Colin Poche's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays have non-tendered relief pitchers Tyler Alexander and Colin Poche. Alexander operated as both a starter and a reliever last summer and held a 5.10 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP across 107 2/3 innings of work. Under the hood, he carried a poor 4.68 xERA and 32.1% ground ball rate. Poche operated as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen over the past few seasons in Tampa Bay. Last summer, he took a slight step back as he posted a 3.68 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP compared to his stellar 2.23 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP he held in 2023. Fantasy managers should expect Poche to find a new club and continue to operate as a high-leverage option and could eventually mix in for save opportunities depending on his new situation. Alexander will likely find a new home in another bullpen but could see occasional starts.

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated left-hander Colin Poche (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Cole Sulser to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Inflammation in Poche's left shoulder has kept him out in September to this point, but he will skip a minor-league rehab assignment and return to Tampa's big-league bullpen to close out the 2024 season. The 30-year-old southpaw will return to a 1-2 record, 3.67 ERA (5.15 FIP), a 1.14 WHIP, two saves, 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in his 34 1/3 relief innings in 2024 over 39 appearances. The Rays are currently rolling with a closer-by-committee approach involving Edwin Uceta, Manuel Rodriguez and Richard Lovelady late in the year, and Poche could enter that mix now that he's healthy. Fantasy managers desperate for saves this late in the game could take a flier on Poche in deep leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Colin Poche (back) joined Triple-A Durham for a minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday after he felt good during a 15-pitch bullpen session on May 22. Manager Kevin Cash said Poche will likely need a few rehab appearances before he's ready to join the big-league bullpen in Tampa. The left-hander went on the injured list on April 26 (retroactive to April 24) with a mid-back issue that prevented him from feeling fully comfortable on the mound. The 30-year-old received an injection in his back, which came before a few days of rest, and he needed a second cortisone-type injection in early May. Poche had a career-best 2.23 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a save in 66 relief outings for the Rays in 2023 but had allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits (three homers) in 9 1/3 innings this year before landing on the IL.