August 2-4, 2032: at Minnesota (3)
 

Game 1: 4-11 L. LP-Evans (7-5, 4.2 6 6 6 0 6). HR-Caminero (12). It was a 1-1 game in the 5th before Minnesota unloaded on Evans for 5 runs and it only got worse from there. Caminero had a 2-run homer and Haro banged out 3 hits.

Transaction: Claimed P Tony Santillan on waivers from the Yankees, optioned P Walt Khattak to Durham.

Always good to take someone off the team you're battling for the division title with as Santillan became excess baggage after some deadline deals by New York but he had a 2.55 ERA with a 9/69 BB/K ratio in 55 innings so I have no idea what they were thinking but I'm not complaining. Santillan can start as well as we're going to stick him in the rotation in place of the struggling Bryce Eldridge. And we send another fallen starter in Khattak to the minors where he'll get a regular turn and maybe iron things out.

Game 2: 8-3 W. WP-Acosta (9-3, 5 7 2 2 0 9). HR-Y.Alvarez (16), Hardy (12). This started similar to yesterday's game (1-1 into the 6th) but went in a different direction as the Rays scored 5 in the inning on a Mesa RBI single to break the tie, a 3-run Yordan homer to break it open, and a back-to-back jack from Hardy. It was also another 3-hit game for the red-hot Haro.

Game 3: 6-14 L. LP-Santillan (0-1, 1.2 6 5 5 2 4). HR-Haro (11). Well maybe Santillan was a Yankee sleeper agent looking to sabotage us as he couldn't have done better (or worse) if that were the case, losing 1-0 and 3-1 leads in the first two innings before being yanked. And in case Eldridge was looking to show we made a mistake by pulling him from the rotation, he and was almost as bad as Santillan when he relieved him. Haro remained scorching hot with two more hits and 3 RBI, including a homer to lead off the game.

Team record: 62-47. The Yankees and Jays went head-to-head with New York taking 2 of 3, so they lead the division by a game over us while we're a game ahead of Toronto. Next up: A day off then we're back home for 3 against Boston.

August 6-8, 2032: vs Boston (3)
 

Transaction: Christian Rodriguez came down with a tired arm and will miss a couple of weeks so Walt Khattak got a reprieve on his option to Durham and will continue to work out of the pen.

Game 1: 1-2 L. LP-Buckman (11-6). Starter-Stevenson (5 2 1 1 0 6). HR-C.Williams (14). The offense came up lame and Boston scored twice in the 6th off Buckman, who's struggled some since being named to the All-Star team.

Game 2: 5-6 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (2-1). Starter-Okuda (4 4 4 4 3 6). HR-Hardy (13). Another tough loss for the Rays as they battled back from 4-0 and 5-4 deficits only to lose when Randy gave up a rare run in the 9th. Hardy's 3-run homer in the 5th was the big hit in the ill-fated comeback.

Game 3: 7-6 W (12). WP-Watters (3-1). Starter-Evans (4 5 6 5 3 4, 3 HR). HR-Y.Alvarez (17), Mesa (17), Rutschman (1/18), Haro (12). This one started out like yesterday's with another bad start from Donye (who's seen his ERA rise from 2.43 to 3.74 over his last 5 starts, all terrible) putting the Rays in a 5-1 hole. This time they answered right back with homers from Yordan, Mesa and Rutschman (his first as a Ray after getting off to a very slow start with his new club) and actually went up 6-5 before Donye gave up his 3rd homer of the day in the 5th. We stayed there all the way until the 12th when Haro walked it off with a 2-out solo shot to avoid a disaster of a series.

Team record: 63-49. The Yankees won 2 of 3 and are now 2 up on both the Rays and Toronto, who are also tied for the first two wild card berths. Next up: Kansas City comes to town for 3 games.

MLB News: A couple of former Rays made news as Alec Bohm, who played with the team during 2022, announced his retirement with Baltimore at the end of the season and P Forrest Whitley, who pitched for the club from 2023-27, added another injury to his long list of them and the Yankee will be out 10 months with a torn ACL.

August 9-11, 2032: vs Kansas City (3)
 

Game 1: 9-6 W. WP-Eldridge (9-5). S-Watters (2/11). Starter-Acosta (3 5 3 3 3 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (18). A break from the typical low-scoring 2032 Rays games as Tampa Bay went up 7-1 after two innings but Acosta couldn't handle prosperity, letting the Royals back in it. Yordan had a 4-RBI day including a 3-run shot in the first that sent the Rays on their way.

Transaction: Starting SS Isaac Cedillos comes off the IL and Elijah Watts is sent back to Durham.

Game 2: 1-4 L. LP-Santillan (0-2, 5 7 3 3 1 5). HR-Cedillos (12). Rays weren't totally shut down as they had 9 hits, but could never string any of them together and went down to defeat.

Game 3: 7-0 W. WP-Stevenson (5-2, 6 2 0 0 1 6). HR-Mesa (18). This one was scoreless until the 5th when the Rays erupted for 5 runs on a 2-run Haro single and Mesa's 3-run homer, one of his 3 hits on the day. Stevenson meanwhile pitched his best game as a Ray.

Team record: 65-50. Status quo as the Yankees also took 2 of 3 to stay 2 games ahead of the Rays while they remain in the first wild card, two up on Toronto.

MLB News: Not only did San Antonio's Oneil Cruz slug his 300th homer but it came as part of a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Meanwhile Houston's Kyle Tucker, who moonlighted as a Ray with a 7.2-WAR season in 2025 in between two lengthy stints with the Astros, reached the 2000-hit plateau.

August 13-15, 2032: at Cleveland (3)
 

Transaction: Claimed P Luis Oviedo off waivers from Seattle, designated P Ivan Armstrong for assignment and placed him on waivers. (Armstrong cleared waivers and was assigned to Durham). Oviedo has 65/80/45 stuff and a 2.47 ERA with 77 Ks in 58 IP for the Mariners so he was a definite upgrade on Armstrong, who has been miserable all year with a 6.35 ERA.

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Okuda (8-6, 6.2 1 1 1 3 7). S-R.Rodriguez (29). HR-Solano (11), Haro (13). A gem from Okuda and a big day at the plate from Haro, who had an RBI single and a 2-run homer.

Game 2: 3-2 W. WP-Evans (8-5, 5 3 0 0 2 7). S-R.Rodriguez (30). It was good to see Donye dominating again after a bad stretch and the game shouldn't have been as close as it was as the Rays left 13 on base as they reached 17 times. Yordan's 2-run single was the one big hit.

Game 3: 3-8 L. LP-Buckman (11-7). Starter-Acosta (5.1 5 2 2 3 5). HR-Caminero (13). It was a 2-2 game into the 7th before Cleveland teed off on Buckman, who allowed 4 runs and has been pretty lousy since his surprise All-Star selection. He also has a whopping 18 decisions in middle relief as we have a lot of starters who can barely go 5 combined with a team that doesn't score of a ton of runs.

