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Rays Activate Steven Matz from IL, Option Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Durham
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- Rays Activate Steven Matz from IL, Option Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Durham
The Tampa Bay Rays welcomed back veteran left-hander Steven Matz on Saturday, activating him from the 15-day injured list while optioning right-hander Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Durham.
The move gives Tampa Bay another experienced arm as it continues its push atop the American League East. Roycroft heads back to the minors one day after recording a scoreless inning in the Rays' 11-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians .
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According to the Rays' official announcement, Matz was reinstated from the injured list and Roycroft was optioned to Durham to clear a roster spot.
Matz returns after missing a month with a left ankle sprain that sidelined him on June 25. The veteran also spent time on the injured list earlier this season because of left elbow inflammation and is expected to work primarily as a multi-inning reliever rather than rejoin the starting rotation immediately.
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Before the injury, Matz appeared in 15 games, including 10 starts, posting a 4-4 record with a 6.28 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP and 41 strikeouts over 53 innings. His versatility gives manager Kevin Cash another option to cover multiple innings as Tampa Bay manages its pitching staff during the second half.
Roycroft's demotion comes despite a solid outing Friday night. The right-hander closed out the victory over Cleveland with a scoreless inning, but the Rays elected to preserve roster flexibility after Matz became available.
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Rays entered Saturday with a 60-43 record, holding a two-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East. As the trade deadline approaches, adding another experienced bullpen arm could prove valuable during a tightly contested division race.
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Matz's return strengthens Tampa Bay's pitching depth while allowing Roycroft to continue pitching regularly at Triple-A. With the Rays focused on maintaining their position atop the division, every healthy arm could play an important role over the final two months of the season.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
