The Tampa Bay Rays have already punched their ticket to the postseason, but the bigger prize is still up for grabs.
With 13 games left, Tampa Bay’s hold on the AL East is under pressure, and this week’s three-game set against the Athletics could go a long way toward deciding whether the Rays stay in front of the New York Yankees. The Rays will host Oakland beginning Tuesday, and it’s the final time they’ll face a team with a losing record this season.
That matters because the schedule is tightening fast. Tampa Bay has seven games left against AL East opponents, and after this week the Yankees will be sitting four games back before heading on the road for six games. Then comes the showdown: four games in three days at Yankee Stadium next week.
It’s not impossible for the Rays to wrap up the division before that series arrives, but it’s a long shot.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller pointed to the danger still lurking for Tampa Bay, writing, "The last time the Rays weren't the American League's "if the regular season ended today" No. 1 seed was on the morning of June 27. However, with just a three-game lead over the Bronx Bombers and a colossal four-games-in-three-days series still to come at Yankee Stadium next week," said B/R writer Kerry Miller.
"Tampa Bay has not even remotely locked up that home-field advantage yet. Losing that edge could prove disastrous for a team that is currently 8-2 at home against New York and Boston, but 3-6 on the road."
That’s the backdrop for a series the Rays can’t afford to treat casually. Kevin Cash’s club has already banked series wins over the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, and now it gets a chance to do damage against an opponent it should handle. A sweep would be the ideal outcome, especially if the Yankees stumble on the road against the Minnesota Twins to start the week.
Tampa Bay’s offense has been rolling, and the pitching staff remains one of the best in baseball. If the Rays take care of business against the Athletics and get a little help from Minnesota, the division lead could become much harder for New York to erase. And with it, the American League’s top seed could come into sharper focus.
In Other News...
Rays Move On From Pitcher Still Trying To Rebound From Surgery
The Rays have made another roster move involving a pitcher still working his way back from surgery, with right-hander Michael Grove claimed off waivers by Atlanta and sent to Triple-A Gwinnett. Tampa Bay had designated Grove for assignment earlier, and he had spent time pitching in both the majors and minors this season as he tried to regain his footing after the operation.
Atlantas interest was practical as much as anything else, coming as the Braves look for extra pitching depth amid injuries in their rotation. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder of how quickly the back end of a roster can turn over, especially with pitchers who are still in the middle of a recovery and trying to prove they can hold up again at the big-league level. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Have One Clear Weak Spot In A Tight AL East Race
With 13 games left, the Rays are still in control of a tight AL East race, and the broader picture looks good enough that they can afford to focus on one nagging issue rather than panic over the standings. Junior Caminero has helped steady the lineup with his strong play, giving Tampa Bay a source of impact production as the club tries to close out the regular season with its division lead intact.
Cedric Mullins, though, has remained the obvious weak spot in an otherwise competitive group. The outfielder has not provided much offensively this season, sitting at .202 with a .626 OPS, and that kind of drag stands out more now that every game carries extra weight. Even with the Rays in a strong position, how much they can live with that production down the stretch could shape the final push. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Quietly Added A New Arm And The Bullpen Implications Matter
The Rays were busy shuffling the board before their three-game series against the Athletics, and one of the more notable moves came on the pitching side with right-hander Michael Grove being claimed off waivers by Atlanta. Tampa Bay also had to adjust its own bullpen depth, placing Tyler Wells on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness, a move that closes the book on his regular season and forces the club to lean on the next layer of arms.
Alex Cook was recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill Wells spot, while Jake Fraley was activated from the 60-day injured list and catcher Kenny Piper was optioned to Durham. For a team that has long valued flexibility and depth, the sequence matters because every late-season pitching move can ripple forward, and the Rays now have to manage one more bullpen absence as they try to keep things steady over the final stretch. [Read more 🡒]