Team record: 67-51. Normally taking 2 of 3 on the road against a good team would be a boost, but the Yankees swept their series so the Rays now find themselves 3 out of first place. The good news is that Toronto has struggled of late and Tampa Bay is 3 ahead of them, as well as solidly in the first wild card position. Next up: A day off and then a chance to do something about the division deficit as we play 3 at Yankee Stadium.

August 17-19, 2032: at NY Yankees (3)
 

Game 1: 3-2 W. WP-Watters (4-1). S-R.Rodriguez (31). Starter-Stevenson (4 5 2 2 3 3). HR-Caminero (14). A 2-run rally in the 9th gave the Rays the win with Cedillos' RBI single the decider as they shaved the Yankees' division lead to 2 games.

Game 2: 1-2 L. LP-Oviedo (0-1). Starter-Santillan (5 1 1 1 1 5). A heartbreaker as Oviedo gave up a run in the 8th to lose it, spoiling Santillan's best start as a Ray.

Game 3: 4-6 L. LP-Okuda (8-7, 5 4 5 5 2 3, 3 HR). HR-C.Williams (15). Another tough loss as Williams gave them a 3-2 lead in the 6th with a 3-run jack but Okuda but the first two on in the bottom of the inning and then gave up his third homer of the game and that was all she wrote, dropping the Rays 4 behind New York.

Team record: 68-53. KC has won 6 straight and moved into a tie with the Rays for the first wild card, and both of them are only one up on Toronto. Next up: Home for 3 against those Jays.

MLB News: Boston's Spencer Torkelson hit his 400th career homer.

August 20-22, 2032: vs Toronto (3)
 

Game 1: 3-4 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (2-2). Starter-Evans (5 6 2 2 3 5). A tough loss for Tampa Bay as Solano's 2-run single gave them a 3-2 lead after 7 but stalwart late guys Ogando and Rodriguez each gave up a run to let Toronto tie then win.

Game 2: 0-2 L. LP-Acosta (9-4, 6.1 3 2 2 2 7). The offense let them down in a big way, squandering numerous early chances to score then going completely limp in the later innings as Toronto passed the Rays into 2nd place in the AL East.

Game 3: 5-8 L. LP-Stevenson (5-3, 4 6 4 4 1 4). The Rays closed out a disastrous home series with Toronto with another loss, one that wasn't nearly as close as the final indicated as they scored all 5 runs in the 8th after trailing 8-0.

Team record: 68-56. They're now a full 6 1/2 behind the first-place Yankees and are in third two games behind Toronto. They're clinging on to the 3rd wild card, 2 1/2 ahead of Minnesota. Next up: An off-day to lick our wounds then 3 games in Oakland against a bad (46-78) A's team.

August 24-26, 2032: at Oakland (3)
 

Game 1: 7-2 W. WP-Santillan (1-2, 5 5 2 2 2 6). HR-Y.Alvarez (19), Haro 2 (15). Haro had himself a game - needing a triple to complete the cycle late, he did one better by hitting his 2nd homer of the game to finish 4-5 with a double, two homers and 3 RBI while Yordan's 2-run shot in the 1st was big, backing Santillan for his first Rays win.

Game 2: 3-7 L. LP-Okuda (8-8, 3.1 8 5 5 2 3). HR-C.Williams (16). Okuda was awful and the Rays were never really in this one.

Game 3: 1-4 L. LP-Evans (8-6, 3 6 4 4 4 4). HR-C.Williams (17). The offense was AWOL again today with only five hits, two of which came in the 9th. Williams at least can hold his head high with another 2-hit game featuring a homer.

Team record: 69-58. Losing 2 of 3 to a bad Oakland team was far from optimal and they're now 8 out in the division so that's pretty much a lost cause. Of more import is that they're hanging on to a 2-game lead over Minnesota for the third wild card. Next up: A return to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field for 3 against those very Twins in the year's most important series to date.

August 27-29, 2032: vs Minnesota (3)
 

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Eldridge (10-5). Starter-Acosta (4.1 1 1 1 4 5). HR-Mesa (19). The Rays scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to win this critical wild card battle over Minnesota, first with Mesa's game-tying 2-run homer and then Adley Rutschman finally lived up to his "Clutchman" nickname after a miserable first month in Tampa Bay (156/229/229) with a walk-off RBI single.

Game 2: 3-4 L. LP-Stevenson (5-4, 3.1 5 4 4 1 3). HR-Haro (16). The Rays' offensive isn't good enough to overcome a 4-0 like Stevenson put them in, although they came close with the tying run in scoring position in the 9th.

Game 3: 3-2 W (10). WP-R.Rodriguez (3-2). Starter-Santillan (5 1 1 1 2 9). Another walk-off win as the Rays take the rubber game and made it a 3-game lead over the Twins for the final AL wild card. Santillan was dominant but Solano was the hero with his 3rd hit and 2nd RBI single of the day the winner.

Team record: 71-59. Next up: Back on the road, which has been unkind to the Rays this season, for 3 in Toronto, a game ahead of us in 2nd place in both the AL East and the Wild Card standings.

August 30-September 2, 2032: at Toronto (4)
 

Game 1: 4-3 W (10). WP-Watters (5-1). S-R.Rodriguez (32). Starter-Okuda (5 4 2 2 2 6). HR-Rutschman (2/19), Haro (17), Solano (12). Solano had to win the game twice for the Rays, first with a solo homer in the 8th to make it 3-2 and then after they blew the lead in the 9th he delivered an RBI double in the 10th to cap a 3-hit day.

Game 2: 5-8 L. LP-Oviedo (0-2). Starter-Evans (4.1 3 3 3 1 8). HR-Cedillos (13), Caminero (15). Caminero's 3-run homer in the top of the 8th gave the Rays a 5-3 lead but Oviedo was horrible and so was Ogando, and 5 runs later Toronto had a win.

Transaction: Activated 2B Ozzie Albies from the IL and recalled P Jaheim Lennon from AAA Durham. Albies has missed the entire season to date thanks to a torn labrum suffered in spring training and will finally make his 2032 debut, although he'll serve as a backup to Victor Mesa who's had a solid year in his stead. Lennon is the #19 prospect in baseball and had pitched effectively (2.70 ERA in 20 IP) earlier this year for the big club.

Game 3: 9-4 W. WP-Acosta (10-4, 5 4 2 2 2 5). HR-Rivera (7), Caminero (16), C.Williams (18). Rivera's 2-run homer in the 6th put Tampa Bay ahead to stay while Caminero and Cedillos each had 3 hits.

Game 4: 5-6 L. LP-Armenta (2-3). Starter-Stevenson (4.2 7 3 3 2 4). HR-Caminero (17), Hardy (14). In a similar game to two nights ago, Hardy's homer put them up 4-3 but the bullpen failed them again with Armenta putting two men on only for Ogando to give up a double to score them both. They had the bases loaded in the 9th with nobody out down two, but could only score once on a sac fly.

Team record: 73-61. With the split they remained one behind Toronto in the third wild card spot but 4 games ahead of Minnesota. Next up: Back home for 3 against the Angels.

