Jake

Fraley

Fraley hit the shelf with a hernia over the weekend and is going to wind up missing nearly two months. The 30-year-old will likely be on the shelf until around the All-Star break in July.

The 30-year-old outfielder was scratched from the Rays’ lineup on Saturday due to the injury and will be shelved for at least a couple of weeks. As anticipated, Carson Williams was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move to take his place on the Rays’ active roster.

Fraley was scratched from Saturday’s lineup with an undisclosed injury. Jacob Melton is hurt in Triple-A, so Carson Williams might be the choice to replace Fraley on the Tampa Bay roster. Richie Palacios, who has been mostly starting at second base, could move to right field to replace Fraley, opening up infield starts for Williams and Ben Williamson.

No word on the reason for the move. Johnny DeLuca takes over in right field and will hit seventh in his place. The 30-year-old platoon specialist will continue playing regularly against right-handed starter. There should be an update on his status following the contest.

Díaz told reporters he’s feeling better and hopes to return later this weekend, while downplaying concern about a potential trip to the injured list. The 34-year-old on-base machine will get some extra time off to rest and recover after leaving Friday’s series opener with oblique tightness. It doesn’t sound like a massive concern, but oblique issues can be tricky matters. Clearly, the Rays don’t want to take any chances. It’ll be Jake Fraley taking over at DH in his absence on Saturday evening.

Fraley broke a scoreless game with a two-run homer off Bailey Ober in the fourth inning. He was later pinch-hit for with a left-hander on the mound to lead off the seventh. The home run was the second of the season for Fraley. He’s hitting .240/.309/.440 with four runs, four RBI, and two steals across 55 plate appearances.

Fraley is back in right field and hitting fifth following a brief two-game absence due to a right leg contusion. The 30-year-old will continue serving in a righty-mashing platoon role.

Fraley sat out Wednesday’s game as well after fouling a ball off of his leg on Tuesday. The fact that the Rays haven’t put him on the injured list makes it likely that they still feel it’s a day-to-day type of injury and expect him to return to the lineup at some point over the weekend. Jonny DeLuca will once again start in his place in right field and will bat fifth against Taj Bradley and the Twins on Friday evening in Tampa Bay.

The Rays are giving Fraley a day off today ahead of the team’s full day on Thursday in the hopes that two days off will allow him to be back in the lineup on Friday and avoid a trip to the injured list. The Rays are facing a left-hander on Wednesday anyway, so this works in their favor. Ryan Vilade will play right field and bat fourth with Jonny DeLuca in centerfield, batting fifth

Fraley left the contest with Tampa Bay trailing by nine runs in the sixth inning. The 30-year-old corner outfielder is presumably day-to-day heading into Wednesday’s series finale.