October 17, 2031: NLDS Game 5
 

https://i.imgur.com/b5V48TY.png

Corbin Burnes and the Padres finish off Atlanta and advance to face Washington in the NLCS.

October 18, 2031: ALDS Game 5
 

Phew...

https://i.imgur.com/FYi6LlX.png

Once again the Rays built a healthy lead and once Gerald Ogando turned it into a nailbiter, but once again they held on and this time it meant a trip to the ALCS to face Toronto. Donye Evans got through a rough first inning with miminal damage and cruised from there and they rode a trio of homers to take a 5-1 lead with Carson Williams' shot putting them ahead to stay and Wander Franco's two-run blast providing separation. But for the second straight time Ogando shat the bed, loading the bases with nobody out and necessitating an early appearance from Randy Rodriguez. Rodriguez did allow a couple of runners to score but left with the lead still intact but unfortunately he strained his back getting the 3rd out, a "moderate" injury that will last a week and hurt us in the ALCS. With 3 of the first 4 Twins due in the 9th lefties we turned to Ryan Okuda, who atoned for allowing the winning run in the Game 4 by breezing through the 9th 1-2-3 and clinch the series.

So we head into the ALCS with a questionable bullpen as our setup guy Ogando has been horrendous while our closer is hurt. We're just going to have to build up some healthy margins and we'll need a much better start this time out from Luis German in Game 1.

October 19-20, 2031: ALCS Game 1 & NLCS Games 1-2
 

An ugly start...

https://i.imgur.com/uuB9pjv.png

Luis German crapped the bed again and the offense wasn't much help either as the Rays lost an ugly 6-2 decision to Toronto in the ALCS lid-lifter. German loaded the bases in the opening frame but got to two outs before allowing a 2-run single and a 2-run triple, then gave up a homer in the 3rd for good measure as he followed up a disastrous start in the ALDS with another today. Bryce Eldridge pitched well in long relief and might just get the start in Game 5, provided we force one. Aldry Acosta will attempt to keep us falling in an 0-2 hole before going to Canada.

In the NLCS it's all even after two games:

https://i.imgur.com/FPv7vrS.png

https://i.imgur.com/Ap0WMrk.png

October 21, 2031: ALCS Game 2
 

Big trouble now...

https://i.imgur.com/S8JGXuS.png

Rays pitching was garbage at the beginning and at the end and as a result they've fallen behind 0-2 in the ALCS and now head to Toronto where they'll have to win twice. Aldry Acosta was awful, putting them in a 4-0 hole but somehow the offense battled back to take the lead in the 7th. There were two out and nobody on when Nelson Haro struck out, only for the pitch to go to the backstop allowing Haro to reach. Ozzie Albies then singled and Wander Franco stepped up and hit what looked to be the biggest of homers. But the Randy Rodriguez injury proved large as Gerald Ogando was terrible for the third time in these playoffs, and Ivan Armstrong couldn't handle the pressure, giving up consecutive game-tying and game-losing singles to let Toronto win. So now our ace Donye Evans will try to keep us out of a pretty much insurmountable 0-3 hole.

October 22, 2031: NLCS Game 3
 

October 23, 2031: ALCS Game 3 & NLCS Game 4
 

All over but the shouting...

https://i.imgur.com/31iwKxn.png

I knew the Randy Rodriguez injury in the ALDS was going to be a significant one but didn't think it would be this significant as without it the Rays would likely be holding a 2-1 ALCS lead instead of being on the brink of elimination at 0-3 down. It was deja vu all over again as the Rays got yet another poor outing from a starter, this time the red-hot Donye Evans giving up 4 runs in the 1st. But like in Game 2 the offense battled back and Rodolfo Solano's 8th-inning homer off Jays closer Darwin Cruz made it 6-5 Tampa Bay. Ivan Armstrong made it through the 8th so we headed to the 9th. After Gerald Ogando's string of absymal outings I figured I'd give Rodriguez a chance despite his back injury which was listed as moderate. Well that didn't work either as he gave up a leadoff homer, a triple and a sac fly to lose it. Walt Khattak will now try to keep the season alive tomorrow.

Meanwhile it's shaping up to be a Jays-Padres Fall Classic:

https://i.imgur.com/g77Fl06.png

October 24, 2031: ALCS Game 4 & NLCS Game 5
 

Truly unbelievable...

https://i.imgur.com/gutUKHK.png

If you had thought the Rays made an art form of blowing late leads in this series Game 4 is when they got it down to a science, blowing not one, not two, not three, but four leads in this game as they were mercifully swept by the Jays after another bullpen meltdown. They finally got a good outing from a starter as Walt Khattak was in fine form today and Carson Williams' 2-run homer put them up 3-2. Coby Holcombe blew the second lead by giving up a homer but Nelson Haro, who had a quiet ALCS after a huge ALDS, ripped his 3rd hit of the game - a 2-run homer to put them up 5-3 in the 8th. Ryan Okuda got through the bottom of the frame and Gerald Ogando got one more chance to put something positive in his ledger and predictably failed, giving up a 2-out, 2-run homer to let Toronto tie. Yet there was still one more lead to blow as Williams singled in a run in the top of the 10th to make it 6-5. With few options we turned to Bryce Eldridge, who completely flopped by allowing four straights hits for 2 runs and that was that. It's really incredible to think it games were 8 innings the Rays would be one away from clinching a World Series trip but instead they're going home after being swept.

Unlike Tampa Bay, the Nationals would not go quietly into the good night:

https://i.imgur.com/VNwFHFP.png

October 26-27, 2031: NLCS Games 6 & 7
 

What a comeback by the Nats.

https://i.imgur.com/jmWERtd.png

https://i.imgur.com/kF4eFgm.png

The 2031 World Series
 

It went the distance, and congrats to the Nats including former Rays Austin Meadows and Josh Lowe:

https://i.imgur.com/JFkFM7G.png
https://i.imgur.com/vyuBl7j.png

2031-32 Offseason: State of the Team
 

We did make it to the LCS with a team that seemed to struggle for large sections of the season so I can't be too dissatisfied with 2031, although the memories of the bullpen blowing 9th-inning leads in 3 of the 4 losses will haunt me for a while.

On to 2032, and the big development is the end of the Wander Franco era in Tampa Bay as the star SS becomes a free agent. His final season with the Rays was a huge disappointment as he only earned 2.5 WAR, and as he entered his 30s he seemed to be a downslope as he was good for 4.3 WAR in 2030 after averaging a little over 6/season for the four years before that. We're also losing a pair of starters to free agency in Taj Bradley and Luis German but we still have four returning. Finally we say goodbye to Gunnar Henderson, who was supposed to be our rental star last season but got off to a miserable start and missed the second half of the year with injury so we barely knew him enough to miss him. Otherwise the team remains largely intact. Here's the salary situation:

https://i.imgur.com/EY35bsg.png

I don't really see us non-tendering anyone above. Rather than do a position-by-position outlook that consists of mostly "so and so returns", I'll identify our areas of need. We should have around $20M to play with so no big splash signings but enough to fill some holes.

Catcher. Angel Rivera will be brought back at his arbitration price but I feel he's someone we can improve on so I'll be on the prowl for someone better to share the job with him than Cade Arrambide.

Shortstop. We already have Wander's heir apparent in the fold with Isaac Cedillos. While he won't hit like Wander he's a far superior defensive SS and stands a decent chance of meeting or exceeding the 2.5 WAR Franco put up last season.

Rotation. As mentioned we do have four starters returning. The fifth could be prospect Jaheim Lennon and lefty reliever Ryan Okuda has the ability to start as well.

Otherwise it's steady as she goes with amazingly the entire bullpen coming back; most seasons in most saves I usually need a arm or three but not this time around.

2031-32 Offseason, Part 1
 

Notable retirements: A lot of big names including Bryce Harper (Phillies retire #3), Jose Ramirez (Cleveland retires #11), Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Aaron Judge, Rhys Hoskins, Teoscar Hernandez.

Former Rays: Tyler Glasnow, Joe Ryan, Brendan McKay, Tanner Scott, Willy Adames.

Awards season:

Gold Glove: We have a winner! Alistair Hardy took the RF award. We had one of the best defensive OFs in the league when Hardy was playing with Elijah Green in CF and Rodolfo Solano in LF.

Reliever of the Year: Toronto's Darwin Cruz was a deserved winner after a 36-save, 1.94 ERA season with 116 Ks in 69 IP that earned him a whopping 3.6 WAR while our Randy Rodriguez and Erubiel Armenta finished 2-3. In the NL the venerable Edwin Diaz took his 3rd RotY award thanks to 34 saves and 1.65 ERA for Atlanta.

Silver Slugger: No Tampa Bay winners.

Rookie of the Year: Seattle 3B Mario Osorio won comfortably with 21 first-place votes after a .292-13-59 season while in the NL Cincinnati's Omar Delgado took 25 first-place votes with a massive power display of 55 HR and 115 RBI.

Cy Young: Who else could it be but the Yankees' Robert Ahlstrom? The righty won his fourth straight Cy Young after another stellar season, going 15-8, 3.47 with 251 Ks and an MLB-best 7.8 WAR. And another veteran, Corbin Burnes, won in the NL unanimously after a 16-6, 2.63 year with San Diego, also his fourth Cy but over the last 11 seasons.

