Rays Key Lefty Reliever Injured, Will Miss Postseason

The Tampa Bay Rays will be without an important member of their bullpen for the upcoming postseason.

#Rays Poche has a right oblique strain and is done for the year

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) October 5, 2022

Left-handed reliever Colin Poche has suffered a right oblique strain and is done for the year, says Rays beat writer Marc Topkin.

The 28-year-old Poche, in his first year in the majors since 2019, appeared in 65 games for manager Kevin Cash, as a critical lefty out of the bullpen. Before allowing four runs due to the oblique injury in Tuesday night's game, Poche had a 3.39 ERA and a 64:22 K/BB ratio. 

The Rays also lost another southpaw, Jalen Beeks, to the injured list recently, and the timing is especially bad to lose both Beeks and Poche, as Tampa is about to face a left-handed heavy Cleveland Guardians lineup in the Wild Card Series. The Guardians feature  Steven Kwan, Josh Naylor, Andrés Giménez and José Ramírez (switch-hitter) who all hit from the left side of the plate.

The Rays do, however, still have southpaws Brooks Raley and Garrett Cleavinger.

Photo: Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports