Ryan

Vilade

Vilade entered the game as a pinch-hitter with two runners on and two outs in the seventh inning to face left-handed Gabe Speier. He came through for the Rays with a three-run blast to extend the lead with his seventh homer of the season. The 27-year-old has been limited to playing time against left-handed pitching, slashing .261/.323/.471 with 31 RBI across 156 plate appearances.

Díaz will take a break against tough right-hander Hunter Brown for Saturday’s game. Ryan Vilade will get the start at first base and hit cleanup in Díaz’s absence

Vilade’s sixth homer of the season was a solo shot off Noah Cameron in the third inning; one of two homers the Rays hit in the frame off Cameron. The former second-round selection has been an impressive reclamation product for Tampa Bay, and he’s clobbered left-handed pitching as the latest platoon bat for a team that deploys them more than anyone. Vilade also drew a walk, and it improves his slash to a very solid .278/.343/.484.

Vilade’s roster spot might have been in jeopardy earlier this season if not for the Rays’ injuries, but he’s now up to .299/.361/.477 with a rather incredible 25 RBI while starting mostly against lefties. He’s fourth on the Rays in RBI and 11th with his 123 plate appearances.

Simpson takes a seat with lefty-masher Ryan Vilade getting the nod to face southpaw Eric Lauer, who gets the ball for Los Angeles to kick off a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The 25-year-old speedster has started just four of six games since missing time last week with a lingering thumb issue.

Simpson returned on Tuesday after missing three days off and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. His lingering thumb injury may be why he’s being held out of the lineup on Wednesday, but the Red Sox are also throwing yet another left-handed pitcher. Austin Slater will make his third straight start in the outfield, and Ryan Vilade will make his fourth straight start, batting cleanup and playing left field.

Aranda has been a constant for Tampa Bay in 2026, but the 28-year-old will get a rare breather against southpaw Payton Tolle on Tuesday. Ryan Vilade will get the start at first base and hit cleanup while Aranda rests.

It’s the second straight game that Simpson has missed due to a thumb contusion that has been bothering him throughout the week. It still doesn’t sound like something that’s going to require a trip to the injured list, but fantasy managers should be sure to monitor his status on Monday just to be on the safe side. Ryan Vilade will start in his place in left field and will bat seventh against Marlins’ right-hander Sandy Alcantara on Sunday.

Vilade’s home run off Jeff Hoffman in the seventh inning put the Rays up 5-0. It was his second home run of the season. Vilade should still see most of his at-bats against left-handed pitching, a strategy that optimizes his skills but ultimately severely limits his fantasy value.

Aranda started against each of the other four southpaws that the Rays faced this week, but he’ll grab a seat on the bench for Sunday’s series finale against Payton Tolle. Ryan Vilade will start in his place at first base and will bat fifth for the Rays on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.