September 3-5, 2032: vs LA Angels (3)
 

Game 1: 2-1 W. WP-Watters (6-1). S-R.Rodriguez (33). Starter-Santillan (5 5 1 1 0 5). HR-Hardy (15), Luciano (5). Luciano's solo homer in the 8th broke a 1-1 tie in the Rays' favor as they eked by the Angels.

Game 2: 2-3 L (11). LP-Oviedo (0-3). Starter-Okuda (6 5 2 2 1 7). HR-Solano (13). This time two runs weren't enough as Oviedo's struggles since joining the Rays continued as he allowed the winning run in the 11th.

Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Buckman (12-7). Starter-Evans (4.1 2 0 0 4 7). Finally some offense. 2-run doubles from Hardy and Caminero were the big hits today as the Rays enjoyed a rare laugher. Buckman has a starter's W/L record and is approaching 100 innings as a latter-day Mike Marshall, usually coming in during the 5th or 6th for one of our many stamina-challenged starters.

Team record: 75-62. The division is long gone but we have a healthy 5-game lead on Minnesota for the third wild card. Given this team's drastic home/road splits, it might behoove them to catch Kansas City for the first wild card spot and a series at the Trop; they're only 2 back of the Royals.

The offense may come in fits and starts but one guy had a big week:

https://i.imgur.com/35OqN6v.png

September 6-8, 2032: vs Detroit (3)
 

Game 1: 7-8 L (11). LP-R.Rodriguez (3-3). Starter-Acosta (3.2 8 6 6 2 2). HR-Jasso (2). Rays were down 7-3 in this one and came back dramatically to tie it in the 9th on a bases-clearing two-out double from Jasso, who had earlier homered, but couldn't finish the deal in extras. To add injury to insult, Randy Rodriguez had to leave with forearm stiffness after giving up the winning homer and will miss a week but not be ILed.

Game 2: 8-1 W. WP-Stevenson (6-4, 7 2 0 0 1 7). HR-Luciano (6), Cedillos (14). Luciano's slam in the 2nd and Cedillos' 3-run shot in the 5th propelled the Rays to a rout behind an outstanding effort from Stevenson.

Game 3: 8-1 W. WP-Santillan (2-2, 6 4 1 1 2 7). HR-Rutschman (3/20), Luciano (7), Caminero (18). The moribund offense struck for 23 runs in this 3-game series, winning by an 8-1 scoreline for the second straight night. Rutschman, who's been more like Bustman since coming over from Cleveland, came through with a 462-foot 3-run shot to dead center to get the blowout going, and Luciano homered for his third straight start off the bench.

Team record: 77-63. We remain 4 ahead of Minnesota for the third wild card and two back of both Kansas City and Toronto in the first two spots. Next up: A day off to travel across the USA to San Diego, where we'll play 3 and hope to make a better showing away from the Trop.

September 10-12, 2032: at San Diego (3)
 

Game 1: 6-3 W. WP-Khattak (4-8). S-Watters (3). Starter-Okuda (3.2 5 2 2 1 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (20), Caminero (19). Caminero's 2-run homer in the 8th broke a 2-2 and sent the Rays on their way to victory. Khattak has really taken to long relief and went 3 1/3 hitless for the win.

Game 2: 3-2 W (11). WP-Ogando (4-2). Starter-Evans (4.1 5 1 1 2 4). Hardy was the hero, coming off the bench with a game-tying RBI single in the 9th and then bringing home the winner in the 11th with a sac fly.

Game 3: 6-1 W. WP-Khattak (5-8). Starter-Acosta (4.2 5 1 1 1 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (21). The Rays pulled off a rare road sweep with another late win, scoring 5 times in the 9th to snap a 1-1 deadlock. Rutschman's 2-run single was the game-winning hit and then Yordan followed up with a 3-run shot after driving in the lone previous run. Khattak meanwhile did it again in long relief with 3 1/3 1-hit innings.

Team record: 80-63. The Rays are now in a tie with Toronto for the first wild card with them both a game up on Kansas City. Next up: A day-off to fly back across the country to Boston for 3 against the Sox.

September 14-16, 2032: at Boston (3)
 

Game 1: 7-4 W. WP-Buckman (13-7). S-R.Rodriguez (34). Starter-Stevenson (5 4 2 2 2 4). Rays were down 2-1 headed to the 7th in this one before exploding for 4 runs with Hardy's 2-run single the big hit. Look out Roy Face, Benjamin Buckman won his 13th game in relief.

Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-Watters (7-1). S-R.Rodriguez (35). Starter-Santillan (3.2 4 5 5 3 3). HR-Rutschman (4/21). The Rays keep winning on the road and tonight featured an impressive comeback from 5-0 down. And Rutschman is finally coming out of his funk as his 2-run homer cut the Boston lead to 5-4 in the 6th and his RBI single was the game winner in the 8th as the Rays made it 5 straight wins on the road and 7 overall.

Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Buckman (14-7). Starter-Evans (4.2 4 0 0 2 6). A sweep of the road trip and 8 straight wins as the Rays have become MLB's hottest team. Today was a romp although Evans couldn't quite finish the 5th, loading the bases with the score 4-0 and totally out of gas so Buckman came in, got the final out and made it 14 wins which is good for 4th in the AL. Rutschman came through big again with a 2-run triple among his 3 hits and Solano was 3-5 with 3 runs scored, a steal and an RBI.

Team record: 83-63. Unfortunately Toronto and Kansas City also swept their series so the Rays remain in the second wild spot tied with Toronto, which gets the nod for #1 thanks to going 8-6 in the season series while the Royals remain one game behind both. What the Rays and the Jays have done is close the gap on the Yankees and are now both are only 4 games back. Only 16 games left in the season though. Next up: Home for 3 against Baltimore.

September 17-19, 2032: vs Baltimore (3)
 

Transaction: Claimed P Luke Little on waivers from Kansas City, optioned P Jaheim Lennon to AAA Durham.

Little gives us a second lefty in the pen to go with Armenta, and he has 70 stuff (but 35 control).

Game 1: 8-3 W. WP-Okuda (9-8, 5.2 5 2 2 0 10). HR-Mesa (20), Luciano (8). Victor Mesa had a huge game with a 3-run homer in the 2nd and a 2-run single in the 6th to lead the Rays to a comfortable win, their 9th straight.

Game 2: 5-3 W. WP-Oviedo (1-3). S-R.Rodriguez (36). Starter-Acosta (6 5 2 1 0 10). When a team is as hot as the Rays have been it seems like they always find a way to win and today was no exception as they trailed 3-1 in the 7th, got back to 3-2 and then in the bottom of the 8th Hardy delivered a bases-clearing double to extend their win streak to double digits.

Game 3: 3-4 L (10). LP-Buckman (14-8). Starter-Stevenson (5.2 4 2 2 1 5). HR-Mesa (21). All good things and that as the Rays saw their win streak end in painful fashion, much in the way they won the previous night's game. They were up 3-0 early and 3-2 late before Armenta walked in the tying run in the 8th and then in the 10th Buckman loaded the bases with nobody out, got an out at the plate and a strikeout to pull within one out of escaping, only to hit the next batter and force in the winning run.

