If you’re keeping track, that’s the 11th win in 12 games and the 29th in 41. Tampa Bay is now one game under .500 at 53-54 — they were 18 under on June 10. The Orioles won in 12 innings, so the Rays remain 7.0 games back in AL East. Tampa Bay has seven games left against Baltimore. The question du jour: Is that the “magic” Price number?
Tag Archives: AL Wildcard Race
The New What Next: Enter the Brewers — A Series Preview of Sorts
Despite the loss Sunday’s series finale, the Tampa Bay Rays are still in a favorable position — relatively speaking, of course — as they ready themselves for a three-game set against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. As the trade deadline looms, this will be an important series, as it relates to the future of Ben Zobrist and David Price with the Rays this season.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Win Eighth Straight, 6-4
Going into last night’s contest, I thought if the Rays were going to drop any game in the series, it would be the one with Jon Lester on the mound. After all — prior to the first pitch — Lester put up insanely good numbers, to the tune of 0.23 ERA over the last 30-days. He also hadn’t lost a game to Tampa Bay in his last three starts. “As long as the Rays could walk away with the series,” I thought to myself, “they will still be in good shape.” Much to my surprise — and Boston’s chagrin — Tampa Bay was able to tag Lester, Miller, and Tazawa for six runs en route to a big 6-4 win. The Rays start the day 7.5 games out of first in the East, 3.5 games behind the third place Blue Jays, and 4.5 out in the Wildcard race (just 1.0 behind the Indians). Per Fangraphs, they were also able to increase their playoff odds to 13.4%, decreasing Boston’s odds to 3.4% in the process. One game down, two more to go.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Maintain Their Momentum, Top Twins 6-2
A big question preceded the start of the All-Star Break: Could the Rays maintain their momentum in the (symbolic) second half of the season? After all, Tampa Bay went 21-12 — extending back to June 11 — while a cloud of uncertainty, over the future of David Price and Ben Zobrist with the team, lingered overhead. If their 6-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins did only one thing, it’s answer the question to an extent — yes they can. The victory also found them 4-1/2 games out of third in the AL East, and 7-1/2 out in the Wildcard race.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Win 5-4 in Grandiose Fashion
Let me put it to you this way, I’m tired…neigh, wiped out. Yes, I’m still completely psyched that Tampa Bay was able to walk away with a 5-4 win in grandiose, walk-off, fashion. However, it doesn’t detract from the fact that I stayed up well passed my bedtime Monday night. Such is life, I’d rather …
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