MVP: Chicago's 3B Justin Still nosed out Seattle's Julio Rodriguez for the AL honors 313-291 and 14-8 in 1st place votes. Sill hit .277-55-132 and earned 5.7 WAR but the case could be made for Julio's 7.6 WAR and .310-29-100 season with superior defense. Juan Soto of Cleveland wasn't too far behind that pair with 5 first-place votes of his own. In the NL Ronald Acuna Jr. made it back-to-back MVPs, hitting .290-42-108 and earning 7.8 WAR despite missing nearly a full month of the season.

December 1: Wander Franco declined our qualifying offer so we'll get a comp pick in next year's draft; he was the only free agent I wanted to risk it on although I considered giving one to Gunnar Henderson. Donye Evans was awarded $13.6M in arbitration, a million more than we offered, Walt Khattak received $4.1M, about $300K more, and Elijah Green won $2.7M, also about $300K more as we lost all 3 of our arbitration cases. So our bottom line remains about $20M leeway in payroll.

December 10: The first big day of player movement around the league as 2-time reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. left the only club he ever knew in Atlanta to sign a 5/162 deal with the Phillies. Meanwhile 37-year-old vet SS Carlos Correa joined the Yankees on a 2/57 contract. Correa's still at the top of his game coming off a 6.1 WAR season. And the Orioles traded their star C Adley Rutschman to Cleveland for a trio of prospects.

December 16: SS Aeverson Arteaga inked a big 7/168 pact with the Cubs.

December 17: More big free agent signing with the Yankees bringing back SP Deivi Garcia after many years in Arizona with a 5/101 deal, and 40-year-old superstar Mike Trout returning home of sorts to the Mets on a 2/28 contract. Trout has 612 career homers.

December 18: Wander Franco is officially gone but we'll still be seeing a lot more of him as he stayed in the division, signing for 7/175 with the Red Sox.

December 19: And another of our free agents defected to a division rival as Luis German joined the Yankees for 6/128. And to further the theme New York also signed lefty reliever Jovani Moran, who spent 2023-29 with us, to a 1-year, $5.6M deal.

December 20: Our reliever Gerald Ogando experienced the dreaded "guru in India" story and came back confused, not sure if he wants to play baseball.

December 26: The Rule 5 Draft came and went without any comings or goings on our end.

2031-32 Offseason, Part 2
 

January 7: The Hall of Fame voting is in, and nobody made it:

https://i.imgur.com/Wgpr3Cu.png

It's do-or-die next year for Joe Mauer, while some others made strong first-time showings (Altuve, Goldy, Freeman).

Meanwhile 38-year-old Trea Turner signed a 2/20 deal with Minnesota.

January 8: Lost OF Hendry Mendez to Texas on waivers.

Mendez was barely used despite being up all of last season and has no defensive value. Instead we'll go with a Japanese import from a couple of winters ago, Norietsu Kurakawa, who's an average CF and an above-average corner guy who has some pop and is coming off a good (4.1 WAR) year with Durham.

January 12: Former Ray Forrest Whitley, who's fashioned a career as a middle reliever since leaving here after the 2027 season, joined the Yankees on a 2/10 deal.

January 14: Elly De La Cruz, coming off a .266-37-113 season, signed a 3/29 pact with the San Antonio Seagulls.

January 20: We signed our first amateur IFA of the winter, 17-year-old SP Humberto Herrera, who has 60/50/75 potential.

January 26: The Rockies offloaded perennial 30-homer guy Zac Veen to Texas for a pitching prospect.

January 28: After spending 3 years in Philly, OF Byron Buxton is on his way to the Dodgers on a 3/49 contract.

February 5: Tanner Dodson, in our bullpen the last few years but who missed the second half of last season due to injury, joined the Yankees for 1 year and $3.9M.

February 14: Veteran C Reese McGuire embodies the term "journeyman". Starting in 2027 he went from the Yankees to Boston to Detroit to Arizona, back to the Yankees, back to Detroit and now he's going back to Boston on a 1/9.4 deal. Guessing Arizona is next on his itinerary.

March 16: Joey Gallo comes full circle as the 38-year-old returns to where he started in Texas, joining the Rangers for 1 year and $12M. He's consistently hit 35-40 HR and consistently hit around .200 but he's still been good for around 3 WAR/season the last few years.

March 21: We've lost Ozzie Albies for most of the season with a torn labrum as he'll be out until late August. I'm not sure that's a huge loss considering he only earned 1.2 WAR last year and is a lousy 2B. Victor Mesa and Marco Luciano can man the position adequately.

March 23: A newsy day as our free agent Taj Bradley joined the Cubs on a 2/32 deal and we signed a couple of vets to minor league deals: C Patrick Bailey and OF Ethan Wilson. Bailey should take Cade Arrambide's job as backup C and will cut into Angel Rivera's ABs more. We have a crowded OF but Wilson, who was a 2-WAR guy last year and has 25-HR power, will give us extra depth at Durham.

2032 Opening Day Roster & Preseason Predictions
 

No further injuries as we wrapped up Spring Training, so the Opening Day Roster shakes out as thus:

C-A.Rivera, Bailey
1B-Caminero
2B-Mesa
SS-Cedillos
3B-C.Williams
IF-Luciano
LF-Y.Alvarez
CF-R.Solano
RF-Hardy
OF-E.Green, Kurokawa
DH-Haro

SP-Evans, Acosta, Khattak, Eldridge, Okuda
LR-Lennon
MR-Buckman, Onyshko, Holcombe, Marklund, Armstrong
SU-Armenta, Ogando
CL-R.Rodriguez

Rookie Jaheim Lennon makes it as a long man and Ryan Okuda gets a crack at being the 5th starter. This is about 95% of last year's team with the only new guys on offense being backup C Patrick Bailey and OF Norietsu Kurokawa.

The preseason picks peg us as a wild card team, which is fair since that's what we were most of last season before going on a late charge to win the division:

https://i.imgur.com/YRYK0jc.png

April 5-8, 2032: vs Baltimore (4)
 

Opening Day:

https://i.imgur.com/MeSTYRM.png

Not the start we wanted although as you'll see below things went much better the rest of the series. Today though we found out it's extraordinarily difficult win a game with only two hits, even if your starter pitches quite well.

Game 2: 3-1 W. WP-Evans (1-0, 5 2 1 1 3 9). S-R.Rodriguez (1). HR-Solano (1). That's more like it as Donye was in mid-season form and 3-run 5th sparked by Solano's solo homer leading off the inning was all the offense they needed.

Game 3: 10-3 W. WP-Acosta (1-0, 6 2 0 0 0 11). HR-Haro (1), C.Williams (1), Mesa (1), Caminero (1), Y.Alvarez (1). Despite the scoreline this was a 0-0 game in the 5th and a 3-0 game in the 7th before the Rays put 6 on the board in an inning in which they hit four homers. Haro's 2-run blast in the 5th was the key while Acosta was about as dominant as you can get i his 6 innings of work.

Game 4: 2-0 W. WP-Eldridge (1-0, 6 3 0 0 2 6). S-R.Rodriguez (2). Yet another outstanding outing from a starter as Eldridge was tough and they scratched out enough offense to win with Isaac Cedillos' RBI single in the 2nd all they'd need in the end.

Team record: 3-1. Our eternal rivals the Jays started 4-0 of course. Next up: Oakland visits for 3 games.

April 9-11, 2032: vs Oakland (3)
 

Game 1: 6-0 W. WP-Okuda (1-0, 7 2 0 0 1 8). HR-A.Rivera (1), Mesa (2). We've been quite good the past few years at converting relievers into starters (Donye Evans, Luis German, Aldry Acosta) and the latest success story could be Ryan Okuda, who was flat-out brilliant in his first start, dominating Oakland. Elijah Green's 2-run single in the 2nd was all Okuda needed and the Rays won comfortably.

Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-R.Rodriguez (1-0). Starter-Khattak (5.2 6 5 3 1 2). HR-Y.Alvarez (2). Rays were down 5-1 in this one before Yordan's 3-run homer got them back in it and Rodolfo Solano walked it off in the 9th with an RBI single. Alvarez added an RBI double for the first Tampa Bay run.

Game 3: 7-0 W. WP-Evans (2-0, 6 4 0 0 1 8). The Rays' brilliant start to 2032 continued with their sixth straight win and a series sweep of Oakland. Donye keyed the team's third shutout win in four games with another overpowering effort and Isaac Cedillos drilled 3 doubles, driving in 3 while Solano and Angel Rivera each plated a pair.

Team record: 6-1. Now in first, but only 1/2 up on Toronto and 1 game up on Boston. Next up: Our season-opening homestand concludes with 3 against Cleveland.

April 12-14, 2032: vs Cleveland (3)
 

Game 1: 1-2 L. LP-Buckman (0-1). Starter-Acosta (5 2 1 1 2 8). A frustrating loss for the Rays as they left 10 men on base and lost the game by a run, wasting another brilliant Acosta start.

Game 2: 4-3 W. WP-Marklund (1-0). S-R.Rodriguez (3). Starter-Eldridge (5.1 5 3 3 3 6). HR-Mesa (3), Y.Alvarez (3). Starting down the barrel of a second straight defeat trailing 3-0 in the 6th, the Rays rallied in the bottom of the frame on a 3-run Mesa homer and a solo shot from Yordan to win it.

Game 3: 5-1 W. WP-Okuda (2-0, 5.2 4 1 1 1 9). HR-Caminero (2), Cedillos (2). The Ryan Okuda-to-the-rotation move continues a smashing success as he was incredible again. As a result Caminero's 3-run homer in the 1st was all they'd need today.

