid 3.09 ERA across 11 2/3 innings (10 appearances) this season for Tampa Bay. The 35-year-old veteran figures to return in a couple weeks as middle relief depth.

The Rays’ top four relievers all pitched Wednesday and Thursday, so it was Cole Sulser in the eighth and Orze in the ninth tonight. Sulser blew a one-run lead in his frame, but he got the win after the Rays went back ahead. Orze has allowed just one earned run in 13 1/3 innings since the Rays called him up Apr. 14. His 8/6 K/BB is less impressive.

Sulser made one appearance for the Rays last month, giving up two runs in an inning. The 35-year-old has a 3.84 ERA in 150 career major league innings since debuting in 2019.

Sulser has been shipped out to make room for Joe Boyle to come up and take the ball on Sunday against the Braves.

Sulser will grab the roster spot that opened up after Kevin Kelly was placed on the 15-day injured list with a glute strain. He should have a chance to work in the middle innings while he’s with the Rays in this stint.