Bradley will not be part of the Rays' AL Wild Card Series roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: The Rays need only three starting pitchers for the series and plan to carry 15 position players, so Bradley isn't going to make the cut. They will have the ability to reset their roster prior to the ALDS, if they advance, and it's possible Bradley could be added on then.
Taj Bradley Comes out of bullpen against Jays
Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits in an inning of relief. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Analysis: The rookie right-hander tossed 21 pitches (16 strikes) in his brief appearance, but this usage doesn't necessarily mean Bradley is shifting to the bullpen for the postseason. With Tampa Bay already locked into the top wild-card spot in the American League and likely to face Toronto to begin the playoffs next week, manager Kevin Cash elected not to give the opposition a good look at any of the starting pitchers the Rays might be using -- Aaron Civale got the start but left the mound after 40 pitches, while Zack Littell also tossed 35 pitches in relief. Bradley finishes the regular season with a shaky 5.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through his first 103.2 big-league innings, but the 22-year-old righty's 129:39 K:BB highlights his upside.
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