You’re staring at your phone, refreshing the feed, and wondering why the heck the tampa bay rays game score hasn't updated yet. It’s January 14, 2026. If you’re a die-hard fan, you already know the sinking feeling: there isn't a score. Not today. Not for another few weeks.
Baseball has this weird way of disappearing just when the winter gets truly miserable. While the Tampa Bay Lightning are out there tearing up the ice—honestly, they just hit a 10-game win streak with Jon Cooper snagging his 600th win—the Rays are currently a collection of spreadsheets, trade rumors, and guys working out in private facilities.
But don't let the lack of a box score fool you. The "score" right now is being kept in the front office, and if you haven't been paying attention to the transactions this week, you’re going to be very confused when Spring Training actually kicks off.
The Offseason Scoreboard: Who’s Winning?
Right now, the Rays are doing what they do best: making moves that make fans scratch their heads. Just a couple of days ago, on January 12, the team pulled the trigger on a trade with the Atlanta Braves. We got Ken Waldichuk and Brett Wisely for essentially some pocket change (cash considerations).
Waldichuk is a name to watch. He’s a lefty coming back from Tommy John surgery. Last year at Triple-A, his ERA was an ugly 8.65, but the Rays see that 33.9% career minor-league strikeout rate and think they can fix him. That’s the "Rays Way," right? Find a broken arm with high spin rates and turn it into a Cy Young contender.
Recent Roster Shuffles
- Osvaldo Bido and Tsung-Che Cheng were both designated for assignment (DFA) on Monday to make room.
- Jonathan Aranda officially changed his jersey number to 8.
- Bryan Baker signed a one-year, $1.275 million deal to avoid arbitration.
- Kevin Kelly locked in at $925,000 for the year.
The real "score" people are worried about is the hole at second base. Trading away Brandon Lowe was a gut punch for a lot of people. He was the veteran presence. Now, we’re looking at a competition between Richie Palacios and maybe even Wisely. It’s risky. It’s classic Erik Neander. It sort of feels like they’re punting on immediate power for long-term flexibility, which is a pill that's always hard to swallow in January.
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When Do We Actually Get a Tampa Bay Rays Game Score?
If you’re looking for a real-time result, mark your calendar for February 21, 2026. That’s the official start of Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park.
The first game is against the Atlanta Braves. Tickets actually went on sale today, January 14, at 10:00 AM. If you’re local or planning a trip to Port Charlotte, that’s your first chance to see if the new-look roster can actually hit water if they fell out of a boat.
Key Dates for the 2026 Season
- February 21: Spring Training Opener vs. Braves.
- March 4: A weirdly cool exhibition against Team Netherlands for the World Baseball Classic.
- March 26: Opening Day at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals.
- April 6: Home Opener at the Trop against the Chicago Cubs.
The projections for this year aren't exactly glowing. ZiPS has the Rays pegged as a "water-treading" team. They finished 2025 with a 77-85 record, which honestly felt worse than it looked because they just never seemed relevant in the AL East race. The Blue Jays and Yankees are sitting at the top of the mountain with 94 wins each, and the Rays are looking up from the basement.
Why the Scoreboard Might Look Different in 2026
We have to talk about Shane McClanahan. He hasn't thrown a meaningful pitch in the big leagues since 2023. If he comes back healthy, the "score" changes instantly. A rotation featuring McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, and Ryan Pepiot is actually terrifying for the rest of the league.
But baseball is fickle.
The offense is the big question mark. Without Lowe, the pressure on Junior Caminero is immense. Everyone is expecting him to be the next superstar, but he's still just 22. If he doesn't hit 30+ homers, this team is going to struggle to score more than three runs a night. And then there's Yandy Díaz. He’s turning 35 in August. At some point, that elite bat speed has to slow down, right? Rays fans are hoping it’s not this year.
Real-World Advice for Following the Score
Stop checking the MLB app for a few weeks. It’s just going to show you 0-0 or "No Games Scheduled."
Instead, watch the waiver wire. The Rays are currently sitting with a full 40-man roster, but they are constantly churning the bottom 5 spots. If you want to know how the 2026 season will go, watch what they do with their "closer committee." Right now, it looks like Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger, and Edwin Uceta are going to be the guys coming in for the 9th inning.
If you’re desperate for live Tampa Bay sports, the Lightning are the play. They’re hosting games at Amalie Arena throughout January. But for the Rays? We're in the "trust the process" phase of the winter.
What to do now:
- Check the secondary market: If you missed the 10:00 AM ticket drop today for Spring Training, check the resale sites early. Port Charlotte is a small park, and those Braves and Yankees games sell out fast.
- Watch the World Baseball Classic news: With the Netherlands game on March 4, several Rays players will likely be departing camp early to join their national teams. This will give a lot of the younger prospects like Brody Hopkins and Carson Williams more innings in the early spring games.
- Monitor the 40-man: Expect at least two more minor trades before pitchers and catchers report. The Rays still have a surplus of middle infield depth and a glaring need for a veteran backup catcher.