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.

Rays vs A’s, a preview of sorts

It bears mentioning… Tampa Bay Rays: 53-49, tied for second in the AL East, 7.5 games behind the Yankees and two games out of the second wildcard spot. Oakland Athletics: 55-46, second in the AL West, 4.5 games behind the Rangers, and if the season were to end today, the A’s would clinch a wildcard …