Team record: 8-2. We're 1 1/2 up on 6-3 Toronto to start the year but now will be tested on the road after playing 10 at home. That trip will start after a day off with 3 at Texas.

April 16-18, 2032: at Texas (3)
 

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Buckman (1-1). S-R.Rodriguez (4). Starter-Evans (5 1 0 0 2 8). HR-Cedillos 2 (4). Neither team had a hit in this game until the 5th when the Rangers got one off Donye, then Cedillos homered in the 6th off Texas' Tarik Skubal for the first run, and after the Rangers tied it up Cedillos went deep again with a 3-run shot in the 8th to win it.

Game 2: 7-11 L. LP-Armenta (0-1). Starter-Khattak (4 6 5 5 1 2). HR-Mesa (4), Y.Alvarez (4). Rays fell behind 5-1, came back to lead 7-5, and then saw four relievers combine to allow 6 runs to lose it. Yordan had a nice game with an RBI double and a 2-run homer.

Game 3: 7-8 L (10). LP-Onyshko (0-1). Starter-Acosta (4.2 7 1 1 3 4). HR-Hardy (1). Another gut-wrenching loss as the Rays built a 5-1 lead, saw Texas come back to tie with a run off a wild Randy Rodriguez in the 9th (he walked 3 including one to force in the equalizer), then saw Alistair Hardy cap a 4-RBI day with a 2-run shot to put them back up 7-5 in the 10th only for Onyshko to give up a 2-out, 3-run walk-off homer to Corey Seager.

Team record: 9-4. Toronto swept its series so despite a fine record we're 1/2 back of them. Next up: The road trip continues with 4 at Yankee Stadium.

April 19-22, 2032: at NY Yankees (4)
 

Game 1: 7-9 L (10). LP-Ogando (0-1). Starter-Eldridge (4.1 7 6 6 4 4). HR-Bailey (1), Hardy (2). Another tough loss where the Rays came to tie from both 6-2 and 7-6 down, only to lose on a 2-run walkoff homer by former Ray Triston Casas. Haro's 2-run pinch-double tied it at 6 in the 7th and then Hardy's dramatic solo homer in the 9th tied it again, but it was all for nought.

Game 2: 0-6 L. LP-Okuda (2-1, 4 4 3 3 4 6). After scoring 7 runs in each of the last three games and losing them, the Rays offense decided why bother and managed only 4 hits as Okuda had his first bad start.

Game 3: 0-3 L. LP-Evans (2-1, 5 3 1 1 4 8). The losing streak reaches 5 and the scoreless streak 2 as the bats were even worse today with only two hits.

Game 4: 6-7 L. LP-Armstrong (0-1). Starter-Khattak (4 5 5 5 3 3). HR-Solano (2), Mesa (5), Caminero (3). The Rays miserable road trip saw them swept by the Yankees and lose six straight after winning the opener in Texas. This one played out similarly to the series opener as they fought back from 5-0 down to go ahead 6-5 in the 7th on Caminero's 3-run homer, but immediately gave two back to the Yanks in the bottom of the frame and that was that.

Team record: 9-8. That record is actually good for last in the AL East as all five teams are over .500 and separated by 1 1/2 games. Next up: The road trip from hell continues on the other side of the country with 3 in Anaheim against the Angels.

April 23-25, 2032: at LA Angels (3)
 

Game 1: 2-3 L. LP-Acosta (1-1, 5.2 5 3 3 2 7). HR-Rivera (2). A team that a week ago was 9-2 and looked like a juggernaut is now 9-9 after 7 straight losses on the road, the latest coming to the lowly Angels who were 4-13 coming in. A 2-1 lead was lost in the 6th when former Ray Max Viera hit a 2-run homer.

Game 2: 14-5 W. WP-Eldridge (2-0, 7 6 4 3 1 6). HR-Haro (2), Y.Alvarez (5), Caminero (4). The Rays finally stopped the rot as the bats exploded for 14 runs on 17 hits. Caminero doubled, homered and drove in 5, Yordan did likewise knocking in 4, and Haro had 3 hits and tied a team record scoring 5 runs.

Game 3: 6-3 W. WP-Okuda (3-1, 6 0 0 0 1 5). HR-Kurkowa (1). Okuda ad two relievers no-hit the Angels through 8 before Cody Holcombe gave up a hit in the 9th, and then two more including a homer but it didn't matter. 32-year-old "rookie" Norietsu Kurokawa got a rare start and came through with his first MLB homer, a 3-run shot to cap a 4-run first.

Team record: 11-9, 4th but 1 1/2 off the lead in a tight AL East. Next up: We finally return home for 3 against the Yankees, who at 10-10 are bringing up the rear.

April 26-28, 2032: vs NY Yankees (3)
 

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Evans (3-1, 5 1 0 0 5 9). S-R.Rodriguez (5). Brilliant pitched led by Donye held the Yankees to 3 hits on the day and a 4-run 1st won it with Elijah Green's 2-run single the big hit.

Game 2: 0-5 L. LP-Khattak (1-2, 4 8 4 4 1 5). It was the Yankees' turn to dominate as Deivi Garcia went 7 2 0 0 1 13 against and the bats whiffed 18 times in total. Khattak's poor start to the season continued as his ERA rose to 6.93.

Game 3: 3-0 W. WP-Buckman (2-1). S-Ogando (1). Starter-Acosta (3 1 0 0 0 3). HR-Cedillos (5). Very similar to the opener as the Rays scored their runs in the first couple of innings and watched the pitching take over. Acosta left with back spasms but should make his next start.

Team record: 13-10. Next up: A day off then 3 in Toronto.

April 30-May 2, 2032: at Toronto (3)
 

Game 1: 4-7 L. LP-Armstrong (0-2). Starter-Eldridge (5 5 1 1 3 2). HR-Haro (3). Total bullpen meltdown as the Rays took a 4-1 lead into the 7th before Colby Holcombe and Ivan Armstrong combined to allow 6 runs to lose it.

Game 2: 2-0 W. WP-Marklund (2-0). S-R.Rodriguez (6). Starter-Okuda (4.2 4 0 0 2 6). HR-Cedillos (6). Today the bullpen was brilliant as Okuda and 3 relievers combined on a 4-hit shutout. Isaac Cedillos brought home both runs with an RBI single and solo homer.

Game 3: 3-1 W. WP-Ogando (1-1). S-R.Rodriguez (7). Starter-Evans (5 2 1 1 1 6). HR-Caminero (5). Caminero's 2-run homer in the 8th was the difference as the Rays took a series they probably should have swept in Toronto.

Team record: 15-11. We're tied with Boston 1/2 game behind Toronto in a wild AL East. Next up: An off-day then back home for 3 against Houston.

May 4-6, 2032: vs Houston (3)
 

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Armstrong (1-2). Starter-Acosta (5 3 3 3 2 9). HR-Kurokawa (2). Acosta gave up 3 in the top of the 1st but he and the pen held from there and the comeback culminated in Angel Rivera's walk-off double in the bottom of the 9th.

Game 2: 4-12 L. LP-Khattak (0-3, 3 7 6 6 4 4). HR-Mesa 2 (7), Luciano (1). Walt Khattak's miserable start to 2032 shows no signs of turning around as today's beating upped his ERA to 8.13.

Game 3: 3-2 W. WP-Ogando (2-1). S-R.Rodriguez (8). Starter-Eldridge (6 7 2 1 2 3). Another comeback win with Isaac Cedillos' 2-run double in the 8th winning it for the Rays.

Team record: 17-12. We're 1/2 behind the Jays in 2nd, 1/2 up on the Red Sox and 1 game on the Yankees in a jumbled AL East. Next up: The other Texas team visits for 3 as we host the Rangers.

May 7-9, 2032: vs Texas (3)
 

Game 1: 4-6 L. LP-Ogando (2-2). Starter-Okuda (6 5 0 0 3 5). HR-Caminero (6), Haro (4). An utter disaster as the Rays took a 4-0 lead into the 8th only to see the pen give up 5 runs to lose it. Ben Onyshko loaded the bases with one out, Ogando gave up a hit and two walks to let Texas tie and then Buckman gave up the winning hit.

Game 2: 6-5 W (13). WP-Buckman (3-1). Starter-Evans (3.1 7 4 4 1 6). HR-C.Williams (2). Rays turned the tables on Texas, coming back from 5-1 down with a 4-run 6th to tie and then eventually winning in the 13th on Nelson Haro's RBI single after his double had tied the game earlier. The slumping Carson Williams also tripled and homered.

Game 3: 3-8 L. LP-Acosta (1-2, 4.2 9 8 8 0 7, 3 HR). HR-Kurokawa (3). An ugly game as Acosta was left in longer than he should have with the bullpen burned from the previous two nights.

Team record: 18-14. Now 3rd, 1 1/2 back of Boston. Next up: The Yankees, whom we're ahead of by a game, come to the Trop for 4.

May 10-13, 2032: vs NY Yankees (4)
 

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Armenta (1-1). S-R.Rodriguez (9). Starter-Khattak (5.1 4 2 2 5 2). HR-Caminero (7). This was the first time Luis German had pitched at the Trop since leaving the Rays and he shackled them for 6 2/3, allowing only a Caminero solo shot. But they rallied for 3 off the pen with Solano's 2-run triple the winner. R-Rod had the shakiest of saves, leaving the bases loaded with a run in.