Team record: 85-64. The good news is that Toronto was swept and KC lost a pair over the weekend meaning the Rays are now 2 games up on both in the first wild card and home field for that round. Unfortunately the Yankees swept their series to move 5 ahead and with only 13 games left the division is pretty much gone now. Next up: An off-day then the 91-59 NL Central-leading Cubs come to town for 3 games.

September 21-23, 2032: vs Chicago Cubs (3)
 

Game 1: 1-7 L. LP-Santillan (2-3, 3 7 6 6 1 3, 3 HR). All-around ugly as Santillan gave up 3 homers including a pair to veteran Will Smith. Rays had some chances (11 LOB) but it probably didn't matter.

Game 2: 5-7 L. LP-Evans (8-7, 3.1 7 7 7 5 5, 2 HR). Another brutal start and Chicago was up 7-0 before the Rays rallied and had good chances in the 8th and 9th to go ahead but couldn't get it done. They outhit Chicago 14-8 but the Cubs relied on the longball.

Game 3: 1-4 L. LP-Okuda (9-9, 5 3 2 2 0 6). They got a decent start for a change from Okuda but the end result was the same as they were swept in a critical late-season series at home. Once again they had chances (10 hits) but faltered in the clutch.

Team record: 85-67. As a result of being swept the Rays are now in the second wild card a game behind Kansas City, whom they hold the tiebreaker advantage over, and one ahead of Toronto, whom they don't. Next up: The final 3 home games of the regular season against 61-91 Milwaukee, so taking advantage is a must.

September 24-26, 2032: vs Milwaukee (3)
 

Game 1: 2-3 L. LP-Acosta (10-5, 4.2 5 3 3 1 5). HR-Rutschman (5/22). Another dispiriting loss at home to a bad Milwaukee team as that makes 5 straight dropped. The offense had some late chances but squandered them.

Game 2: 4-1 W. WP-Stevenson (7-4, 5 5 1 1 2 5). S-R.Rodriguez (37). Yordan's 2-run double was the big hit and Haro knocked in the other two while the Rays got some fine pitching to end the losing streak.

Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Santillan (3-3, 5 3 0 0 1 8). Santillan pitched his best game as a Ray and the offense exploded, making this a rare comfortable win of late in their home regular season finale. Yordan doubled twice and drove in a pair and Luciano had a 2-run double to lead the attack. The win clinched a wild card for the Rays but positioning is the key thing now.

Team record: 87-68. They remain a game behind the Royals for the first wild card but are now two up on Toronto for the second. Next up: The final week of regular season action on the road starting with 4 games in Boston against the 76-79 and eliminated Red Sox.

September 27-30, 2032: at Boston (4)
 

Game 1: 2-10 L. LP-Evans (8-8, 3.1 8 7 7 1 5). Another brutal outing for Donye, the second straight in which he's allowed 7 runs. Not the way you want your "ace" going heading into the postseason.

Game 2: 6-1 W. WP-Okuda (10-9, 5 5 0 0 3 3). HR-Rutschman (6/23), Caminero (20). Rutschman's 2-run homer in the 2nd got things going and Okuda successfully pitched out of trouble several times. Solano was 3-5 with a pair of doubles and runs scored.

Game 3: 4-7 L. LP-Acosta (10-6, 5 5 4 4 2 1, 3 HR). HR-Caminero (21). Caminero's 2-run homer in the 6th brought them back to 3-3 but Acosta gave up his 2nd homer of the game to Spencer Torkelson and 3rd overall and Boston took it from there.

Game 4: 6-4 W. WP-Buckman (15-8). S-R.Rodriguez (38). Starter-Stevenson (3.2 8 4 4 0 3). HR-Y.Alvarez (22). Yordan was 3-5 with 3 RBI including a 2-run homer to help the Rays build a 6-0 lead after 3 which Stevenson nearly gave away in the 4th. Fortunately the bullpen held Boston off the scoreboard for final 5 1/3 innings and Tampa Bay hung on for the split.

Team record: 89-70. Kansas City took 3 of 4 in the meantime so they're 2 up on the Rays for the first wild card with 3 games to go. The Rays do own the tiebreaker but now they'll have to sweep 3 in Baltimore while the Royals lose at least 2 of 3 or they'll have to take 2 of 3 while KC is being swept. Toronto has dropped 3 back so they'll be in the third wild card and travel to the Yankees.

Pennant Race Update: The AL is set with likely top seed Chicago and second-seeded Seattle getting the byes; the only question is where the Rays-Royals wild card series will take place and as described above KC is the likely destination. Things are a bit more fluid in the NL. Philly (1) and Chicago (2) have clinched divisions and byes while the pathetic battle for the NL West continues with San Diego and Arizona tied at 78-81 atop the division. San Antonio (formerly Pittsburgh) will be WC1 but Atlanta and Washington are tied for WC2 with Miami only a game back of that pair. Given WC3 will play a .500 or lower team in the West "champ" that might be the slot to go for.

October 1-3, 2032: at Baltimore (3)
 

Game 1: 10-0 W. WP-Santillan (4-3, 5.2 3 0 0 2 6). S-Khattak (2). HR-Kurokawa (7), Rutschman (7/23). The Rays did their part trying to claim WC1 but the Royals won as well and another Royals win will relegate the Rays to WC2 and a trip to KC. Tonight they rapped out a season-high 22 hits with five players each tallying 3. Hardy led the way with 4 RBI.

Game 2: 9-1 W. WP-Little (1-0). Starter-Evans (4 2 1 0 4 8). HR-C.Williams (19), Mesa (22). Once again the Rays blew out Baltimore but it was for naught as the Royals won again to clinch the first wild card. Hardy drove in 3 more with a bases-clearing double.

Game 3: 1-5 L. LP-Eldridge (10-6, 5 5 3 3 4 5). With nothing to play for in the final regular season the Rays emptied the bench and went down to defeat.

Final Regular Season Record: 91-71. Next up: The best 2-of-3 wild card series at Kansas City. The Rays have played better on the road in September and will need to keep that up.

Playoff Race Update: The two races in the NL played out and true to form the Padres and Diamondbacks stunk this weekend with San Diego the only team to win one game and hence the NL West with a pitiful 79-83 record. Atlanta and Washington held off Miami for the 2nd and 3rd wild cards with the Nats better off in third getting to play the Padres.

October 5, 2032: AL Wild Card Game 1
 

I don't believe what I just saw...

https://i.imgur.com/Q2CZq0M.png

In what will go down as one of the wildest postseason games ever played, the Rays scored 9 times in the 9th to overturn a 9-3 Royals lead and hung on to edge Kansas City 12-11 to take the all-important first game of their best-of-3 wild card series. The script was originally playing out the way the Rays wanted it, a good start from Aldry Acosta and turning over a 3-1 lead to their solid back-end of the bullpen. Unfortunately KC had other ideas and erupted for 8 against Erubiel Armenta and a woefully ineffective Jacob Watters. And so it went to the 9th down 9-3 and when Adley Rutschman hit a 2-run homer it looked like a consolation prize. But Javy Jasso came off the bench to deliver a 2-run triple and the turnstiles kept turning with Alistair Hardy finally delivering the go-ahead blow and Rustchman coming through again with an RBI double. And that RBI double proved huge when Randy Rodriguez made a mess in the 9th, giving up 2 runs but not a third and the Rays hung on for an unforgettable win. Ryan Okuda will go tomorrow with a chance to clinch an ALDS spot.

