Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Season Finale, 7-2

Put a fork in it, the Tampa Bay Rays’ most disappointing season since 2007 came to a close in disappointing fashion, with the Rays falling to the Cleveland Indians 7-2. The Rays ended the season with a 77-85 record, and their lowest offensive output since the Devil Rays days (more on that below). Alex Cobb took the mound against Indians starter TJ House and allowed ten hits, including a rare two homer second inning. Meanwhile House, while lasting only 49 pitches, proved to be effective, ultimately limiting the Rays to one run in five innings.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Alex Colome Impressive in Rays 2-0 Win

I thought it would be interesting to compare the three pitchers vying for the fifth starter spot next season (assuming that Jeremy Hellickson isn’t traded in the off-season). In doing so, I looked that Colome, Hellickson, and Karns’ body of work over the last 30 days.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall Despite Strong Effort By Archer

Going into Friday night’s game, Rays starter Chris Archer set one goal for himself in this, his final start of the season: pitch strongly. And over the course of 7-2/3 innings of baseball, Archer put together his strongest outing of the season — holding the Indians to one run on three hits, while striking out six. Unfortunately for him,Jose Ramirez took advantage of a first inning mistake pitch for the only run of the game, and the Rays had to butt heads with the 2014 Cy Young Award contender, Corey Kluber.

The New What Next: Rays vs. Indians — the Final Series

The funeral procession that is the Rays’ season will conclude this weekend in Cleveland, where Tampa Bay is slated to take on the Indians in a three-game set. Any hopes of a positive outcome to the season came to pass days ago, and we’re left with an overwhelming desire to just nail the coffin shut. Thursday night’s 11-1 loss to the Red Sox certainly didn’t help.