Game 2: 7-2 W. WP-Eldridge (3-0, 6 4 1 1 1 10). A much easier time of it tonight for Tampa Bay as Eldridge pitched his best game of the season. Caminero was 2-3 with 3 RBI and Angel Rivera was 1-2 with 2 walks, an RBI double, and 3 runs scored as the Rays knocked around one of the top pitchers in the game in Robert Ahlstrom.

Game 3: 4-3 W. WP-Buckman (4-1). Starter-Okuda (5.2 4 2 2 0 8). HR-Caminero (8), Solano (3). Rodolfo Solano to the rescue again as his 2-run walk-off homer in the 9th gave the Rays the most dramatic of wins.

Game 4: 2-4 L. LP-Evans (3-2, 5.1 1 1 1 3 8). Evans took the toughest of losses as the bats and bullpen let them down tonight. Caminero was 2-2 and finished the series 6-13 with 2 HR and 6 RBI.

Team record: 21-15. Taking 3 of 4 in this series enabled the Rays to move into first place, 1/2 game ahead of both Toronto and Boston. Next up: The homestand concludes with 3 against the Phillies.

May 14-16, 2032: vs Philadelphia (3)
 

Game 1: 3-0 W. WP-Acosta (2-2, 6 2 0 0 1 6). S-R.Rodriguez (10). Brilliant pitching from Acosta and the pen on a combined 2-hit shutout, and Carson Williams' 2-run triple in the 6th broke a scoreless tie.

Game 2: 5-4 W (17). WP-Armstrong (2-2). Starter-Khattak (5 6 3 3 1 4). HR-Cedillos (7), Bailey (2). Rays erased a 4-1 deficit with 3 in the 8th including a pair of solo homers, and finally won it in the 17th after a walk-off wild pitch. Rodolfo Solano had 4 hits and an RBI.

Game 3: 6-4 W. WP-Eldridge (4-0, 7.1 1 2 2 6 5). S-R.Rodriguez (11). HR-Y.Alvarez 2 (7). Yordan Alvarez broke out of his season-long slump with a pair of homers and 3 RBI and the Rays held on for the sweep after taking a 6-1 lead.

Team record: 24-15. Toronto also swept its series and then won on our off day to move into a tie with us atop the AL East. Next up: The road trip starts with 3 in New York against the 19-20 Mets.

May 18-20, 2032: at NY Mets (3)
 

Game 1: 4-5 L. LP-Holcombe (0-1). Starter-Okuda (4.2 5 1 1 2 3). HR-Rivera (3). It was a 1-1 game into the 6th when the bullpen faltered as Holcombe and Onyshko (who's been terrible this year) combined to allow 4 runs. A 3-run Rivera shot in the 9th got them close but it was too late.

Game 2: 2-6 L. LP-Buckman (4-2). Starter-Evans (5 5 2 2 4 4). HR-Hardy (3), Haro (5). Another bullpen letdown, although scoring only 2 runs doesn't leave much margin for error. A 2-1 lead after 5 disappeared when Evans put the leadoff man and Buckman came in to let him score along with one of his own runners, then Ivan Armstrong put the first two men on he faced before giving up a 3-run homer to put it out of sight.

Game 3: 9-2 W. WP-Acosta (3-2, 5 6 1 1 0 5). HR-Cedillos (8), Y.Alvarez (8). Finally some run as Cedillos' slam in the 5th turned a 2-1 game into a 6-1 affair and they rolled from there. Rodolfo Solano was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI as well.

Team record: 25-17, good enough for first by 1/2 game over Toronto. Next up: Our NL East road trip continues with 3 in Atlanta.

May 21-23, 2032: at Atlanta (3)
 

Game 1: 5-3 W. WP-Buckman (5-2). S-R.Rodriguez (12). Starter-Khattak (3.1 6 3 3 3 4). HR-Cedillos (9). Carson Williams' 2-run double and Cedillos' 2-run homer staked them to a 4-0 lead that the struggling Khattak almost blew, but the bullpen saved the day with 5 2/3 scoreless.

Game 2: 4-5 L. LP-Eldridge (4-1, 5 7 3 3 1 3). HR-Solano (4). Rays fell behind 5-0 in this one before a late comeback made it close. Elijah Green's 2-run double in the 9th put the tying run in scoring position but they couldn't get him home.

Time for a trade:

https://i.imgur.com/0QU14pd.png

The bullpen's been good but there's no reason it can't get better so we made this swap as Texas had Watters on the block. The righty saved 30 games for the Rangers last year and 9 this season and he'll take some pressure off Gerald Ogando, who as the primary setup man has 25 stamina. And I was glad to see Onyshko out the door (and glad to see Texas was willing to take him in exchange) as he was beginning to become a DFA candidate with a 9.92 ERA earned by allowing 7 homers in 16 IP this year including 7 runs allowed in his last 4 outings. He did have 26 whiffs in those 16 innings but also walked 11. The deal leaves us with only one lefty in the pen (Armenta) and I might remedy that in the future.

Game 3: 5-3 W. WP-Okuda (4-1, 5 4 1 1 1 3). S-R.Rodriguez (13). HR-C.Williams (3). Carson's grand slam in the 6th broke a 1-1 tie and the Rays held on to take the series. New acquisition Jacob Watters had a rough debut though, giving up 2 runs in the 7th while retiring only one man to let Atlanta back in the game.

Team record: 27-18, and with Toronto losing 2 of 3 in Washington the division lead is up to 1 1/2. The bad news is that next up are those same Nationals, who bring the best record in baseball at 31-14 to the Trop for 3 games.

May 24-25, 2032: vs Washington (2)
 

Misspoke in the last post, Washington only came in for a pair but we're then going to the nation's capital for another pair.

Also forgot to mention in the last post a transaction as DH Nelson Haro goes on the IL with a strained back which will keep him out 3 weeks. Replacing him is veteran OF Ethan Wilson, whom we had signed to a minor league deal in spring training. Wilson had spent 8 years with the Phillies hitting 223 homers and will serve as our DH against righties.

Game 1: 7-4 W. WP-Buckman (6-2). S-R.Rodriguez (14). Starter-Evans (5.2 3 3 3 0 8). HR-E.Wilson (1), C.Williams (4), Cedillos (10), Hardy (4). After losing a 3-0 lead when I left Evans in too long, Carson Williams' 2-run homer in the bottom of the 6th put them ahead to stay as the Rays were homer-happy in the win.

Game 2: 2-4 L. LP-Watters (0-1). Starter-Acosta (4.2 6 1 1 1 5). HR-Cedillos (11). Jacob Watters is finding the early going with the Rays tough as after getting his new teammates out of a jam in the 7th, put the first two men on in the 8th before Ogando let them both score to saddle him with the loss and make it 2 runs allowed in each of his first two Rays appearances.

Team record: 28-19. Toronto also split so we maintain our 1 1/2-game division lead as we had to Washington to complete the home-and-home series.

May 26-27, 2032: at Washington (2)
 

Game 1: 5-8 L. LP-Khattak (0-4, 1.2 6 5 5 1 1). HR-Mesa (8), Hardy (5), Rivera (4). Getting to the end of my rope with Khattak, whose ERA now jumps to 7.95 and who lost a 4-0 lead - thanks to a 3-run Hardy homer - by the 2nd inning. Jaheim Lennon would be his replacement, and he went 4.1 7 2 2 0 3 in relief of him today.

Game 2: 8-7 W. WP-Buckman (7-2). S-R.Rodriguez (15). Starter-Eldridge (4.1 5 5 5 5 3). HR-Solano (5), Kurokawa (4), Hardy (6). Rays trailed 5-0 after 5 and 5-1 after 6 before erupting for 7 in the 7th to turn it around with another 3-run homer from Hardy the key blow. Entrusted with an 8-5 lead in the 8th, Jacob Watters crapped the bed again by putting a man on and then giving up a homer to the next, making it 4-for-4 in appearances allowing 2 runs since being acquired to help the pen, necessitating a 4-out save from Randy Rodriguez.

Team record: 29-20. With Toronto winning twice the lead is down to 1/2 game. Next up: off to Chicago for 3 against the White Sox.

May 28-30, 2032: at Chicago White Sox (3)
 

Game 1: 4-6 L. LP-Okuda (4-2, 1.1 6 5 5 1 2). HR-C.Williams (5). A rough start from Okuda put them in an early 5-2 that they couldn't climb out of. Carson Williams did have an RBI double and solo homer.

Game 2: 4-5 L (11). LP-Armstrong (2-3). Starter-Evans (5 7 3 3 3 6). Tough loss as Armstrong gave up a homer to the first man he faced in the 11th to lose it after the Rays sent it to extras with a run in the 9th.

Game 3: 3-4 L (11). LP-Armstrong (2-4). Starter-Acosta (5 7 3 3 3 5). HR-Y.Alvarez (9). Deja vu all over again as the Rays and Ivan Armstrong lost in the 11th - even the starters put up eerily identical lines the last two days as the Rays were swept in a rough weekend in Chicago. Yordan's 3-run homer in the 3rd gave them an early lead but they couldn't do anything the rest of the day.

Team record: 29-23. Luckily the Jays had their own struggles, losing 3 of 4 so there's now a tie atop the AL East. Next up: A day off then 3 games in Seattle.

