The New What Next: Rays Head to Toronto For the Final Series of the Year

Watching Mo’s last outing at Yankee Stadium almost brought a tear to my cold, grizzled, Rays loving heart. He is a classy guy, and the Evil Empire really did an outstanding job handling his last 1-1/3 inning of work in the Bronx. That said, the Rays have now won 90 games for the fourth consecutive year (fifth out of six) while sweeping the Yankees in that Mall of America like baseball stadium for the first time in their 15 year career. Furthermore, Tampa Bay is riding high on a huge wave of momentum after sweeping two consecutive series, this time outscoring the Yankees 19-3. The pitching was outstanding, the Rays were able to mash the all important timely hits, and Tampa Bay looks primed for the postseason. Next stop Toronto, for the final three game series of the regular season. Tampa Bay Rays are hot at just the right time. Holding a one-game lead atop Cleveland for home-field advantage in the one-game wild-card playoff, their destiny is in their hands with three games left to play. Meanwhile, eight players from the Jays’ opening-day roster are finishing the season on the disabled list — not so good for a team projected to win an obscene amount of games in 2013.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Up On the Yankees, 8-3

The Rays have put together their best post-All Star Break streak, winning six straight games while eliminating both the Yankees and the Oriole from playoff contention in the process. The Tribe defeated the ChiSox, so the Rays maintain just a one game lead over Cleveland with four left to play. They’ll attempt their second consecutive streak with Alex Cobb on the mound. Cobber will take on Ivan Nova, and you can read about the pitching match-up here. I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Moore Not Sharp, Yet the Rays Still Handcuffed the Yanks

Matt Moore gave credence to the saying “He was able to make the big pitch,” Tuesday night. After all, the Rays all-star lefty gave up six walks in five innings, yet he was able to walk away with a three hit shut-out of the Yankees, helping to eliminate any hope they may have had of reaching the postseason.

The New What Next: Rays Head to New York For Three

The Rays head to New York to start a season ending six game road trip on the heels of a huge momentum building four game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. Tampa Bay is finally looking like the team we all thought it would back at the beginning of the season. The pitching and defense have …

The New What Next: Rays vs A’s – The Battle of the Bays

The good news: Tampa Bay has won nine of its last 15 with the pitching staff relinquishing only 2.6 runs, on average, per game. The bad: They’ve dropped four out of their last five, averaging only 2.6 runs per game in that stretch. Thursday’s game followed a familiar pattern; the pitchers put together a good enough start, yet the offense couldn’t muster anything. Rather, they were able to get eight runners on — but moving them over or driving them in? Not so much. You’ve got to love streakiness — one moment you’re feeling the highest of highs, and the next you feel like you’ve gotten punched in the stomach.