RBLR Rays Weekly Roundtable – 8/10/26
A hamstring strain and a road trip for the ages rarely show up in the same week, but that’s exactly the split screen Rays fans got. One storyline forces a hard look at what’s left on the infield depth chart; the other is a reminder of just how good this team has looked lately.
Jacob Macauley (@raysfarmreport) : Williams to the Rescue?
In the Rays final game of their series with the Colorado Rockies, Ben Williamson exited the game with a hamstring strain, an injury the Rays aren’t certain he will make a 2026 return from. That leaves some uncertainty moving forward due to the Rays only having one remaining right-handed hitting infielder on their 40-man roster. That player is Carson Williams.
Williams has been a polarizing player his entire career, consistently putting up large offensive numbers (career 119 wRC+) accompanied by gaudy strikeout rates (career 31.6% K%). Carson got his opportunity to be the opening-day shortstop due to an oblique strain suffered by Walls. Williams floundered in his brief stint as he slashed .130/.167/.174, good for a -11 wRC+, and was quickly optioned back to Durham ahead of the return to Tropicana Field. Since then, it has been a disappointing year for the former top 10 prospect, as his 83 wRC+ this season marks a career-worst for him in his six-year professional career.
Despite the dreadful season, there is still room to be optimistic about Williams helping this roster out moving forward. On the surface, Williams has handled the bat well vs left handed pitching this season (.259/.381/.432), but the process vs southpaws is even stronger vs left handed pitching. He has a 75th percentile EV90 (105.1 MPH) with average swing decisions and a strong ability to get the baseball in the air.
With Williams athleticism and defensive prowess, if he can just give the Rays someone they can rely on vs southpaws and the occasional limited-spin-capacity right-hander, he certainly has a role and is someone who can help make an impact down the stretch.
Sandy (@SandyAndTheRays): Road Tripping
What a week it was on the road for the Tampa Bay Rays. I hope everyone’s on notice: this team became the first AL team to reach 70 wins this season, has won six straight on the West Coast, and is 14-4 over its last 18 games.
This weekend included a gutsy showing from the bullpen against the Mariners after Griffin Jax was scratched late from his scheduled start — a true showdown in late-night Rays baseball. When it was all over, seven Rays relievers had been used, and the Rays pulled out a gritty 3-2 victory.
Also in this game: Bryan Baker was called upon to pitch the ninth inning and secured his 34th save of the season. As Rays Communications shared on X, it was his 23rd consecutive converted save opportunity, breaking the tie he held with Fernando Rodney, who converted 22 straight in 2012. It’s another impressive mark for Baker, who has more than lived up to his All-Star selection this season.
With the season winding down, Tampa Bay has extended its lead in the division to a season-high 5.5 games. It feels like the Rays are getting closer and closer to putting this division race completely out of reach.
The RBLR Rays Roundtable is a weekly collection of analysis, insight, and perspectives from a cast of writers assembled because of their unique backgrounds and experience. Check this space weekly for new updates and features covering the Tampa Bay Rays, the Rays’ minor league prospects, and more!
