The Tampa Bay Rays are heading into the final month with the AL East tightening around them, and the next week could say plenty about how this season ends. Tampa Bay comes in after dropping two straight to the New York Mets, and now the New York Yankees are sitting just three games back as the Rays begin a critical seven-game road swing against the Rangers and Braves.
That trip has the feel of a separator. It’s not just about staying in front of the Yankees; it’s about keeping a division title within reach while also locking down a postseason spot. The Rays can put themselves in position to make that happen as soon as this week, depending on how the standings break and how they handle the road.
Asked what would qualify as a successful trip, Michael Brauner called it a difficult assignment away from home and said the stretch could decide the division. With New York also dealing with San Diego this weekend before taking on the Rockies, Brauner said, “winning 4 would be great, but 5 would be incredible.”
Pitching depth is another major piece of the puzzle, especially now that Griffin Jax is back in the mix. Tampa Bay has enough arms to consider a six-man setup if that’s the route it wants to take, but the picture changes once October arrives. Brauner said the Rays could lean on Rasmussen, Martinez, and McClanahan in the postseason, if all goes as hoped.
Christian Rauh floated a different wrinkle, suggesting the team could use Jax in a pick-a-back role alongside Seymour. Rauh pointed to the way Tampa Bay has already used starters in shorter bursts during recent games, and said both Jax and Seymour have shown they can move between the bullpen and rotation. In his view, that kind of hybrid usage might be the best way to manage things down the stretch.
When the conversation turned to the biggest X-factor for the final month, the answers went in two different directions. Brauner picked Cedric Mullins, saying a hot bat from him would reshape the lineup. Rauh went with Liam Hicks, whose power since the MLB trade deadline has changed the look of the offense and given Kevin Cash another dangerous bat in the middle of the order.
The biggest worry, though, circles back to the same issue that can sink even the deepest teams: the bats going quiet. Brauner said the concern has to be the offense suddenly cooling off, even if that kind of swing can hit any lineup in baseball. He stressed that the pitching is deep and bountiful, but the runs still have to come.
Rauh agreed, pointing to the peaks and valleys of Tampa Bay’s offense. If the group stays consistent, he believes the pitching staff has been good enough all year to carry the Rays all the way to their first World Series championship. But if the offense runs into a rough patch, he warned, the Rays could be gone in the first round again, just like in 2023.
In Other News...
Rays Suddenly Face Another Shane McClanahan Concern
Shane McClanahans return to the Rays was already carrying obvious significance, because every outing was part of the longer effort to reestablish one of the organizations most important arms after a back injury and a lengthy road back from Tommy John surgery and nerve issues. Instead, Tampa Bay has had to put the left-hander on the 15-day injured list with left forearm tightness, a development that quickly shifts attention from his progress to his availability.
The move leaves the Rays trying to navigate another early setback with a pitcher they had hoped could stabilize things as he worked back into major league form. To fill the opening, the club recalled right-hander Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham, a straightforward roster response on paper but one that underscores how fragile McClanahans comeback trail has become. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Hit A Familiar Wall In Another Frustrating Loss
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Shane McClanahan was locked in a tight game until the fifth, when the Rangers finally cracked it open and shifted the tone for good. The loss only added to the frustration around Tampa Bay, and it also put a spotlight on a matchup that has been especially unfriendly to the Rays whenever Quantrill takes the mound. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Make A Surprising Change In One Area Fans Trusted Most
The Rays have made a notable shakeup in an area that has long been one of the organizations strengths, parting ways with two members of their scouting department. Jeff Johnson, who served as manager of international scouting, and Rigoberto de los Santos, the Dominican Republic regional crosschecker and Santo Domingo area scout, are both out after the changes were first reported by industry sources and shared by Francys Romero on X.
It is a surprising turn for a club that continues to pair a strong major league record with a highly regarded farm system, even after recent trades have chipped away at some of its prospect depth. International scouting has been a crucial part of the Rays identity for years, so any reset there invites attention, especially with the organization still trying to keep its talent pipeline as deep and productive as ever. [Read more 🡒]