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Baker was charged with a blown save Saturday against the Pirates, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts in one inning.
With the heart of the order due up for the Pirates in the bottom of the eighth, manager Kevin Cash called on Baker to protect a 5-4 lead. He yielded a leadoff walk to Brandon Lowe and an infield singled to Ryan O'Hearn before Nick Yorke tied the game with a single. It was Baker's second blown save of the season, though he'd previously recorded four of the Rays' previous five saves. Baker now owns a 4.32 ERA and 9:3 K:BB across 8.1 innings and currently remains Tampa Bay's leading candidate for saves.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Locks down fourth save
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Baker picked up the save Thursday against the White Sox, allowing no hits and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
That's now four saves already for Baker on the young campaign, which is his career-high total. The 31-year-old right-hander is establishing a rather strong grip on Tampa Bay's closer role, posting a 3.68 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB over 7.1 innings while converting four of his five save opportunities. That said, Edwin Uceta (shoulder) might present some competition to Baker once he completes his rehab assignment.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Collects one-out save
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Baker earned the save in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the White Sox after recording the final out of the game.
The Rays held an 8-3 lead heading into the ninth, but the team turned to Baker to record the final out of the game after Yoendrys Gomez gave up a two-run homer to Munetaka Murakami, and Baker successfully closed things out by getting Edgar Quero to fly out to center field. Baker has converted three of his four save opportunities and has allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven across 6.1 innings this season.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Charged with first blown save
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Baker took a blown save Saturday against the Yankees, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk in one-third of an inning.
Called upon to protect a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning, Baker was victimized by a Jose Caballero double that plated a pair of runs to tie up the game. The right-hander had been gaining steam as Tampa Bay's favorite for saves, having successfully converted each of the club's prior two save chances, but the Rays' closer committee is likely to remain in a state of flux until someone separates from the pack. Through six frames, Baker owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Collects second save of 2026
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Baker earned the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Yankees, allowing two hits while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning. He did not issue a walk.
Baker got the call to the mound for the ninth inning to protect the Rays' two-run lead. He gave up back-to-back singles to open the frame before the two runners advanced to second and third on a fielder's choice, but Baker was able to escape unscathed after striking out Randal Grichuk and getting Trent Grisham to pop out. Baker has collected two saves and a win over his last three outings and has allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven across five innings to open the season.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Earns first save
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Baker earned the save Monday against the Cubs, allowing one run on one hit and no walks while striking out two in the ninth inning.
A two-out home run from Matt Shaw spoiled a shutout ninth inning from Baker as he earned his first save of 2026. It was the first hit and run the 31-year-old surrendered on the season. He also added two strikeouts to give him six on the season through four innings and four appearances. With some of the other Rays high-leverage relievers struggling to start the season, Baker's early success might earn him some more save opportunities moving forward.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Grabs first win Sunday
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Baker (1-0) was credited with the win Sunday against the Twins, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.
The Rays have a pretty wide open closer competition during the early going of the season. Griffin Jax has an 11.25 ERA through his first four innings, while both Garrett Cleavinger (calf) and Edwin Uceta (shoulder) are on the injured list. That said, the door is open for Baker, who has tossed three scoreless innings with a 4:0 K:BB thus far, to at least claim more high-leverage work.
Baker agreed to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Baker didn't live up to the expectations the Rays had for him when they traded for him in July, as he put up a 4.75 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 30.1 innings while working as a setup man. He'll get another chance to redeem himself in 2026, as the Rays are expected to open the campaign with Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta working as a closer committee.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Picks up first Tampa save
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Baker struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Nationals.
Pete Fairbanks threw 22 pitches the night before and was presumably unavailable, but Griffin Jax handled the eighth inning after Mason Englert gave up Washington's only run, while Baker took care of the ninth. It was Baker's first save since being acquired by the Rays in early July, and after some initial struggles with his new team, he's posted a 1.50 ERA, 0.42 WHIP and 15:1 K:BB over 12 August innings.
Baker (calf) struck out one batter over a perfect inning of relief in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Yankees.
Baker suffered a right calf strain during his most recent appearance Saturday against the Reds, but he was able to avoid a trip to the injured list and was sharp in his return to the mound three days later. Since being acquired from the Orioles on July 10, Baker has collected two holds and has permitted six earned runs on four hits and four walks over 5.2 innings.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Dealing with calf issue
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Baker departed Saturday's contest against the Reds due to a right calf injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays aren't sure at this point if Baker is dealing with a cramp or a strain. If it's the former, Baker could be back in action shortly, but he could be out for longer if he's dealing with a strain. He's set for further evaluation Sunday.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Exits with apparent injury Saturday
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Baker (undisclosed) was pulled from Saturday's matchup versus Cincinnati due to an apparent injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Baker entered in the seventh inning and struggled, allowing two runs on two walks and zero hits while striking out one batter. He flexed his lower right leg after his 22nd pitch and was subsequently visited by a trainer and pulled, though the Rays haven't announced a reason for his departure yet. Baker was acquired from the Orioles in a trade July 10 and picked up a hold in two of his first four appearances with Tampa Bay.
Baker (3-3) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Boston, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks in the seventh inning. He struck out one.
Making his Rays debut, Baker was brought on to protect a three-run lead but floundered in the seventh frame. The 30-year-old right-hander should still act as a setup man for closer Pete Fairbanks in Tampa Bay's bullpen moving ahead, although the former has now given up seven runs in his past two outings. Baker is now at a 4.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 50:11 K:BB over 39.1 innings in 2025.
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Rays' Bryan Baker: Dealt to Tampa Bay
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The Rays acquired Baker from the Orioles on Thursday in exchange for the No. 37 overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Baker has been a dependable setup man for the Orioles this season, notching three holds, 11 holds and two saves while accruing a 3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 49:9 K:BB in 38.1 innings. With Pete Fairbanks maintaining good health and excelling as the Rays' closer so far this season, Baker's path to saves isn't likely to get any clearer as he moves on to a new AL East locale, but he should be a key part of the bridge to the ninth inning in Tampa Bay.
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