Meanwhile advantage Yankees in the other AL Wild Card:

https://i.imgur.com/Atwp9Rn.png

A couple of side notes:

1. I have no idea why OOTP started putting some of the text in yellow.
2. I was so disgusted by 8-run KC rally to go up 9-3 that I let the AI play the rest of the game out so imagine my surprise when it ended up 12-11 Rays.

October 6, 2032: AL Wild Card Game 2 & NL Wild Card Game 1
 

On to the ALDS...

https://i.imgur.com/khDRO9j.png

The Rays made quick work of the Kansas City Royals and an offense that found it hard to score runs much of the season ended up scoring 20 runs in the two games after today's 8-2 series-clinching win. The Rays had some adversity to deal with as starter Ryan Okuda left in the first inning with back spasms but Walt Khattak and Jaden Stevenson took over the rest of the way and were very effective, with Stevenson getting the rare 5 1/3-inning save. Isaac Cedillos' 2-run single in the 2nd gave them a lead they'd never relinquish and Rodolfo Solano's 3-run homer in the 8th put the game and the series away. Now it's on to the ALDS against Seattle with Donye Evans penciled in for Game 1.

In the rest of the Wild Card action:

https://i.imgur.com/OFJ5axq.png

Like the Rays the Yankees swept their wild-card series and they'll face the White Sox in the other ALDS. Meanwhile pundits across the country decried the presence of the 79-83 Padres in the postseason but they reminded the baseball world that everyone starts off 0-0 in October by thrashing the Nationals 11-3 to get the edge in their series.

October 7-8, 2032: NL Wild Card Games 2 & 3
 

Both Game 1 losers forced a decider:

https://i.imgur.com/R37GIP6.png

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

The Padres defied the odds and will advance to play the Cubs in one NLDS while Atlanta moves on to face Philadelphia in the other.

October 9, 2032: ALDS Game 1
 

Staying on a roll...

https://i.imgur.com/aP1buja.png

Before the playoffs started the Rays' deadline acquisition of star catcher Adley Rutschman looked like a flop - the veteran backstop hit a lousy 204/282/361 with only 7 homers in 50 games. But come the postseason he's lived up to his "Clutchman" nickname as he led the Rays to a quick 2-game Wild Card sweep in Kansas City and today bashed two more homers to propel the Rays to a 5-0 win in their ALDS opener at Seattle. He commenced the scoring in the 1st with a solo shot and then went back-to-back with Yordan Alvarez to put the game away in the 8th. Donye Evans returned to Donye-mating form after a rough September and four relievers turned in a scoreless inning apiece to finish it out. Aldry Acosta will take the ball tomorrow to try to give the Rays a commanding 2-0 lead heading back to St. Pete.

Meanwhile the Yankees also got a road shutout to get a leg up in the other ALDS:

https://i.imgur.com/ALR0bB9.png

October 10, 2032: ALDS Game 2 & NLDS Game 1
 

Can't win 'em all...

https://i.imgur.com/wJ5ggXr.png

After scoring 25 runs while winning their first three postseason games the Rays' offense came a screeching halt today in Seattle as Frank Balandra and a pair of relievers fanned 13 Tampa Bay batters and allowed a mere 3 hits in as Seattle returned the favor of a 5-0 win to even up this ALDS. Aldry Acosta pitched reasonably well, giving up only a pair of solo homers in his 5 innings of work, but it wouldn't matter with the bats like limp noodles today. With Ryan Okuda needing an extra day with his sore back and the Rays not on the verge of elimination, Jaden Stevenson will get the Game 3 start in two days at the Trop.

Elsewhere in DS action:

https://i.imgur.com/xmt3oD3.png

In both ALDSes the teams have traded shutouts while Chicago and Atlanta got the early advantage in the NLDS.

October 11-12, 2032: ALDS Game 3 & NLDS Game 2
 

Almost there...

https://i.imgur.com/k6W8uyl.png

Adley Rutschman has been getting all the publicity early in the Rays' postseason but another grizzled vet has come through big for Tampa Bay as well and today was Yordan Alvarez's time to shine. The slugging LF isn't quite the fearsome presence he was in his glory days in Houston but he's still the Rays' top power hitter and today he was 3-4 with a double, RBI single and solo homer to lead Tampa Bay to a critical 6-4 win to go up 2-1 in their ALDS. The Rays were up 4-2 in the 6th before Jacob Watters surrendered a 2-run homer to Kevin Alcantara but they weren't fazed. Nelson Haro, who hadn't done much in these playoffs, did a lot today, homering to lead off the 7th and break the 4-4 tie in Tampa Bay's favor before Alvarez hit his longball for insurance. And the bullpen held with Luis Oviedo fanning 3 in the 8th after some of the late-inning guys had to come in early to put out a fire in the 6th. Ryan Okuda will try to close it out tomorrow at the Trop.

In today's other ALDS:

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

Unlike the Rays the Yankees couldn't take advantage of returning home and now are a game from elimination.

In yesterday's NLDS action:

https://i.imgur.com/ANy0UqU.png

October 13, 2032: ALDS Game 4 & NLDS Game 3
 

Right there for the taking...

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

They were practically in the ALCS - a 4-3 lead in the 9th, a rabid home crowd on their side, and the AL leader in saves Randy Rodriguez on the mound. But it all went horribly wrong as Rodriguez put two men on and then gave up a 3-run homer to Alika Williams of all people, the light-hitting former Rays SS, and suddenly the Rays have to go back to Seattle to play a deciding Game 5 they shouldn't have had to. Before that it looked like Yordan Alvarez was clearing a space for the Series MVP trophy on his mantel after homering in the 6th to give the Rays that 4-3 lead but instead it's just a statistic in a box score. For Game 5 Donye Evans will try to replicate his Game 1 performance which saw him lead Tampa Bay to a 5-0 win.

Also forcing a Game 5 was the Yankees behind former Ray Luis German, while the Cubs became the first team to book their spot in the LCS round:

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

October 14-15, 2032: ALDS Game 5 & NLDS Game 4
 

Turnabout is fair play (and a ticket to the ALCS)...

https://i.imgur.com/cm7HNAg.png

Look at it. Just look at that win probability chart above. After losing Game 4 and a berth in the ALCS in the 9th inning on a 3-run Seattle homer, the Rays turned the tables on the Mariners and homered three times in the 9th with two out and down 3-1 to pull out the unlikeliest of wins to take their ALDS. Pinch-hitter Javy Jasso beat out an infield single with one out to reach but Nelson Haro flied out and then this happened:

https://i.imgur.com/Yd6kpvH.png

In a perfect bit of symmetry, back in Game 4 it was 38-save Randy Rodriguez who gave up the 3-run homer for the Rays and tonight it was the guy who tied him for AL save lead, Seattle's Carlos Campos, who was touched for the tying and go-ahead homers before former Ray Shane Baz served up Caminero's to truly put the game away.

