The Tampa Bay Rays came through a brutal September test in strong shape, and the AL East picture still runs through them.
Over a nine-game stretch against the Rangers, Braves and Astros, Tampa Bay went 7-2 to keep a four-game lead over the New York Yankees. With 13 games left, the Rays have already locked up an MLB playoff berth and are inching toward the division crown.
The schedule had a chance to swing things in New York’s favor. Tampa Bay had to deal with three teams that had plenty on the line, while the Yankees were staring at a softer path. Instead, the Rays handled their business.
They split four games in Texas, then took two of three from Atlanta. After that, they went back home and swept Houston.
Sunday’s 14-4 win over the Astros wrapped it up and gave Tampa Bay its 15th sweep of the season, a new franchise record and the most in Major League Baseball right now.
The work isn’t finished, though. The Yankees are still four back, and the two clubs still have four games left against each other in New York. That series could wind up deciding the division if Tampa Bay hasn’t clinched before then.
For now, the Rays get the Athletics at Tropicana Field for three games starting Tuesday. They’re the only remaining opponent on Tampa Bay’s schedule with a losing record, which means there’s no excuse to let this opening slip away.
Tampa Bay has already shown it can beat quality teams. It just took care of Atlanta and Houston in back-to-back series, and that matters. But division leaders also have to do the routine work, and these next 13 games are where that gets sorted out.
The Rays are in October. Now they’re trying to make sure they get there as the team on top of the AL East. The window for the Yankees is getting smaller by the day.
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 🡒]