The Tampa Bay Rays will be without a key piece of their rotation for longer than expected.
Ryan Pepiot’s return to the team has now been pushed back to May, per Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. The right-hander was initially on the shelf for the final week of spring training due to hip discomfort, and at the time, the Rays simply ruled him out for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, that timetable has already passed.
Pepiot continues to deal with soreness in his hip, and after throwing a bullpen over the weekend, he told manager Kevin Cash that he wasn’t feeling like himself. On Monday, the 28-year-old received a cortisone injection in Nashville to help with the pain, and on Tuesday, the team moved him from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to make room for Michael Grove, who the ball club recently signed as a free agent. Pepiot’s earliest return date now sits at May 24.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Rotation Staying Afloat Without Pepiot
GettyShane McClanahan #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on April 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Pepiot was relatively solid last season for the Rays, compiling a 3.86 ERA across 31 starts. However, without him this year, the Rays have managed to stay afloat. Their rotation owns a 3.42 ERA, holding opponents to a .178 average.
The long-awaited return of ace Shane McClanahan has obviously helped, as he’s pitched to a 3.95 ERA so far after missing the last two seasons due to injury. Steven Matz and Nick Martinez have held their own after joining this past winter, while Drew Rasmussen has been consistent as well. This team has always managed to have guys who can step up, and Tampa’s current staff is doing just that. McClanahan’s return is massive, especially if he can find his Cy Young form again.
Pepiot Will Need Time To Ramp Up
GettyRyan Pepiot #44 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the first inning during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at George M. Steinbrenner Field on August 24, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Having not faced live hitters since the spring, Pepiot won’t just be ready to roll as soon as his hip pain calms down. He’ll need to work his way up to a starter workload again. After all, he hasn’t pitched since March 17, and by the time he’s on the bump again, it’ll be around two months sidelined.
Pepiot came over to the Rays in 2023 in the Tyler Glasnow trade, and he’s been a nice pickup. Across two seasons with the organization, Pepiot owns a 3.75 ERA, and he won’t become a free agent until 2029.
Tampa Bay is currently at the top of the American League East with a 9-7 record. Once Grove is ready to pitch in the big leagues again and Pepiot returns to 100% health, Cash will have two arms to rely upon as the Rays look to improve upon a disappointing 2025 campaign.
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