So who do the Rays now play in the ALCS?

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

It will the Yankees, who also pulled off the upset of the higher-seeded White Sox. Look for Aldry Acosta to start Game 1 at Yankee Stadium as the AL East race is re-litigated.

Meanwhile in yesterday's NLDS Game 4

https://i.imgur.com/lKW7qqd.png

Atlanta forces a deciding Game 5 in Philly for a date with the Cubs in the NLCS.

October 16, 2032: NLDS Game 5
 

And despite an excellent game from Hunter Greene, Atlanta got by the Phillies in the NLDS decider and will take on the Cubs in the NLCS as baseball's final four is set:

https://i.imgur.com/wkop4zn.png

October 17, 2032: ALCS Game 1
 

A great start...

https://i.imgur.com/yPzS7Ro.png

The Yordan & Adley show took their act to the Big Apple today and wowed a hostile crowd by going 6 for 8 with a triple, homer and 6 RBI as the suddenly heavy-hitting Rays routed the Yankees 10-3 to open the ALCS. Alvarez especially was on fire, going 4-4 including hitting a 2-run single in a 3-run 3rd to make it 5-0 and then putting the game away with a 3-run blast in the 8th. Rutschman meanwhile came through with a huge hit when the Yankees had cut the lead to 5-3, his triple drove in a run to make it 6-3 and then he scored on a wild pitch. Aldry Acosta had a rough 2nd with a couple homers allowed and while he didn't make it through 5 he fanned 9 and got out of a couple of jams, and the bullpen took it from there. Ryan Okuda will try to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 series lead tomorrow before we head to the Trop.

October 18, 2032: ALCS Game 2 & NLCS Game 1
 

Doing it again...

https://i.imgur.com/R8UkWd8.png


The Rays are now up 2-0 in the ALCS and haven't played yet at Tropicana Field, in case you were wondering how things were going for them. The Adley & Yordan Show took a day of rest for the most part, with the bottom of the order coming through in the 2nd to set up leadoff man Nelson Haro for a 3-run homer and a 4-0 lead and they coasted from there. Alvarez still had something to say though as he launched his 5th homer of the postseason in the 8th just when the Yankees thought they at least kept him off the board. So we now head to St. Pete with Donye Evans on the mound and try to put a stranglehold on the series.

In the NLCS lid-lifter:

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


That's one-time Ray Taj Bradley with the win.

October 19-20, 2032: ALCS Game 3 & NLCS Game 2
 

This is getting a bit silly...

https://i.imgur.com/V74BO2i.png

Another ALCS game, another rout for the Rays as they whooped the Yankees 8-2 to go up 3-0 in the series and now have outscored the New Yorkers 24-6 in aggregate. Donye Evans rebounded from a shaky first inning to overpower Yankee bats and Victor Mesa stepped up with a pair of homers and reached base all five times to lead the offense. And Isaac Cedillos, one of the few Rays not hitting in this postseason and coming into the day hitting .107 in the playoffs, was 3-4 with a double and an RBI. It's contagious. Jaden Stevenson will take the mound looking to complete the sweep tomorrow.

In yesterday's NLCS game:

https://i.imgur.com/jM2Kbxa.png

October 21, 2032: ALCS Game 4 & NLCS Game 3
 

Almost...

https://i.imgur.com/SPHe2P0.png

The Rays had a decent chance to pull off the sweep but came up just short, so we'll play a Game 5 tomorrow at the Trop. Former Ray Luis German was a tough customer and he kept the Rays in check until they tied it in the 6th on an RBI single from Adley Rutschman, and after New York went back ahead in the 7th Victor Mesa came through with his third homer in two games to tie it again in the 8th. Finally closer Randy Rodriguez, having a very tough postseason, gave up a homer in the 9th to put the Yankees on top once again and although they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning Marco Luciano (who was in because Isaac Cedillos was pinch-hit for in the 8th) flied to shallow left and Nelson Haro grounded out to end the game. Aldry Acosta will be on the hill for Tampa Bay tomorrow.

Meanwhile the Cubs get a leg up in the NLCS:

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

October 22, 2032: ALCS Game 5 & NLCS Game 4
 

Delayed but not denied...

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

The Rays are off to the World Series! The team that frustrated me throughout the regular season with its inability to hit with any consistency has become a juggernaut of sorts, going 9-3 so far and getting the big hits when they need them. Today they were up against one of the game's best pitchers in Robert Ahlstrom, and after knocking him around in Game 1 he had his good stuff today, fanning 10 Rays, but they got to him in the 6th thanks to a 2-run Carson Williams double, and then Yordan Alvarez did his thing again, homering in the 8th to make things a bit more comfortable. Alvarez followed up his ALDS MVP award with one for the ALCS and we'll be happy to see him complete the hat trick in the World Series. And the pitching was outstanding once again, which was the one thing they could count on during the regular season. Aldry Acosta gave them 5 shutout innings with 7 whiffs and the bullpen was spotless until Erubiel Armenta gave up a 2-out homer in the 9th to lose the shutout.

So who will the Rays be facing in the Fall Classic? Insert the shrug emoji here as Atlanta has tied up the NLCS and this one will go a while:

https://i.imgur.com/TK47v9F.png

October 23-25, 2032: Remainder of the NLCS
 

Game 5:

https://i.imgur.com/Q8KHQQv.png

Taj comes through again for Chicago and the Cubs head to Wrigley looking to wrap it up.

Game 6:

https://i.imgur.com/yqH1HMr.png

And it will be the Cubs facing the Rays for all the marbles.

October 28, 2032: World Series Game 1
 

Another miracle comeback win...

https://i.imgur.com/oUNrUw6.png

Holy crap, they did it again! For most of the night the Rays' bats were as cold as the sub-freezing temperatures in Chicago on a night more fit for football or hockey as they trailed 4-1 after 7 in the World Series opener. But after getting a run back in the 8th they did their miracle 9th-inning thing again as Junior Caminero delivered a game-tying 2-run homer with one out and then one out later Marco Luciano, in the game only because Isaac Cedillos was pinch-hit for the inning before, stepped up and won it with a 2-run shot of his own. With Randy Rodriguez in a bad postseason slump, Gerald Ogando got the ball in the 9th and mowed down the Cubs 1-2-3 to give Tampa Bay a shock Game 1 win. It'll be Ryan Okuda tomorrow as the Rays look to continue their Cinderella run through the postseason.