June 1-3, 2032: at Seattle (3)
 

Transaction: Claimed reliever Jaden Stevenson on waivers from Cincinnati, optioned P Jaheim Lennon to Durham. Stevenson had been the Reds' closer, saving 38 games last year but with a 5.07 ERA and he did have 4 saves in 5 appearances this year. He's rated 60/60/50 and will give us some bullpen depth while top prospect Lennon gets a chance to start with the Bulls.

Game 1: 2-4 L. LP-Khattak (0-5, 5 6 4 4 1 7). HR-E.Wilson (2), Y.Alvarez (10). Fourth straight loss for the Rays as they generate only two hits outside of the two solo homers.

Game 2: 0-3 L. LP-Eldridge (4-2, 5.2 6 3 3 2 4). Once again only four hits but this time with no runs as they lose their fifth straight.

Game 3: 1-2 L. LP-Okuda (4-3, 5.1 6 2 2 2 2). Trapped in a nightmare is the Rays' offense as they were lame again today and wasted some good pitching to go 0-6 on the road trip.

Team record: 29-26. They've finally dropped out of first, into a third-place tie with the Yankees 1 1/2 behind Toronto. Next up: A return home to play 3 against St. Louis. The Cardinals are 30-24 but on their own 7-game losing streak so something has to give.

June 4-6, 2032: vs St. Louis (3)
 

Game 1: 5-4 W (11). WP-Watters (1-1). Starter-Evans (4 4 4 4 4 4). Carson Williams' third hit and second RBI double of the game walked it off in the 11th as the Rays came from behind to win after Victor Mesa's RBI single tied it in the 8th.

Game 2: 2-0 W. WP-Acosta (4-2, 7 3 0 0 0 13). S-Ogando (2). HR-Y.Alvarez (11). A truly dominant outing from Acosta, with Angel Rivera's RBI double and Yordan's homer supplying just enough offense.

Game 3: 11-3 W. WP-Buckman (8-2). Starter-Khattak (5.1 5 3 3 2 3). HR-Solano 2 (7), C.Williams (6). Nothing like home cooking for the Rays as after returning from an 0-6 road trip they come to the Trop and sweep a good Cardinals team. Yordan was 4-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI, Williams was 3-4 with a double, homer and 4 RBI, and Solano went yard as a 7-run 7th broke open a 3-3 game. Buckman now is tied for the MLB lead in wins despite being a reliever.

Team record: 32-26. And the sweep was enough to get them back into first place in the AL East, 1/2 game up on Toronto and Boston and 2 on the Yankees. Next up: Those Jays come to town for 4 games.

June 7-10, 2032: vs Toronto (4)
 

Game 1: 6-3 W. WP-Eldridge (5-2, 7 7 3 3 0 7). S-R.Rodriguez (16). HR-Caminero (9), Mesa (9). Caminero homered and drove in 3 while Mesa was 3-4 with his homer and 2 RBI to lead the way to a key division win.

Game 2: 4-0 W. WP-Buckman (9-2). Starter-Okuda (4.2 3 0 0 4 5). HR-Rivera (5). 4 Rays pitchers combined on the shutout as Buckman has gone Roy Face this year with all the relief wins. Angel Rivera had a solo homer and RBI double while Yordan knocked in the other two.

Game 3: 2-6 L. LP-Stevenson (0-1). Starter-Evans (5 6 1 1 1 8). Rays took a 2-1 lead into the 7th before Jaden Stevenson had his first bad outing as a Ray, ending up allowing 4 runs with some help from Ivan Armstrong.

Game 4: 3-5 L. LP-Buckman (9-3). Starter-Acosta (4.2 6 3 3 2 6). HR-Bailey (3). A complete and utter exercise in frustration for the Rays as they had 15 hits and left 13 men on, including the bases loaded in the 7th and more importantly in the 9th, both times with 1 out and couldn't score. The primary culprits were Ethan Wilson, who left 6 on as he was up in both of those bases-loaded situations and has been a flop since being called up hitting .137 in 51 AB, and Alistair Hardy, who left 5 on. The game was tied at 3 before Buckman allowed the go-ahead run in the 6th.

Team record: 34-28. After all of this they're still in first, 1/2 game up Toronto and New York and 1 1/2 up on Boston in what's shaping up to be a wild AL East race. Next up: We start a road trip with 3 in Arizona and are going to have to play better than the last one having gone 0-6.

June 11-13, 2032: at Arizona (3)
 

Game 1: 0-3 L. LP-Khattak (0-6, 6 4 3 3 4 4). A punchless day for the bats as they were held to a mere two hits. Khattak's woes continue although for once he did turn in a quality start.

Game 2: 6-7 L. LP-Armenta (1-2). Starter-Eldridge (3 10 5 5 0 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (12), C.Williams (7). Rays were down 5-0 in this one as Eldridge was pounded but battled back to tie the game in the 7th on Williams' grand slam. Unfortunately though Armenta, who has been lights out most of the season, faltered and allowed 2 runs to lose it. They got one back in the 9th but the rally fell short. This team is total roadkill at this point; they're an impressive 25-10 at home but they're an abysmal 9-20 on the road after this loss. Not sure I've ever seen such a disparity.

Game 3: 8-2 W. WP-Okuda (5-3, 6 4 2 2 1 6). HR-C.Williams (8), Luciano (2). Finally a road win as they salvage a game from the series and snap an 8-game losing streak away from the Trop. Okuda was solid and C.Williams, Hardy and Luciano each drove in a pair.

Team record: 35-30. The losses have dropped them 1 1/2 behind the now-first place Yankees in second, 1/2 game up on Toronto and Boston. Next up: The road trip moves to LA where they face an unusually bad Dodgers team, struggling at 24-40.

June 14-16, 2032: at LA Dodgers (3)
 

Game 1: 5-2 W. WP-Evans (4-2, 6 2 0 0 3 9). S-R.Rodriguez (17). HR-C.Williams (9). Donye was back in form and Carson Williams' grand slam (his third homer in the last four games) was the big hit.

Game 2: 5-3 W. WP-Acosta (5-2, 6.2 3 2 2 0 6). S-R.Rodriguez (18). HR-Luciano (3). This game was a virtual carbon copy of yesterday's with the Rays opening up a 5-0 lead on a grand slam, this time from very occasional contributor Marco Luciano, got an excellent start and held on for the win.

Transaction: We finally pulled the plug on Ethan Wilson. The 32-year-old who's had some big HR seasons for Philly just couldn't get it done for us hitting a flaccid 152/188/242 with 2 homers in 66 AB since being brought in to replace the injured Nelson Haro and was DFA'd after refusing a demotion. We now turn to rookie Javy Jasso, an OF who is rated 65 contract and 55 power for MLB and was hitting 278/342/403 at Durham. He's a lefty-swinger who'll play against RHP as Wilson was.

Game 3: 2-5 L. LP-Khattak (0-7, 4.2 9 4 4 1 2). HR-Hardy (7). Khattak was handed a 2-0 lead on a Hardy homer but was terrible once again with an ugly ERA of 7.31 to go with his ugly W/L record. As a result he's out of the rotation now with Jaden Stevenson given first crack to replace him, a transition from the bullpen we hope is as successful as those for Donye Evans, Aldry Acosta and Ryan Okuda have been.

Team record: 37-31. So here's what the AL East looks like:

https://i.imgur.com/SW3UXJi.png

Flip a coin. Next up: A day off to travel cross-country back home where the 39-28 White Sox will await for 3 games.

June 18-20, 2032: vs Chicago White Sox (3)
 

Game 1: 2-4 L. LP-Eldridge (5-3, 5 6 4 3 2 5). HR-Mesa (10). A lame night for the bats as they only managed 4 hits in the loss.

Game 2: 1-3 L. LP-Okuda (5-4, 6 6 3 3 0 5). HR-Caminero (10). More of the same from the offense, although Caminero didn't deserve to be lumped in as he was 4-4 with a double and homer for their sole run.

Game 3: 7-3 W. WP-Evans (5-2, 5.1 3 1 1 0 9). Rays salvaged the finale with a rare offensive outburst of late. Solano was 3-5 with a bases-clearing double to break the game open and Mesa and Hardy each had two hits and a ribbie to back another Donye-mant performance.

Team record: 38-33. Coming off their first real successful road trip of the season they dropped 2 of 3 here at home, and it put them 1 1/2 behind both the Yankees and Boston in the division while they're 1/2 game up on Toronto. Next up: 4 games in Baltimore.

June 21-24, 2032: at Baltimore (4)
 

Game 1: 6-5 W. WP-Watters (2-1). S-R.Rodriguez (19). Starter-Acosta (4 9 5 5 1 6, 4 HR). HR-Y.Alvarez (13), Mesa (11). Mesa' 3-run homer in the 9th won it for the Rays, who looked headed for defeat. Before that Acosta's brutal start put them in the hole but the pen held the rest of the way and Mesa ended up 4-5 with the homer and 4 RBI on the day.

Game 2: 4-5 L. LP-Stevenson (0-2, 5 5 4 4 1 4). HR-Jasso (1). Jaden Stevenson's first start was not a success and the Rays fell. The offense had several chances to pull it out but unlike yesterday they failed to do so.

Game 3: 0-4 L. LP-Eldridge (5-4, 5 8 4 4 0 4). Poor start from Eldridge and a poor day at the plate (4 hits).

