The Rays have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, but the bigger prize is still out there: the AL East and the No. 1 seed in the American League.
Right now, Tampa Bay is in position to finish the job, with its magic number down to 9. Every Rays win or Yankees loss chips away at that number, and the earliest possible clinch is Sept. 20 - if Tampa Bay wins out and New York drops all of its remaining games. That’s a long shot, but it does set up a massive showdown next week.
The Rays head to Yankee Stadium for a four-game series that includes a doubleheader on Sept. 22, then single games on the 23rd and 24th. Tampa Bay only needs to win one of those games to secure the season-long tiebreaker, which could loom large in a race this tight.
New York is making sure it brings its best arms to the series. According to Greg Joyce of New York Post Sports on X, Yankees manager Aaron Boone has lined up his rotation with Tampa Bay in mind. The Yankees are staying on turn for their series with the Arizona Diamondbacks and have an off day Monday, which leaves their pitching plan intact.
That means Max Fried and Carlos Rodón will start the two games of the doubleheader, Gerrit Cole is set for Game 3, and Cam Schlittler will handle the finale.
For the Rays, that’s a tough road. They still have work to do before they get there, too, with games coming against the Athletics and Boston Red Sox that could ease the pressure if Tampa Bay keeps stacking wins.
As of now, Tampa Bay has not announced its starters for the doubleheader. The Rays are off Monday as well, so manager Kevin Cash has some flexibility to adjust on the fly, especially with the chance to clinch the No. 1 seed and a bye still within reach.
At the moment, Ian Seymour is scheduled to face Cole, and Freddy Peralta is lined up against Schlittler. If Cash keeps Tampa Bay on schedule the way Boone is for New York, then Nick Martinez and Drew Rasmussen would get the ball in the doubleheader.
In Other News...
Rays Suddenly Have New Hope For A Key Bullpen Arm
With Shane McClanahan, Garrett Cleavinger, Manuel Rodriguez and Tyler Wells all on the injured list, the Rays have spent plenty of the summer trying to patch together their pitching staff on the fly. Wells, in particular, had been a frustrating absence after forearm tightness sent him for an MRI, but the early read offered Tampa Bay something it badly needed, a little optimism instead of another long-term setback.
For a bullpen that has already leaned on Kevin Kelly and others to absorb extra innings and higher-leverage work, any encouraging update on Wells matters. The Rays are still managing their relief mix carefully, but the possibility that Wells stay on the shelf could be limited has at least changed the tone around one of their key arms, and now the bigger question is how quickly he can get back into the picture when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Win Streak Comes With A New Clubhouse Tradition Fans Will Love
The Rays postgame mood has taken on a little more theater lately, and Jonny DeLuca found himself in the middle of it after Tampa Bays latest win. The outfielder spun the teams celebration wheel and landed on the assignment to give manager Kevin Cash a hug, a recent wrinkle in the clubhouses victory routine that has players taking turns with whatever task the wheel delivers.
With Nick Martinez nudging him along, DeLuca followed through during Cashs postgame media session, creating a moment that stood out even by the Rays loose, playful standards. It also marked the first time Cash reciprocated one of those hugs, a small but revealing sign of how this winning stretch has only deepened the teams evolving postgame tradition. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Kelly Just Gave The Rays A Bullpen Decision To Make
After a difficult outing, Kevin Kelly answered right away in his first appearance back, striking out the side and helping the Rays close out a 2-1 walk-off win over the Athletics. It was the kind of reset Tampa Bay needed from a bullpen that has been tested by injuries to Tyler Wells and other relievers, leaving the club searching for steady innings wherever it can find them.
Kellys response only adds to the mix of options the Rays are weighing as the postseason nears. With relief roles still being evaluated, a sharp rebound like this can carry real weight, especially for a team trying to sort out who can be trusted in leverage when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]