October 29, 2032: World Series Game 2
 

Halfway to an unlikely championship...

https://i.imgur.com/I28XrIz.png

Oops, they did it again. On a slightly "balmier" night in Chicago (35 degrees as opposed to yesterday's 30) the Rays shocked the Cubs again and will head back to the climate-controlled Trop with a 2-0 World Series lead. This time they didn't wait until the 9th to win it - they took advantage of a 2-out Luis Porras error in the 6th when Rodolfo Solano followed with a 3-run homer into the LF bleachers at Wrigley to make it 4-2 Tampa Bay and held from there. Aldry Acosta was downright dominant for 4 innings but ran into trouble in the 5th, giving up a couple of runs and leaving with men on 2nd and 3rd with only one out. That was the point at which the critical decision to bring in early our sole bullpen lefty Erubiel Armenta with two slugging lefties due was made, and it turned out to be a great call when Armenta retired the two men without any further scoring. Later things got a bit shaky in the 9th when new closer Gerald Ogando gave up a leadoff homer to make it 5-3 and put two men on with two out, so old closer Randy Rodriguez came in and while he walked a man to load the bases he then struck out the next one for the final out. Ryan Okuda (this time, really) will start Game 3 in two days in St. Pete.

October 31, 2032: World Series Game 3
 

Not going to be a cakewalk...

https://i.imgur.com/2HNTYbg.png

On this Halloween night at the Trop the Rays bullpen turned out to be a trick and not a treat as Chicago overturned a 4-1 middle-inning deficit and took Game 3 from Tampa Bay 9-6 to cut their series deficit to 2-1. Alistair Hardy's 3-run homer in the 5th gave the Rays that 4-1 lead and it looked like they were on track to go up 3-0 in the series. But then came the nightmare of the 7th inning as Luis Oviedo gave up a 3-run homer with nobody out, Jacob Watters proceeded to load the bases on three walks and by the time the inning was over the Cubs were up 8-4. The Rays rallied hard in the bottom of the inning, getting two runs back, but couldn't do any more. Also Ryan Okuda had to leave early with back tightness and won't be available to start a Game 7 if necessary. Jaden Stevenson will try to keep the Cubs from knotting the series tomorrow.

November 1, 2032: World Series Game 4
 

One win from history...

https://i.imgur.com/Zxbtw83.png

Rodolfo Solano and Yordan Alvarez were a two-man wrecking crew tonight at Tropicana Field as the Rays pounded the Cubs into submission 13-5 to take a 3-1 World Series lead. Solano, bidding to be series MVP, was 4-5 with a 3-run homer in the 4th that truly broke the game open while Alvarez, who had been quiet in the World Series after winning ALDS and ALCS MVP, belted a 3-run homer in a 4-run 4th, added an RBI triple later and wound up plating 5. Meanwhile the pitching was good enough and now Donye Evans will have a chance to help pitch the Rays to a title tomorrow, one they'll want to win in front of the folks at home.

November 2, 2032: World Series Game 5
 

Champions, emphatically...

https://i.imgur.com/H84ZYrd.png

The team that struggled to win 90 games, the team that couldn't even get home field for a Wild Card series, the 2032 Tampa Bay Rays, World Champions. I'm not sure I've seen a team struggle to score runs all season (10th in the AL) make like the 1927 Yankees in the postseason but that's what they did, routing the Cubs 7-0 to win it all in 5 games, and scoring 37 runs in the process. Isaac Cedillos had been the only Rays regular not to homer this postseason and he finally got in on the act by belting a 2-run shot in the 2nd off Taj Bradley who was in the Tampa Bay rotation last year. Nelson Haro then went back-to-back with Cedillos and added a 2-run homer in the 6th to make the rubble bounce as part of a 4-hit day (that could have been 5 had he not be robbed on a line drive in the 8th). Meanwhile the Cubs didn't put up much of a fight at the plate as Donye Evans (effectively wild with 6 walks in 5 innings) and three relievers combined on a 1-hit shutout. So here they are - champs for the fourth time in team history and the first in 5 years after having won 3 out of 4. But they're truly the unlikeliest of the bunch.

(Going back I noticed that I never did the usual full stats recap after the regular season ended. I'll do that in the next post along with a postseason stat recap, if for no other reason to compare and contrast the regular season numbers with those from the playoffs.)

Final 2032 Regular Season Standings and Rays Stats
 

As mentioned previously, I forgot to make this post when the regular season ended so here it is.

But first, a final look at the sweet, sweet playoff tree:

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

Yeah, baby.

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

Our old friend Natanael Santana, who spent five seasons in our outfield and hit 108 homers and then was traded in 2030 to Philly for Alistair Hardy and ended up a free agent and spent most of 2031 in the minors, somehow exploded for 53 HR and 127 RBI for Toronto in a classic case of "who knew?".

https://i.imgur.com/dtUtl3e.png

And again, you can see why the postseason offensive dominance by the Rays was such a shock, given that it was a struggle all season to score runs. It was the pitching that carried them there, but the bats woke up at just the right time. Here are their pedestrian regular season numbers:

https://i.imgur.com/J2C9iKl.png

A lot of guys with adequate seasons but Solano was the only one who was above-average. Now check out their postseason numbers (sorted by OPS since WAR is wonky over short stints):

https://i.imgur.com/0sLqtl0.png

Yordan clearly took it to another level, Solano was almost as good and Adley carried us through the early rounds. An unsung bat in the mix was Williams, who seemed to always be coming up with hits to prolong innings or rallies. We hit 35 homers in 17 postseason games as a team, which really is something considering 162 regular season games saw 180 or barely over one a game.

https://i.imgur.com/q9w2fGv.png

Before things went sour for him in the postseason Rodriguez had one of the all-time great seasons by a reliever in franchise history and 3.4 WAR for a reliever is pretty much up there period. Otherwise we had a bunch of 5-inning-type starters who were quite good but often they couldn't make it through 5 and middle-inning guy Buckman came on to end up winning 15 games in relief. Their postseason numbers:

https://i.imgur.com/3SvGl4a.png

And you can see R-Rod's struggles in black and white, along with Watters who was brutal. Thankfully Ogando and Oviedo picked up the slack and the rest of the staff was very good including the dependable Buckman. They all get rings.

https://i.imgur.com/15heQM9.png

One area in which we're not championship-caliber is the farm system, which ranks in the mid-to-upper 20s MLB-wide. Our 2032 #1 pick Miller is seen as the top prospect, and as far as immediate impact goes Gurrola is a possibility as a leadoff type.

We'll talk more about him and the 2033 outlook in the State of the Team post coming up next.

2032-33 Offseason: State of the Team
 

The state of the team:

https://i.imgur.com/oyd1eIo.png

Pretty darn good. As for 2033 it'll require some tinkering but most of the squad is back. Major free agents include C Adley Rutschman, SPs Donye Evans, Ryan Okuda and Tony Santillan. Also coming off the books are Ozzie Albies (who missed most of last year and lost his job to Victor Mesa) at $18M and Marco Luciano (also a reserve) at $5.5M so the bottom line is that with a projected $160M payroll we'll have about $38M to spend. And there are some players who may not be kept at their projected salaries - as great as LH reliever Erubiel Armenta was last year, $8.7 in arbitration is steep, Elijah Green at $3.6M won't be back and ditto Colby Holcombe at $2.8M so there's another $15M to potentially play with. With $50M+ potentially open we extended a 4/100 offer to keep Rutschman and he'll likely accept. How it plays out position-by-position:

Catcher: As mentioned, Rutschman is probably back and if he re-ups we probably save another $2.6M by letting Angel Rivera go and using Cade Arrambide as the backup.