Game 4: 3-10 L. LP-Okuda (5-5, 2.2 6 6 2 3 2). A miserable series in Baltimore concluded with a miserable loss. Although a Cedillos error loomed large early, Okuda was still terrible and so was the bullpen.

Team record: 39-36. They've now dropped to 4th in the AL East, 2 1/2 behind first-place New York and Boston. Next up: They'll try to get right at home against San Antonio (formerly Pittsburgh) with 3 games against the Seagulls. Nelson Haro has gone on a (brief) rehab assignment so some offensive help is on its way.

June 25-27, 2032: vs San Antonio (3)
 

Game 1: 2-1 W. WP-Ogando (3-0). S-R.Rodriguez (20). Starter-Evans (5.1 1 1 0 4 5). Yordan was 3-3 including an RBI double in the 8th to bring home the winning run and the pitching was strong.

Game 2: 9-2 W. WP-Acosta (6-2, 6 2 2 2 0 7). HR-E.Green (1). Rays broke open a 1-0 game with 5 in the 6th and cruised to victory. Yordan and Jasso had 2-run doubles in that key inning.

Transaction: Nelson Haro is welcomed back off the IL and instead of Javy Jasso, who's hit since being recalled, Elijah Green is sent down to Durham to make room. Green had been a semi-regular the last 2 1/2 seasons but despite hitting his first homer of the year yesterday he was only batting 122/160/200 in 90 AB with an abysmal 3/42 BB/K ratio. Despite his Gold Glove-caliber defense when playing he still had -0.4 WAR and was seldom-used of late.

Game 3: 7-4 W. WP-Stevenson (1-2, 5.2 2 2 2 2 5). S-R.Rodriguez (21). Big game for Hardy, 2-3 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored an a steal while Stevenson earned his first win as a Ray and since joining the rotation as the Rays completed the sweep.

Team record: 42-36. All the sweep earned them was 1/2 game gained on the Yankees to move within 2, where they're now tied for second with Boston. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Frisco against the 30-47 Giants.

June 29-July 1, 2032: at San Francisco (3)
 

Game 1: 2-1 W. WP-Eldridge (6-4, 6.1 3 1 1 1 6). S-R.Rodriguez (22). Rays got the pitching and eked out enough offense to take the win over the struggling Giants. Rodolfo Solano was 2-4 with a steal and both runs scored.

Game 2: 12-7 W. WP-Evans (6-2, 5 2 2 2 2 7). S-Watters (1). HR-C.Williams (10), R.Solano (8). A wild one that saw the Rays nearly blow a 7-1 lead as San Fran got within 8-7 before they put it away with 4 in the 8th, including a 3-run homer from Williams. The team had 16 hits led by Nelson Haro's 4 and everyone in the lineup had at least one with Solano knocking in 4 runs. Jacob Watters put the fire out in the 7th and then finished out the game to earn his first Tampa Bay save.

Game 3: 3-2 W (14). WP-Khattak (1-7). Starter-Okuda (5 3 1 1 1 5). This almost became the most frustrating loss of the season as the Rays left a whopping 17 men on base, most of them in regulation, and Randy Rodriguez blew a 2-1 lead in the 9th on a bases-loaded walk with two out, one of three he issued in the inning. But finally in the 14th Carson Williams, who had been the largest personal LOB offender stranding 7, delivered an RBI single to win it and the Rays completed their second straight series sweep.

Team record: 45-36. We've managed to pull within 1/2 game of the Yankees for the division lead and are now 1 1/2 ahead of Toronto and 2 1/2 ahead of Boston in second. Next up: Back home for 3 against another team having its problems, 33-47 Cincinnati.

MLB News: Toronto's Bo Bichette picked up career hit #2000.

As we've reached the halfway mark of the season, next post will be a midseason recap.

2032 Midseason Review
 

https://i.imgur.com/4Tps9Vy.png

It's been a season of fits and starts for the Rays but despite the inconsistency they find themselves only 1/2 game out of first in the AL East and the top wild card team as outside a few really good teams (Seattle, White Sox, Philly) parity reigns supreme in MLB.

https://i.imgur.com/bSnWy91.png

These numbers will hold no surprises for anyone who's been following along - a lousy offense and excellent pitching. They have picked up their play on the road lately; after starting 9-20, they've gone 7-4. Otherwise as the month-by-month record shows it's been a little over .500 ball throughout. One hope on offense is that the team's best pure hitter Nelson Haro missed a month, but it'll take more than one man to turn things around at the plate.

https://i.imgur.com/4k5bAPk.png

And there are the ugly offensive numbers with nobody except Solano having a great season. Several of those names above are capable of much more and hopefully they'll prove it in the second half. One real weakness has been the bench where several of these players have negative value. Green and Wilson have already been kicked to the curb.

https://i.imgur.com/Faz0LVe.png

Much more pleasing numbers to look at here, with the 3 top starters all having outstanding years along with the bullpen being strong and deep. Even Watters, near the bottom of the list, has started pitching well of late and should be a second-half asset. It would be nice if the back end of the rotation was better and Khattak finally pitched his way out of a spot in it. Top prospect Lennon is doing well at Durham and might get another look, especially now that the scouts have detected a velocity increase and given him an uptick in ratings.

https://i.imgur.com/tRoMxiO.png

Speaking of prospects, we have made some strides in that department with our top 20 now all within MLB's top 500. It's more depth than star power outside of Lennon and a couple of others, but we have some assets to deal at the deadline to fire-saling teams.

July 2-4, 2032: vs Cincinnati (3)
 

Game 1: 6-0 W. WP-Acosta (7-2, 5.2 2 0 0 1 9). HR-Hardy (8). Acosta was dominant and Victor Mesa was 2-3 with 2 RBI to lead the offense as the Rays extended their winning streak to 7.

Game 2: 2-1 W. WP-Stevenson (2-2, 5 3 1 1 1 3). S-R.Rodriguez (23). HR-Mesa (12). All the action in this one came in the first inning as Cincy got its run and 3 hits off Stevenson in the top of the inning and after the leadoff man reached for the Rays, Mesa homered in the bottom of the frame and it stood up for the duration.

Game 3: 13-2 W. WP-Eldridge (7-4, 5 4 2 2 4 5). HR-Caminero (11), Mesa (13), C.Williams (11). The Rays routed the Reds to complete their third straight series sweep and make it 9 wins in a row. Williams was 3-3 with a walk, homer and 5 RBI while Mesa hit a second-inning grand slam to give him an 8-RBI series.

Team record: 48-36. The sweep enabled us to move into first place in the AL East, a half-game ahead of the Yankees. Next up: Boston visits for 4 games.

July 5-8, 2032: vs Boston (4)
 

Transaction: Reliever Brandon Marklund goes on the IL with elbow inflammation and he'll be out three weeks. Christian Rodriguez, up briefly last season, is recalled to take on a long relief role.

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-R.Rodriguez (2-0). Starter-Evans (4.1 3 1 1 3 8). HR-Haro (6), Rivera (6), Hardy (9). Rays lost leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in this one before walking it off in the 9th on a pinch-single from Javy Jasso to extend the win streak to 10 games.

Game 2: 4-1 W. WP-Okuda (6-5, 7 5 0 0 1 5). HR-Kurokawa (5), Luciano (4). Okuda was brilliant and Kurokawa's 3-run homer in the 2nd was all the offense they needed as a result, making it 11 straight wins.

Game 3: 4-7 L. LP-Buckman (9-4). Starter-Acosta (5 4 2 2 3 2). HR-Kurokawa (6). The Rays took a 4-2 lead into the 6th but the bullpen let them down, resulting in the end of the team's 11-game win streak. Kurokawa hit another 3-run homer to give them that lead but Armenta blew the lead in the 6th allowing a 2-run homer, Buckman allowed the winner to score in the 7th and Armstrong allowed 2 more in the 8th.

Game 4: 5-4 W. WP-Khattak (2-7). Starter-Stevenson (3 7 4 4 2 2). The Rays bounced back from seeing their win streak snapped by prevailing in the most dramatic fashion, scoring 3 times with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th after trailing 4-2 to walk off a thriller. Hardy's RBI single made it 4-3 and then Yordan Alvarez came through with a 2-run double giving him 3 RBI on the day to send the Tropicana Field crown into delirium.

Team record: 51-37. The good run has enabled them to open up a 1 1/2-game lead on the Yankees and 2 1/2 on Toronto. Next up: We're off to Detroit for 3 games before we hit the All-Star break.

July 9-11, 2032: at Detroit (3)
 

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Eldridge (8-4, 7 4 1 1 1 7). S-R.Rodriguez (24). Eldridge pitched perhaps his best game of the year and Angel Rivera's 2-run double in the 7th broke a 1-1 tie as the Rays made it 13 out of their last 14.

Game 2: 9-2 W. WP-Evans (7-2, 6 4 1 1 1 6). S-Khattak (1). HR-C.Williams (12), Mesa (14). Carson Williams' 2-run homer in the 2nd got them going and after Detroit got within 2-1 in the 6th they broke it open a 7-run 7th which included a 2-run Solano double and an RBI single from Williams. Khattak fanned 6 over the final 3 innings for his first career save.

Game 3: 6-3 W. WP-Okuda (7-5, 5 3 2 2 1 8). S-R.Rodriguez (25). HR-Mesa 2 (16). The Rays are probably the team most disappointed to see the All-Star break come as they completed the sweep of Detroit and made it 15 wins in their last 16 games. Victor Mesa had a career game, going 4-4 with 2 homers and 3 RBI to lead the way while Okuda and four relievers held Detroit to 2 runs.

