Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley fired a dominant 5 2/3 innings for eight strikeouts and no earned runs, but landed with a loss in a 1-0 pitching slugfest with the Chicago Cubs on Monday. The 22-year-old dispersed only three hits and lent just one walk, bettering his ERA to 3.60 and WHIP to 1.07. Bradley was outdueled by Marcus Stroman, who humbled Tampa Bay's normally imposing offense for a one-hit shutout. Bradley's strong command from the minors has translated over to the majors so far, displaying a 42:5 K:BB ratio across the first 30 innings of his career. With a rotation spot likely intact long-term, the top prospect's rest-of-season fantasy arrow is burgeoning. Bradley should start one of Tampa Bay's games in a doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rays top pitching prospect Taj Bradley will start on Thursday against the New York Mets, and he'll have a chance to stick around in the team's starting rotation. There's a spot open in the team's rotation given Drew Rasmussen's (forearm) injury, so Bradley needs to be picked up if he's available in most fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old has been much better in his three major-league starts (3.52 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 23 K's) over 15 1/3 innings for the Rays in 2023 than he's been in the minors (11.25 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 13 K's in five starts). The upside is very high on a good team for Bradley, but fantasy managers should probably expect growing pains if he sticks in Tampa's rotation following Thursday's start.

The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to choose between top pitching prospect Taj Bradley and right-hander Cooper Criswell for Wednesday's start against the New York Mets to replace Drew Rasmussen (forearm) in the starting rotation. Bradley is more rested, having thrown 67 pitches over 3 1/3 innings for Triple-A Durham last Thursday, while Criswell threw 74 pitches over four innings on Saturday. Bradley, 22, has more upside and looked pretty good in his first three-major league starts for the Rays earlier this year, but he's really struggled to the tune of an 11.25 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in five starts for the Bulls on the farm. Even if Criswell gets the nod, Bradley should eventually join Tampa's rotation this year once he shows better results in the minors.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley's struggles at Triple-A Durham continued on Thursday, when he allowed four runs on seven hits (two homers surrendered) while walking one and striking out two in only 3 1/3 innings of work. Bradley fell to 1-3 for the Bulls with a rough 11.25 ERA. In three starts (nine innings) since getting sent back to the minors on April 25, Bradley has a nightmarish 16.00 ERA and 2.22 WHIP. The team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, won three games, had a 3.52 ERA and struck out 23 hitters for the Rays in his first three MLB starts earlier this year, but the back-and-forth transition may be affecting him. The 22-year-old still has incredible upside at the next level, but it may be a bit before we see him pitching again for the Rays.

The Tampa Bay Rays activated outfielder Jose Siri (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and also optioned impressive rookie starting pitcher Taj Bradley back to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. The Rays also optioned outfield Vidal Brujan to the minors. The move to send Bradley to the minors was in big part to transition him to a five-day schedule as part of his continued development. It will also give Yonny Chirinos and Josh Fleming more starting opportunities. The 22-year-old Bradley looks like the real deal and should remain stashed in dynasty/keeper and AL-only leagues after striking out 23 in his first 15 1/3 MLB innings. Siri, 27, should be Tampa's regular center fielder now that he's recovered from a right hamstring strain he suffered over two weeks ago.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley looked impressive in his second big-league start, improving to 2-0 over the Reds in a 10-0 win. The 22-year-old pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. The team's top prospect has flashed why he has been so hyped in his first two starts and is now expected to have a long-term spot in the starting rotation with Jeffrey Springs (elbow) expected to undergo Tommy John surgery. His next start will likely be a tough one against the Astros. While fantasy managers may be hesitant to start him should slot into that next start, they should pick him up wherever he is available.

The Tampa Bay Rays added top pitching prospect Taj Bradley to their taxi squad on Monday, which likely positions him to make his second major-league start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. The Rays also called up right-hander Cooper Criswell, optioned right-hander Trevor Kelly to the minors and moved pitcher Shawn Armstrong (neck) to the 60-day injured list to make room for Criswell on the 40-man roster. Bradley needs to be picked up in all fantasy formats, as he's expected to have a long-term spot in the starting rotation with Jeffrey Springs (elbow) now out at least two months. The 22-year-old right-hander impressed in his MLB debut last week, allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out eight in five innings in a win over the Boston Red Sox.

The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned starting pitcher Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham. Bradley, the teams top pitching prospect made his big-league debut on Wednesday and was impressive. He tossed five innings and allowed five hits, three ones, one walk with eight strikeouts. Most of the damage done against the 22-year-old came in his final inning. Bradley proved that he can face major league hitters and is likely to be back up sooner than later. Managers in all formats would be wise to stash the talented arm. Replacing Bradley on the big-league squad will be relief pitcher Braden Bristo. Bristo can be avoided in all formats at the moment.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin (back) is going on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with lower back tightness. Pitching prospect Taj Bradley is being recalled from the minors in a corresponding move, and he'll make his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin is off to a good start in two outings for the Rays this year, allowing just four runs on 12 hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 12 in 11 innings over two starts. Bradley is the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and had allowed four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out eight in seven innings over his first two starts for Triple-A Durham. The 22-year-old hasn't gone deep in his two minor-league starts this year and probably won't be a very good streaming choice for fantasy managers this week, but his long-term upside is very high.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley turned in a much better performance than his debut outing on Thursday for Triple-A Durham. Bradley tossed five innings and allowed two hits, one run, zero walks and recorded four strikeouts. The 22-year-old looked every bit of himself on Thursday and remains one of the top pitching prospects in the league. With excellent command and a fastball/cutter combination that ranks amongst the best in the minor leagues, Bradley is primed to make his debut at some point in 2023. The Rays are one of the best franchises at developing their prospects and it's likely that once promoted, Bradley will be given a long leash. For now, the consensus Top-20 prospect remains a strong stash in all formats.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley has been optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday. There was a chance that Bradley would make the Opening Day roster with Tyler Glasnow (oblique) sidelined. Despite that, it sounds like the team wants to see Bradley pitch in Triple-A to begin the season. The 21-year-old threw three scoreless innings with a 1.20 WHIP during Grapefruit league action. It shouldn't be long before we see Bradley making an impact in the big league rotation. He's worth stashing in dynasty and keeper leagues to begin the season.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley (calf) said he checked out fine on Saturday after leaving the Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees as a precaution when he was hit on the side of his right calf by a comebacker. In his two spring outings so far, the 21-year-old has tossed two scoreless innings. He's one of the top prospects in all of baseball heading into the 2023 season after dominating in the minors in recent seasons. Bradley wasn't as good in 2022 with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham and could use some more seasoning on his secondary pitches, but he still has a bright future at the big-league level. He's expected to begin 2023 at Durham, but he's worth stashing in dynasty/keeper and deep AL-only leagues.