Cole

Sulser

Sulser returns to Tampa Bay’s bullpen following a minimum stay on the injured list recovering from a lower back strain. The 36-year-old journeyman has compiled a respectable 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 16/9 K/BB ratio across 22 innings of work this season.

Sulser has a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 ERA, and 16/9 K/BB ratio in 22 innings out of the Rays’ bullpen. He will likely be sidelined for a few weeks.

With Bryan Baker having thrown on back-to-back days, the Rays turned to Cole Sulser to protect a one-run lead on Tuesday, and he did without allowing a baserunner to pick up his second save of the season. What’s interesting here is that Garrett Cleavinger hadn’t thrown since Saturday, and the Blue Jays started the inning with a left-handed hitter and a switch-hitter. Perhaps they’re not ready for Cleavinger to step back into late-inning situations so soon after returning from the IL, or maybe Sulser has simply leapfrogged him in the peaking order, but the 36-year-old Sulser appears to be next in line behind Baker for saves.

Sulser was brought in to protect a one-run lead in the final frame after Kevin Kelly got the call to put out a bases-loaded fire the previous inning. The 36-year-old veteran made things interesting by putting a pair of runners on-base, but still managed to preserve the win. Tampa Bay’s primary stopper Bryan Baker was likely unavailable for workload reasons after throwing 39 pitches while recording a pair of saves the previous two days.

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.