Team record: 54-37, now 3 1/2 up on both the Yankees and Jays. Next up: the All-Star break before we return to action with 3 games in Kansas City.

Also we just had the Amateur Draft, so a post on that is next followed by All-Star coverage.

MLB News: Veteran KC OF Alex Verdugo collected his 2000th big-league hit.

The 2032 Amateur Draft
 

https://i.imgur.com/ljw68oJ.png

All of our top picks are high schoolers.

Greene - A bat-first dude with potential for 75 contact, 65 power and 80 gap. The optimistic take on his glove is a 50 at 2B so that bat will have to carry him.

Gallashaw - Being a HS 1B he will to need to hit as well and the 75/65 potential needs to be mostly realized.

Miller - He seems to have a broad-based set of skills on offense

https://i.imgur.com/T0ymb7M.png

Also projects as a decent defensive corner OF, though CF might be pushing it.

Mendoza - He certainly fits the type in this draft for us as the bat is his calling card as well, although he could be a 50 behind the plate, which will play if he lives up to 65 contact and 60 power.

Botello - Finally a pitcher and one with 65/60/55 potential. A lefty from Illinois who throws in the low 90s with projection.

Guajardo - A righty from the IMG Academy in Bradenton who has an interesting profile. Only projected for 45 stuff but 70 movement and 80 control, he is a groundballer with a lot of dip on his pitches.

All-Star Break 2032
 

The rosters:

This year's American League standouts are:

SP Robert Ahlstrom (NYY)* - 8-5, 3.03 ERA, 113.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 3.5 WAR
SP Frank Balandra (SEA) - 9-3, 2.07 ERA, 108.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Donye Evans (TB) - 7-2, 2.43 ERA, 96.1 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 3.4 WAR
SP Ignacio Gonzales (NYY) - 8-7, 3.24 ERA, 119.1 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP Marcus Haynes (DET) - 6-3, 2.81 ERA, 105.2 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Dakota Stone (BOS) - 7-5, 3.01 ERA, 110.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 2.6 WAR
SP Melvin Trevino (BAL) - 4-9, 11 SV, 3.06 ERA, 88.1 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 12.2 K/9, 2.3 WAR
RP Luarbert Arias (SEA) - 5-1, 6 SV, 0.91 ERA, 39.2 IP, 0.78 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 1.7 WAR
RP Erubiel Armenta (TB) - 1-2, 2.08 ERA, 39.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Benjamin Buckman (TB) - 9-4, 2.20 ERA, 57.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 1.1 WAR
RP Nate Pearson (NYY) - 3-1, 2.82 ERA, 60.2 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.2 WAR
RP Randy Rodriguez (TB)* - 2-0, 24 SV, 0.78 ERA, 34.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 16.6 K/9, 1.9 WAR
CL Jason Thompson (LAA) - 2-1, 17 SV, 1.56 ERA, 52.0 IP, 0.85 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 2.2 WAR
C Blake Hunt (TEX) - .285/.360/.430, 200 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
C MJ Melendez (KC) - .256/.325/.500, 246 AB, 16 HR, 7 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.7 WAR (Injured)
C Adley Rutschman (CLE)* - .258/.319/.500, 264 AB, 16 HR, 121 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
C Tyler Stephenson (CWS) - .311/.392/.437, 167 AB, 3 HR, 135 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
1B Robby Castillo (MIN) - .298/.371/.531, 292 AB, 16 HR, 148 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)* - .305/.391/.595, 328 AB, 26 HR, 3 SB, 171 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
2B Bo Bichette (TOR) - .322/.396/.535, 314 AB, 13 HR, 4 SB, 158 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
2B Juan Corona (MIN)* - .366/.453/.616, 320 AB, 17 HR, 6 SB, 195 wRC+, 5.4 WAR
2B Noelvi Marte (SEA) - .309/.393/.621, 317 AB, 29 HR, 12 SB, 181 wRC+, 5.9 WAR
2B Jose Pino (TEX) - .259/.361/.522, 316 AB, 23 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
3B Wander Franco (BOS)* - .297/.367/.501, 337 AB, 15 HR, 4 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
3B Justin Sill (CWS)* - .282/.373/.613, 344 AB, 32 HR, 2 SB, 166 wRC+, 3.1 WAR (Injured)
SS Carlos Correa (NYY)* - .271/.376/.403, 295 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
SS Joe Fisher (OAK) - .275/.321/.412, 284 AB, 6 HR, 104 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
LF Dave Aleman (DET) - .274/.344/.480, 325 AB, 15 HR, 23 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
LF Xavier Crosby (LAA) - .326/.364/.484, 273 AB, 6 HR, 36 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
LF Natanael Santana (TOR) - .248/.322/.570, 298 AB, 26 HR, 4 SB, 140 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
LF Juan Soto (CLE)* - .288/.444/.640, 278 AB, 30 HR, 3 SB, 198 wRC+, 4.9 WAR (Injured)
LF James Wood (NYY) - .268/.349/.603, 257 AB, 22 HR, 2 SB, 157 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
CF Mitsuyoshi Arakawa (SEA) - .247/.340/.558, 231 AB, 19 HR, 12 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
CF Julio Rodriguez (SEA)* - .278/.368/.542, 288 AB, 18 HR, 9 SB, 150 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
CF Daulton Varsho (MIN) - .249/.331/.533, 285 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
RF Kyle Tucker (HOU)* - .254/.331/.429, 331 AB, 14 HR, 5 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
RF Trea Turner (MIN) - .305/.355/.536, 347 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR

The National League stars will be represented by:

SP Corbin Burnes (SD)* - 6-3, 2.92 ERA, 64.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, 2.1 WAR (Injured)
SP Matt Canterino (SD) - 10-4, 2.53 ERA, 103.0 IP, 0.94 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.7 WAR
SP Parker Detmers (WSH) - 6-2, 2.41 ERA, 101.0 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 13.2 K/9, 3.5 WAR
SP Emerson Hancock (PHI) - 8-4, 2.27 ERA, 99.0 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 2.6 WAR
SP Victor Mederos (MIA) - 10-3, 2.12 ERA, 102.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 3.6 WAR
SP Michael Mercado (WSH) - 8-6, 4.89 ERA, 114.0 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 1.3 WAR
SP Ryan Pepiot (MIA) - 7-4, 4.50 ERA, 102.0 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 1.7 WAR
SP Eduardo Zapata (SA) - 7-6, 2.78 ERA, 110.0 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 2.7 WAR
RP Javier Fuenmayor (MIA) - 4-2, 7 SV, 2.22 ERA, 65.0 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.9 WAR
RP Drew Strotman (SF) - 2-0, 1.53 ERA, 47.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Brandon Williamson (MIL) - 5-0, 1.44 ERA, 62.1 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 1.0 WAR
CL Joe Boyle (NYM) - 1-0, 18 SV, 2.35 ERA, 30.2 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 14.7 K/9, 0.7 WAR
CL Max Green (LAD) - 2-4, 13 SV, 3.24 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 0.9 WAR
CL Billy Sullivan (STL)* - 5-3, 17 SV, 2.78 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.73 WHIP, 16.4 K/9, 1.5 WAR
C Francisco Alvarez (NYM) - .231/.285/.408, 260 AB, 12 HR, 92 wRC+, 0.7 WAR
C Diego Cartaya (LAD)* - .253/.323/.468, 237 AB, 14 HR, 118 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
C Jesus Galiz (MIA) - .278/.363/.417, 216 AB, 5 HR, 120 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
1B Nate McCollum (MIA)* - .293/.375/.583, 314 AB, 26 HR, 164 wRC+, 3.3 WAR (Injured)
1B Matt Olson (ATL) - .284/.407/.478, 268 AB, 13 HR, 149 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Marco Sosa (PHI) - .358/.421/.637, 190 AB, 12 HR, 187 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
2B Jacob Gonzalez (ARI)* - .296/.342/.573, 321 AB, 23 HR, 4 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
2B Jose Herrera (PHI) - .288/.384/.620, 274 AB, 26 HR, 2 SB, 170 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
2B Hector Juarez (WSH)* - .351/.392/.609, 350 AB, 21 HR, 7 SB, 171 wRC+, 4.9 WAR
2B Jorge Polanco (NYM) - .280/.340/.531, 318 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
3B Colson Montgomery (COL) - .266/.354/.438, 297 AB, 7 HR, 3 SB, 111 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
3B Dean Moss (CHC) - .231/.332/.527, 338 AB, 31 HR, 134 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
3B Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)* - .291/.371/.582, 251 AB, 21 HR, 7 SB, 163 wRC+, 3.5 WAR (Injured)
3B Bobby Witt Jr. (PHI) - .287/.347/.520, 327 AB, 20 HR, 16 SB, 136 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
SS Eric Bitonti (PHI) - .301/.340/.537, 339 AB, 22 HR, 5 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
SS Adalberto Mondesi (LAD) - .276/.353/.523, 304 AB, 20 HR, 37 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
LF Manny Becerra (COL) - .348/.424/.520, 296 AB, 2 HR, 43 SB, 153 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
LF Zach DeLoach (SA)* - .293/.377/.491, 273 AB, 12 HR, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
LF Angel Reinas (LAD) - .280/.362/.557, 314 AB, 24 HR, 3 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
CF Dylan Carlson (STL)* - .310/.392/.581, 155 AB, 12 HR, 5 SB, 171 wRC+, 1.6 WAR (Injured)
RF Justin Bates (PHI)* - .322/.371/.551, 370 AB, 18 HR, 42 SB, 151 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
RF Omar Delgado (CIN) - .252/.341/.534, 305 AB, 25 HR, 136 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
RF Tony Ortiz (SD)* - .339/.398/.528, 339 AB, 10 HR, 21 SB, 160 wRC+, 4.4 WAR
RF Andy Pages (NYM) - .248/.333/.576, 250 AB, 27 HR, 3 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.7 WAR

Very on-brand for us to send 4 pitchers to the game and no hitters. The second selection for Donye and Armenta and the first for Buckman and Randy Rodriguez.

