Left-hander has won the final spot in the Rays rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Hell actually pitch the fourth game of the season, with , and expected to line up for the first three and apparently taking the fifth game. Topkin that Alexander could pitch behind an opener, but for all intents and purposes, hes the final rotation member, beating out righties and . Waguespack and Devenski will be in the Rays bullpen. Also of note, Topkin reports that the Rays still havent decided on their backup catcher and final bench spot and could consider external options for either. Alexander, 29, came to the Rays by way of a Nov. 10 waiver claim after the Tigers designated him for a signment. He entered camp expected to stretch out to three innings in order to serve as a long reliever same as Devenski but the pectoral strain suffered by young righty opened up a rotation job that Alexander has now seized. Starting is a familiar role for the left-hander, as Alexander has started 43 games in his MLB career all coming with the Tigers. He started 32 games from 2021-22, at times functioning as an opener but also stretching out to a full starters workload. Hes completed six innings on seven different occasions in his career and has three starts of seven-plus innings. In all, Alexander has pitched 199 innings as a starter. Hes recorded a 4.70 ERA, 17.4% strikeout rate Owen Miller Jersey and 5.6% walk rate in that time, as compared to a 3.92 ERA, 21.1% strikeout rate and 4.4% walk rate in 142 1/3 frames out of the bullpen. Alexander has pitched well this spring. Hes to sed nine innings in official games and yielded just two runs on a dozen hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Alexander worked six innings and climbed to 89 pitches in a minor league game Sunday, per Topkin numbers that arent reflected in his official spring statistics. The Rays rotation is fluid enough right now that an early a signment in the rotation shouldnt at all be viewed as a season-long spot on the staff. Alexander has a pair of minor league options remaining, and the Rays will be getting various pitchers back from injury as the year progre ses. In addition to Bradley, whose timetable is still TBD, the Rays will also welcome back right-hander (2022 Tommy John surgery), left-hander (April 2023 Tommy John surgery) and (July 2023 internal brace surgery) at various points this season. That said, injuries elsewhere in the rotation are an inevitability. Eflin has dealt with chronic knee injuries dating back to his amateur days. Civale has never reached even 125 innings in an MLB season due to frequent IL trips. Littell only just converted back to the rotation last summer, and Pepiot opened the 2023 season on the 60-day IL with the Dodgers due to a Grade 2 oblique strain. He pitched only 64 2/3 innings between the majors and minors combined. There should be innings to go around, if Alexander proves hes up for the challenge. The Rays can control Alexander through the 2025 season via arbitration. A succe sful season making starts would bode well for his arbitration outlook in a way that a season spent primarily in a swingman/mop-up role would not. Hes earning $1.95MM this year, so even if he steps up as a legitimate MLB starter, he wont break the bank next winter. As for the remaining bench spots, Topkins report on that front is plenty notable. The Rays already rea signed to minor league camp, leaving non-roster invitee as the favorite to take the backup job behind . Thats been the plan for much of the offseason, but Jackson also owns a woeful 48% strikeout rate in 192 MLB plate appearances and entered Mondays Grapefruit League game hitting just .194/.235/.226 with a 32.4% strikeout rate in 34 plate appearances. To his credit, he went 2-for-2 and swatted his first spring homer, but Jackson has no MLB track record of which to speak and also hasnt been particularly productive in Triple-A. As for the final infield spot, Topkin lists 26-year-old as a candidate. Hes yet to make his MLB debut but posted a ma sive .304/.423/.584 line with 29 homers and 45 doubles between Double-A and Triple-A last season. Hes had a poor showing this spring, however, hitting just .205/.225/.256 with a 32.5% strikeout rate in 40 trips to the plate (including todays 0-for-4 with three strikeouts). The Rays are without infielders and to begin the season, as both are on the injured list. Theres no shortage of veteran options and/or trade candidates the Rays could consider at either position. The Royals released veteran backstop over the weekend, and out-of-options Giants catcher has been a speculative trade candidate for much of the spring. Infielders hitting the market late this spring include , and old friend . Chris Roller Jersey