Rays manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday night that Jake McGee is not in danger of being demoted. McGee has posted a rough 11.25 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 12 innings this season, but the Rays think he can work through his problems in the majors. "What Jake needs now is support from me and from us," Maddon said. "His confidence is down, he's been shaken a bit. But that's not when you pile on; that's when you help and support."

Jake McGee was lit up for five runs in two-thirds of an inning by the Orioles in Tuesday's opener. McGee's already more than a third of the way to last year's total of runs allowed (13 in 55 1/3 IP). Not only was it odd to see him hit like this, but it was unusual that manager Joe Maddon left him in long enough to give up all of those runs. Mop-up man Dane De La Rosa was the only Rays reliever to give up at least five runs in an appearance since 2011, having done so once that year and once in 2012.

Jake McGee has been unscored upon in his last eight appearances, sporting a 10/1 K/BB ratio across 6 1/3 innings over that time. McGee retired all seven batters he faced in a three-strikeout appearances Thursday, needing only 29 pitches to do so and calling it "by far" his sharpest outing of the season to date. The southpaw now sports a 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 11/3 K/BB ratio over 7 2/3 innings this season.

Rays recalled LHP Jake McGee from Triple-A Durham. McGee opened the season in the major leagues, but registered a 5.14 ERA and 2/3 K/BB ratio in seven innings of work and got demoted before the end of April. He's regained his confidence at the Triple-A level and should fit nicely into a mid-relief role.