The Derby:

https://i.imgur.com/5NBEuIo.png

The game:

https://i.imgur.com/yYImZy2.png

Armenta and Buckman combined to allow all 3 NL runs over their two innings but at least Randy tossed a scoreless frame. Former Ray Arakawa (whom we traded for Armenta) ended as the MVP.

July 16-18, 2032: at Kansas City (3)
 

Game 1: 9-7 W (11). WP-Buckman (10-4). Starter-Evans (3.1 5 5 5 4 7). Rays lost leads of 2-1 and 7-5 in this one but still prevailed with a pair in the 11th when Hardy singled home the winner and Yordan followed with an RBI knock of his own to give him 4 on the day. Solano was 3-6 with 2 RBI as well as the Rays overcame a non-all-star caliber start from their all-star Evans to win their 16th game in their last 17.

Game 2: 2-4 L (11). LP-Holcombe (0-2). Starter-Acosta (5 5 1 1 0 7). This should have been in the win column as the Rays took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th but all-star closer Randy Rodriguez allowed the Royals to tie it up and then Cody Holcombe surrendered a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th and defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

Game 3: 2-4 L. LP-Buckman (10-5). Starter-Stevenson (5 4 2 2 1 3). The offense was anemic again and suddenly the red-hot Rays are cold, losing their second straight.

Team record: 55-39. The Yankees swept Baltimore cut the division lead in half to only 2 games. Next up: 3 games at Coors Field against the Rockies, which should be fun I think.

July 19-21, 2032: at Colorado (3)
 

Game 1: 3-4 L (10). LP-Khattak (2-8). Starter-Eldridge (6 5 0 0 0 6). HR-Hardy (10), Haro (7). A tough pill to swallow for the Rays as they took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th thanks to Eldridge's best start of the season in the unlikeliest location. But Ivan Armstrong, who has struggled mightily this year but was pressed into action with other pen arms tired, gave up 3 to tie it and another struggler Khattak lost it on a walk-off homer in the 10th.

Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-Buckman (11-5). S-Ogado (3). Starter-Okuda (3.1 7 5 5 2 5). HR-C.Williams (13), Haro (8). While the bullpen was at fault in last night's loss they were great today, going 5 2/3 scoreless and preserving a thin-one run lead in the thin air of Coors Field. Williams was the offensive star with a 2-run homer and RBI groundout in the 6th which proved the difference while Haro had a 3-run homer for the other Rays runs.

Game 3: 2-10 L. LP-Evans (7-3, 4.2 4 4 4 0 10). A quick 2-0 lead with ace Evans on the mound started things optimistically but that was short-lived as Colorado put 5 on the board in the 5th and never looked back.

Team record: 56-41. The division lead is down to 1 1/2 on the Jays and 2 on the Yankees. Next up: An off-day then home for 3 against cross-state rivals Miami.

July 23-25, 2032: vs Miami (3)
 

Game 1: More LOB frustration for the Rays as they stranded 10 runners in a 3-1 loss to Miami at the Trop. Aldry Acosta (7-3) pitched well at 5 6 1 1 1 7 but was saddled with an undeserved loss while the bullpen came in and let the Marlins expand the lead.

Game 2: Jaden Stevenson had his best start since joining the rotation and offense wasn't a problem today as Tampa Bay beat Miami 6-1. Stevenson (3-2) was a tidy 6 2 0 0 1 4 and six different players knocked in a run apiece while five had two hits in the most balanced of attacks.

With the deadline approaching we swung a big trade to try and boost the middling offense:

https://i.imgur.com/64b658K.png

Yes, the guy I end up trading for in just about every one of my Rays saves (I believe 23 is the exception) is playing for Tampa Bay again. We add perhaps the top all-around catcher in baseball for the stretch run with the division up for grabs and the cost for this rental is our 2028 and 2029 first-round picks. Both come with caveats though. In the case of Lake, he's never lived up to his pedigree and projects as a borderline fifth starter. As for Dreher, he's considered the #62 prospect in MLB and still has upper half of the rotation potential of 60/60/65. But he's still quite a ways from reaching it at 40/35/35 currently with some ugly minor league numbers - at AA Montgomery he's allowed 56 baserunners in 25 innings with a terrible 17/11 BB/K ratio. Rutschman meanwhile is a rental but is having a typically very good season at 2.6 WAR and on pace for 4.4 with 17 HR and an 804 OPS combined with very good defense. He's a big upgrade over Angel Rivera, a faithful servant of the club for the last several years but having an -0.1 WAR season at the moment. To make room for Rutschman on the active roster we DFA'd C Patrick Bailey, whose WAR was also underwater.

Game 3: A typical tight Rays game this season given our great pitching and mediocre offense has been a 2-1 or 3-2 game so it was quite a culture shock for Tampa Bay fans to witness a slugfest with Miami in the finale, one in which the Rays ended up prevailing 11-10 in 12 innings after trailing at one point 7-2. The deciding run scored on a walk-off wild pitch after they had loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th and made a winner of Erubiel Armenta (2-2). Before that the Rays had to suffer through a bad start from Brad Eldridge (4 8 5 5 0 2) and an unusual bad relief outing from Benjamin Buckman, who allowed 4 runs himself. The last two of those came after Rays scored 5 times to tie the game at 7, but they rallied again in the bottom of the 6th to go ahead 10-9. We stayed there until the 9th when Randy Rodriguez had a rare blown save and onto extras we went. The leading lights on offense were Nelson Haro and Carson Williams, both 4-6 with 2 RBI while Yordan Alvarez contributed a 2-run homer (#14). Adley Rutschman joined the club after the game started and came on in the 10th to hit a pinch-double in his first Rays at-bat.

Team record: 58-42. The Jays and Yankees played each other at the same time and New York swept them to pull within a game of us. Next up: The homestand concludes with 3 against the team tied for the best record in baseball, the 67-33 Mariners.

(Just realized I wrote this up in my wordier 20/21-save recap format so enjoy the extra text).

July 26-28, 2032: vs Seattle (3)
 

Game 1: 0-3 L. LP-Okuda (7-6, 4.1 3 1 1 4 4). Rays hitters only managed 6 hits as Seattle's Wyatt Hudepohl went to 14-2 with a complete-game shutout. Rutschman was 0-4 in his first Tampa Bay start.

Game 2: 2-4 L. LP-Evans (7-4, 5 5 3 3 1 10). They were fortunate not to be shut out again as Haro's 2-run double in the 8th halved the Seattle lead but was all they'd end up getting as the Mariners continued to show why they have the best record in the AL.

Game 3: 3-0 W. WP-Acosta (8-3, 6 3 0 0 1 7). S-R.Rodriguez (26). HR-Y.Alvarez (15). Rays only managed 4 hits but one of them was a 2-run blast by Yordan in the 3rd and they rode some splendid pitching to salvage the finale.

Team record: 59-44. The Yankees also dropped 2 of 3 to stay a game behind but Toronto swept its series to pull within one game themselves as the division has become a jumble again. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Houston which normally seems a daunting task but this year's Astros are a woeful 41-62.

July 30-August 1, 2032: at Houston (3)
 

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Stevenson (4-2, 5.1 7 2 2 2 4). S-R.Rodriguez (27). A solid outing from Stevenson with Cedillos' 2-run single the game's big hit. Unfortunately Cedillos later tweaked his groin and will have to go on the IL.

Transaction: Cedillos to the IL and SS Elijah Watts called up from Durham. Watts is a defensive specialist (rated 65) and he and Luciano will fill at short until Cedillos returns, which should be at the end of his 10-day stint.

Game 2: 4-6 L. LP-Eldridge (8-5, 4 6 6 6 2 3). HR-Solano (9), Haro (9). Eldridge was awful and put them in a 6-1 hole. The offense valiantly fought back and had some opportunities late to maybe tie or go ahead, but came up short.

Game 3: 9-8 W. WP-Khattak (3-8). S-R.Rodriguez (28). Starter-Okuda (4.1 6 4 4 1 4). HR-Solano (10), Haro (10), Hardy (11). Rays turned this one around from down 4-1 to up 9-4 then had to hold on for dear life as the normally-reliable Ogando and R.Rodriguez made a huge mess in the 8th and 9th nearly losing the lead. Haro's 3-run shot to cap a 5-run 6th put them up for good at 6-4 and Hardy's 3-run blast to make it 9-4 in the 8th proved to be huge given the troubles at the end.

Team record: 61-45. The Yankees swept their series to move into a first-place tie with us while the Jays held serve at a game behind. Next up: We conclude a fairly short road trip with 3 games in Minnesota against the 54-52 Twins.