Who is Joe Boyle and Why is He Starting For Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday?
When the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field, they'll do so with a different starting pitcher on the mound than originally reported.
The electric Shane Baz has been pushed back to give the starters another day of rest, with Joe Boyle taking his place.
So, who is Boyle? First, he was acquired by the Rays this offseason in the deal that sent lefty Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics.
Furthermore, he features excellent stuff, but there are questions about his command.
Per Rays' reporter Ryan Bass:
Boyle, who the #Rays acquired in the Jeffrey Springs deal, led the team in K's (21) and innings (15.1) this spring. He also walked 10 batters.
In his @MLB career with Oakland, Boyle was 5-6, with a 5.23 ERA, 71 K's and 45 BB.
First Rays regular-season start is upon us.
Boyle, who the #Rays acquired in the Jeffrey Springs deal, led the team in K's (21) and innings (15.1) this spring. He also walked 10 batters.
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) April 13, 2025
In his @MLB career with Oakland, Boyle was 5-6, with a 5.23 ERA, 71 K's and 45 BB.
First Rays regular-season start is upon us. https://t.co/Fg1gkHNzkn
Those questions have persisted down at Triple-A Durham, where Boyle has struck out 10 and walked six during eight innings. He has an 0-1 record and a 2.25 ERA.
The Rays enter play on Sunday at 6-8 overall and in last place in the American League East. The Braves are 4-10 and in last place in the National League East.
First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. ET. Chris Sale will take the ball for Atlanta. The reigning Cy Young winner in the National League, he's 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
The Rays will host the Boston Red Sox for a new series beginning on Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Related Rays stories
- RAYS BEAT BRAVES: Danny Jansen's bat has been very quiet the first two weeks of the season, but the Tampa Bay catcher busted out Friday night with a home run and four RBIs in the Rays' 6-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. CLICK HERE
- RAYS ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS: Here are the top-25 Rays pitchers for all-time strikeouts, with Taj Bradley now checking in at No. 22. Some great names to see here. CLICK HERE
- COLE SULSER CALLED UP: Even when you're 35 years old, getting the call-up to the big leagues is still a big deal, veteran Cole Sulser said Friday. Tampa Bay brought him up after Kevin Kelly went on the injured list with a gluteal strain. CLICK HERE
- ANGELS CLOBBER RAYS PITCHERS IN HISTORIC FASHION: The Rays were battered by the Angels on Thursday afternoon, 11-1, as they fell to 5-7. In the loss, the pitching staff became the first in 232 games to surrender 11 runs to the Halos. CLICK HERE
- TOM BREW COLUMN: Tampa Bay got walked off in the ninth inning Sunday at Texas, getting swept and falling below .500 for the first time in 2025. That's nine straight losses at Globe Life Stadium, dating back to 2022. The Rangers are their nemesis for sure right now. Here is Tom Brew's column. CLICK HERE
- PAYOFF PITCH PODCAST (Vol. 2): After the first week of the 2025 MLB season, "On SI" baseball writers Tom Brew, Brady Farkas, Jack Ankony and Brandon Brown met for another episode of the Payoff Pitch Podcast to discuss the Dodgers' 8-0 start, the Braves' 0-7 record, Garrett Crochet's extension, Kyle Tucker's future, torpedo bats and more news around the league. CLICK HERE
Brady Farkas covers baseball for "On SI'' on the Sports Illustrated platform and is managing editor of "Fastball on SI,'' "Minor League Baseball on SI' and ''Seattle Mariners on SI.'' Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University.