Richie Palacios -- Fantasy Value

Richie Palacios remains on the bench for the Tampa Bay Rays' Sunday matchup against the Boston Red Sox. The left-handed-hitting infielder is being held out for the fourth consecutive game as the Rays face another left-handed starting pitcher in Payton Tolle. Platoon partner Ben Williamson takes over at second base and will bat third in the lineup. This continued benching reflects the Rays' strategic use of platoon splits, with Palacios likely to return to action once the team faces right-handed starting pitchers. For fantasy purposes, this indicates Palacios will have limited offensive opportunities during stretches where opposing left-handed starters are featured.

Richie Palacios will not play Wednesday as the Tampa Bay Rays face the Blue Jays with left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin on the mound. The left-handed-hitting Palacios has now been benched three times in the last four games, continuing a pattern of platoon usage at second base. Ben Williamson will start at the position on Wednesday. This arrangement reflects the Rays' strategy in managing the second base position following Gavin Lux's continued absence due to shoulder and ankle injuries, which has sidelined him for the entire season. Palacios and Williamson share playing time based on pitcher handedness matchups.

Richie Palacios has been removed from the Tampa Bay Rays' starting lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Boston Red Sox. The decision stems from platoon management, as the Rays will face left-handed starting pitcher Payton Tolle. This marks the fourth consecutive game in which the Rays are scheduled against a left-handed starter. Palacios, a left-handed hitter, will be replaced at second base by his platoon mate Ben Williamson, who will bat third in the order. The move is a standard example of platoon usage in baseball, where teams often bench left-handed hitters against left-handed pitchers to gain a right-handed matchup advantage.

Richie Palacios recorded his first three-hit game of the season on Monday, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the Tampa Bay Rays' 8-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Starting at second base in place of Ben Williamson, Palacios contributed a two-RBI single in the first inning and an RBI single in the seventh inning. Through 56 at-bats this season, Palacios maintains a .232/.371/.304 slash line with one home run and four RBIs. Despite the strong single-game performance, analysts recommend leaving him on waivers, as his limited playing time makes him an unreliable fantasy asset going forward.

Richie Palacios provided the decisive blow in the Rays' 4-1 extra-inning victory over the Twins on Sunday, April 5, 2026, hitting a 10th-inning home run off Justin Topa. The 22-year-old went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI, and a stolen base in the contest.

Palacios showed significant improvement after a difficult start to the season. He opened play 0-for-8 but rebounded to go 3-for-5 over two games this weekend while stealing a base in each contest. His overall season performance through 18 plate appearances shows a .231 batting average, .444 on-base percentage, and .462 slugging percentage.

As a part-time player in his role with Tampa Bay, Palacios is primarily being utilized against right-handed pitching. His recent offensive explosion and clutch hitting suggest potential increased playing time going forward, making him a relevant fantasy consideration during the early season.

Richie Palacios will not be in the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup for Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Ben Williamson will start at second base in his place, facing Giants right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle. This decision comes despite Palacios starting in each of the previous three games against right-handed pitchers, indicating a potential shift in the team's platoon strategy at the position. The playing time adjustments for both Palacios and Williamson are expected to become more pronounced as Gavin Lux recovers from shoulder and ankle injuries and approaches a return to the roster. The timeline for Lux's return remains unclear, but his eventual activation will further impact the availability of both backup infielders.