The New What Next: Rays vs Indians, A Series Preview of Sorts

The Rays have made up an enormous amount of ground in the AL East — five games to be exact — in the last week, and they’ll attempt to take the series from the 29-24 Indians. The Tribe has struggled lately, having won only three of their last 10 games. However, Cleveland is 17-10 at home and has won their last two games. Furthermore, they’ve won 15 of their last 19 at home, outscoring opponents 105-64. All this is to say, it won’t be easy. Saturday marks the 2013 debut of Chris Archer, who is filling the void left in the wake of David Price’s DL stint.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Win 7-6 In Walk-off Fashion

One thing was evident upon entering the 2013 Citrus Series: The Rays needed to beat the Marlins. Without going into the why’s (editors note: I think the “why’s” are fairly obvious), the Rays have been successful thus far, snagging the first two games away from the Fish, while ending their most recent home-stand with a 3-2 record. The second half of the Citrus Series begins Wednesday at Carnival Cruise Lines Field…urm, Marlins Park.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Kelly Johnson Leads the Way to A 10-6 Win Sunday

Tampa Bay won the first game of a four game set against the Marlins Monday by a score of 10-6, in what could be construed as a (relatively) poorly pitched outing — at least as it related to Jake Odorizzi and Josh Lueke. The Rays persevered though, thanks to Kelly Johnson who had a huge two-homer, six RBI, day at the plate.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Salvage A Game Against the Yankees, Welcome In That Other Team From Florida

Tampa Bay was able to salvage the third game of the three game set against the Bronx Bummers Sunday, following a seven run, seven hit Shellacking of Grimmace and the New York Yankees, handily winning by an 8-3 score. The five-through-nine hitters impressively accounted for most of the Rays offense, combining to go 5-for-12 against CC, while driving in seven of the Rays eight runs.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rodney Blows Fifth Save of the Season, Rays Blow the Series

We here at X-Rays Spex headquarters are not afraid to call things as we see them. In fact, calling people out on their collective stuff (expletive deleted) is one of our tenets. That Fernando Rodney has blown his fifth save of the year — in the Rays third loss when they were a strike away from victory — is a huge, heaping, load of horse-pucky. The Tampa Bay Rays are again sitting at .500 following a heart breaking 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees Saturday night. And with the loss went any hope of making up any ground against their AL East rivals… at least this time around.