The Tampa Bay Rays are still being treated like one of baseball’s elite clubs, even if the next few weeks are about to put that label under a microscope.
Tampa Bay checked in at No. 4 in Bleacher Report’s latest MLB power rankings on Monday, which also made them the highest-ranked team in the American League. MLB.com had the same read on the Rays, slotting them fourth overall and first in the junior circuit as well.
That respect comes with a warning label. The Rays are 85-58 and lead the Yankees by four games in the AL East, but the road ahead is stacked with difficult matchups.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter pointed to just how steep that finish looks, noting, "With 16 of their final 19 games against teams with a winning record, the Rays still need to get what would be the fifth division title in franchise history across the finish line," Reuter said. "Deadline pickup Freddy Peralta has allowed five hits and one earned run in 12 innings over his last two starts, as he is building some nice momentum toward October."
Peralta gets another chance to keep that momentum going on Tuesday, when Tampa Bay opens a series in Atlanta against the Braves. It’s the next step in a road trip that ended with the Rays not winning the series against the Texas Rangers, though they did at least come away with a split in Arlington.
For Kevin Cash’s club, the closing month is shaping up as a long test of both pitching depth and offensive consistency. The Rays have shown steady confidence in those areas all season, and now they’ll have to prove it against the kind of opponents they’re likely to see again if they reach October.
MLB.com’s Will Leitch also underscored how unforgiving the calendar looks from here. "The Rays are hanging onto first place, as well as the best record in the AL, and they'd be wise to take full advantage of the three games they have at home against the A's from Sept. 15-17," said MLB writer Will Leitch. "After that, they've got a tough schedule the rest of the way: three at home against Boston, four huge ones in the Bronx and closing with three in Philadelphia."
That schedule has already started to shape the conversation around Tampa Bay. Earlier this month, the Rays were tagged as a "playoff fraud," and a rough finish against top-tier competition would only feed that line of thinking among national observers. For now, though, they remain in command of the division and firmly planted near the top of every major ranking that matters.
In Other News...
Rays Suddenly Have A Catching Decision That Could Matter To Miami
The Rays have put themselves in a much better spot behind the plate in a hurry, and Caden Bodine is a big reason why. The prospect has moved through four minor league levels in one season, flashing both the kind of bat and defensive skill set Tampa Bay has long needed from its catchers. For a franchise that has too often had to patch together offense at the position, that kind of rapid rise is notable on its own.
Add in the arrival of Liam Hicks in a trade, and suddenly the Rays have real depth and a decision to make as they look toward the next few seasons. It is the kind of competition that can help a club, especially one that has spent years trying to get more production from its catching group, and it also gives Tampa Bay another layer to consider as the season turns toward the stretch run and the wider implications around the division, including Miami, come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Cleavingers Slide Leaves Rays Watching One Small Detail
Garrett Cleavingers season has followed a familiar reliever arc for long stretches, but the August break in performance has been hard to miss. His ERA and FIP climbed sharply after a strong first half, even though the underlying shape of his delivery and his command metrics have stayed largely intact, leaving the Rays to sort through why the results suddenly turned south.
One answer seems to be hiding in the margins of where his fastball has lived. The pitch has drifted from its usual glove-side lane toward the arm side, and a higher BABIP has only made the damage look worse. If Tampa Bay can get the catchers setup nudged back into a better spot, theres hope Cleavinger can rediscover the fastball location that made him so effective earlier in the year. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Judges Return Creates A New Problem Rays Fans Should Watch
Aaron Judge is back on the Yankees roster after being activated from the injured list, and his return matters well beyond New York. The slugger has not been in the lineup since May 31, and the Yankees are easing him back into action rather than throwing him right into a full workload, with the club trying to balance his health against its push toward October.
For the Rays, that creates a familiar kind of problem: one of the games most dangerous bats is suddenly back in the division, but not necessarily all the way back to normal yet. Judge skipped a minor-league rehab assignment, so his timing and workload will be worth tracking right away, especially for Tampa Bay as it keeps tabs on a rival that could look a lot different once he is fully settled in. [Read more 🡒]