ST. PETERSBURG — Left-hander Steven Matz returned from the 15-day injured list and struck out five over four sharp innings as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Wednesday afternoon, a win that came amid a wave of roster moves including the IL placement of infielder Ben Williamson and the promotion of newly acquired infielder Oliver Dunn.

Matz, sidelined since May 5 with left elbow inflammation after feeling soreness during his May 3 start, held the Orioles to one run on three hits and two walks before being pulled after 67 pitches as the club managed his workload. An MRI had revealed no structural issues, and Matz took several days off from throwing before returning to the mound last week with no problems.

“He was really sharp,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Just like the guy we saw before the injury.”

Matz echoed the optimism. “I’m happy,” he said. “It took me a little bit there to kind of get my legs under me, but I felt really good.”

The Rays placed Williamson on the 10-day IL with a low back strain, backdating the stint to Sunday. The versatile infielder said he felt his back tighten around his spine while fielding a ground ball in his last appearance and has been sidelined since Friday. “It’s feeling tight, but a little bit better,” Williamson said. “I’ve dealt with spasms in the past, and usually it’s like four or five days, but this one just felt like it was tighter for a little bit longer.” The club plans to reevaluate him after its upcoming road trip to New York and Baltimore.

To fill the gap — with Williamson out and right fielder Jake Fraley sidelined for six to eight weeks — Tampa Bay promoted Dunn, 28, shortly after acquiring him from the White Sox late Tuesday night in a trade for lefty reliever Joe Rock. Dunn played 55 games in the Majors for the Brewers in 2024-25 and was slashing .295/.393/.545 in 41 games for Triple-A Charlotte this season. Cash said Dunn came with the reputation of being “a plus everywhere you put him” defensively, with the ability to play all around the infield and in left field.

Dunn wasted no time making an impact, pinch-running for Junior Caminero during the Rays’ four-run rally in the eighth inning and scoring the tying run from first base on a double by Jonathan Aranda. Dunn had nine steals in 10 attempts this season at Charlotte, and Cash relayed the infielder’s clarification on the lone caught-stealing: “I asked him, and he goes, ‘Oh yeah, but I was nine of nine. I got picked off at first base, so that doesn’t count.’ But I was happy that he’s got some speed.”

The Rays also received encouraging news on veteran DH Yandy Díaz, who exited Tuesday night’s game after being hit on both hands by a Yennier Cano fastball. Imaging came back negative, though Díaz was still dealing with soreness in his right ring finger and did not play Wednesday. Cash said Díaz was “adamant” that he’d be OK, and the team hopes to have him back in the lineup Friday night at Yankee Stadium after Thursday’s off-day. Right-hander Chase Solesky was optioned to Triple-A Durham, bringing the Rays’ 40-man roster to 39 players.

Cash said right-hander Jesse Scholtens, who worked in a bulk-inning role behind Matz on Wednesday, could continue providing length out of the bullpen now that the rotation is whole. “Jesse’s done a tremendous job,” Cash said. “It’s a good conversation to have, just because with Matzy coming back, we’ve got a lot of options.” Matz is expected to make his next start in Baltimore next week.