Rays option Taj Bradley after rough outing vs. White Sox

The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham following a rough outing in the team's 11-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Manager Kevin Cash called it a "tough decision," but reiterated that Bradley is "massive to our success."

The right-hander allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while collecting only five outs. He didn't record a strikeout and gave up a three-run homer to Colson Montgomery before getting lifted in the second inning.

Bradley was never the pitcher of record, though, leaving the game tied 4-4. The Rays battled back to lead 7-5 at one point but coughed up six runs in the eighth en route to defeat.

The 24-year-old has struggled this year, authoring a 4.61 ERA and 4.20 FIP over 111 1/3 innings.

The young starter has battled command issues for much of his major-league tenure, posting an 8.5% walk rate and 1.46 HR/9 entering the evening. Over his first two campaigns, Bradley flashed a promising 27.3% strikeout rate, but that's dipped by nearly seven percentage points this year.

Tampa Bay's starting rotation ranks 18th by FanGraphs' WAR but possesses the eighth-best ERA in MLB (3.80).

The Rays didn't announce a corresponding move.