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Zack Gelof put some fear into Sulser and the Rays when he sent a flyout 407 feet to the warning track in center field in a one run game, but it was caught. According to Baseball Savant, that would have been a home run in 16 of 30 ballparks, so Sulser was lucky to give up that deep fly ball at home in the Trop. It was his first save since May 5th and he got this opportunity because Rays’ closer Bryan Baker had just pitched in three of their last four games.

Sulser had been out since late July with back spasms. He has a 4.86 ERA in 46 1/3 innings for the Rays this year.

Sulser has delivered a serviceable 4.86 ERA and 48/14 K/BB ratio across 46 1/3 innings this season, his highest single-season total since 2021. His absence is a hit to Tampa Bay’s low-leverage relief depth. He missed time with a similar back issue earlier this year, so it seems likely the Rays aren’t going to rush him back.

Sulser returns to Tampa Bay’s bullpen following a minimum stay on the injured list recovering from a lower back strain. The 36-year-old journeyman has compiled a respectable 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 16/9 K/BB ratio across 22 innings of work this season.

Sulser has a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 ERA, and 16/9 K/BB ratio in 22 innings out of the Rays’ bullpen. He will likely be sidelined for a few weeks.

With Bryan Baker having thrown on back-to-back days, the Rays turned to Cole Sulser to protect a one-run lead on Tuesday, and he did without allowing a baserunner to pick up his second save of the season. What’s interesting here is that Garrett Cleavinger hadn’t thrown since Saturday, and the Blue Jays started the inning with a left-handed hitter and a switch-hitter. Perhaps they’re not ready for Cleavinger to step back into late-inning situations so soon after returning from the IL, or maybe Sulser has simply leapfrogged him in the peaking order, but the 36-year-old Sulser appears to be next in line behind Baker for saves.

Sulser was brought in to protect a one-run lead in the final frame after Kevin Kelly got the call to put out a bases-loaded fire the previous inning. The 36-year-old veteran made things interesting by putting a pair of runners on-base, but still managed to preserve the win. Tampa Bay’s primary stopper Bryan Baker was likely unavailable for workload reasons after throwing 39 pitches while recording a pair of saves the previous two days.

Sulser’s contract could be a split deal according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The right-hander will be a mid-inning arm for Tampa Bay in 2026; assuming he makes the club out of spring training of course.