First Base: Junior Caminero is coming off a pedestrian season and might not be worth the $10.1M in arbitration he's projected for. He's dropped from a 3-WAR guy to a 2-WAR one the last couple of seasons. If we do move on from him Nelson Haro take over the position and someone else can DH.

Second Base: Mesa took over when Albies got hurt and turned in a decent season.

Shortstop: Isaac Cedillos wasn't any great shakes, providing average D and modest hitting, but he's young and potentially can do better with the bat. He'll get another chance.

Third Base: Carson Williams was excellent in his return to the fold, had a big postseason and will return.

Infield: Luciano was our primary IF backup last year but he's gone and we don't have an obvious replacement in the minors, so look for a pickup here.

Left Field: Yordan Alvarez had an OK year and then a fantastic playoffs and is under contract for another season at $19M. He may end up DHing.

Center Field: Rodolfo Solano is probably our best all-around player.

Right Field: Alistair Hardy dropped off from 3.4 to 2.0 WAR last year but he'll get a chance to rebound.

Outfield: Norietsu Kurokawa was the 4th OF but he didn't hit as hoped although he's a good defender. Javy Jasso is the opposite. One or both will be back depending on how things shake out and top OF prospect Hector Gurriola may get some consideration.

DH: Haro is the incumbent but as mentioned he might take over 1B. Jasso would make a good LH half of a platoon but we'd need a righty bat to go with him, although Alvarez could DH and Kurokawa could play LF against LHP.

Rotation: We lose Evans, Okuda and Santillan but still have Aldry Acosta and Jaden Stevenson as well as the Walt Khattak/Bryce Eldridge duo who lost their jobs last year but are still capable. Rookie Jaheim Lennon will probably also grab a slot and we have an offer out to re-sign bullpenner Luis Oviedo and try him as a low-stamina starter with good stuff, a move that's worked out with the likes of Evans, Okuda, Acosta and Stevenson. I'd still like to grab one proven starter if possible over the winter.

Bullpen: Our top trio of Randy Rodriguez, Gerald Ogando and Jacob Watters will return but with Armenta's impeding departure we're going to need a lefty. Of course middleman supreme Benjamin Buckman and his 15 wins are back as well but in addition to a lefty we're going to need a couple more arms to round it out.

Others: As mentioned Gurrola could contend for an OF job and 2027 5th-round pick Evan Bell could figure into the 1B derby as he looks very similar profile-wise to Caminero. Otherwise not much help around the fringes of the 40-man roster or at the high MiLB levels.

So the tl;dr offseason priorities:

1) Add a 1B/DH type
2) A starter
3) Bullpen depth
4) Utility IF

2032-33 Offseason: Part 1
 

Retirements:

Notables: Nolan Arenado (STL retires #28), Anthony Rendon, Joey Gallo, Sandy Alcantara, Royce Lewis, Tommy Edman, Trevor Story, Eloy Jimenez, Jazz Chisholm Jr, Max Kepler, Josh Hader (MIL retires #71), Matt Chapman, Walker Buehler, Edwin Diaz.

Former Rays: Jake Cronenworth, Pete Fairbanks, Alec Bohm, Drew Rasmussen, Colin Poche, Nate Lowe.

November 6: We swung our first deal of the winter, filling our backup IF hole:

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

Jones can play everywhere but catcher or pitcher and his best position is 3B, where he's rated a 70. He's an average (50/50 contact/power) hitter and was good for 5.7 WAR with the Yankees' AAA affiliate last year. The price wasn't high as New York seemed motivated to move him and Bolanos isn't much of a prospect.

November 8: Some big news:

https://i.imgur.com/AUeeog6.png

Yes he's 34 and this probably won't age well but he showed us in the postseason that he's still an elite power-hitting catcher and even though he didn't hit a lot late in the regular season he stabilized the staff. Now we don't have to look for a decent catcher.

Awards season:

Gold Glove: No Tampa Bay winners but a couple of former Rays were selected: 41-year-old 1B Yandy Diaz (Boston) and LF Zach DeLoach (San Antonio).

Reliever of the Year: There could be no other in the AL:

https://i.imgur.com/TpMm3kw.png

And as you can see Armenta took third. San Diego's Nelson Berkwich took 29 of 30 first-place votes to win in the NL after posting a 2.02 ERA in 102 IP with 2.2 WAR. He had 6 wins but only 4 saves. The 30th vote was mine.

Silver Slugger: With the offense we had in the regular season, there were no Rays winners of course. The only former Ray to win was Chicago CF Riley Greene, whom we rented in 2028.

Rookie of the Year: A close vote in the AL with Baltimore RF Anson Balcome (.250-28-84) edging out KC's Sergio Fernandez 18-12 and 126-114. The NL winner was Miami 3B David Mendoza (.275-22-65) who got by teammate Eli Becerra 16-14 and 122-114. The Marlins actually had the top 4 finishers in the voting.

Cy Young: The Yankees' Ignacio Gonzales was a unanimous AL winner after a 17-9, 2.96, 6.6 WAR season with 245 Ks in 216 IP. No Rays received votes. In the NL former Ray and current Cub Taj Bradley, whom we saw (and beat) in the World Series won with 16 first-place votes after going 14-5, 3.15 with 4.6 WAR.

MVP: Seattle 2B Noelvi Marte was the clear winner over Cleveland's Juan Soto after a .285-51-131, 8.0 WAR year. No Rays received votes. The NL MVP was of course unanimous as Washington SS Hector Juarez had a season for the ages, earning 10.6 WAR thanks to a .365-48-149 year, adding to his trophy case which already included a 2030 Rookie of the Year and a 2031 World Series ring.

November 20: Time for another trade:

https://i.imgur.com/ngLdnm2.png

So long to Junior Caminero after 6 seasons and 122 homers. From 2028-2030 he averaged 25 HR, 95 RBI and 3.5 WAR but has tailed off to more of a 20-HR, 78-RBI guy good for 2 WAR and with his salary approaching $10M it was time to move on. In return we get a pretty good-looking reliever in Vargas, who's rated 65/65/60.

December 3: Another trade, this time for a starter:

https://i.imgur.com/q7WMQ8o.png

The lefty Stone is one of the better strikeout pitchers in the bigs, fanning 245 last year for Boston after 242 the year before and he's earned 4.1 and 3.6 WAR over those two years. Nevertheless his surface numbers (11-14, 4.21) are a little underwhelming for two reasons: 31 homers allowed (he's rated 45 movement) and a .348 BABIP against. The team and the ballpark should help him in that department this season and he's a legit upgrade over Eldridge, who's going the other way and lost his role in our rotation last year and several middling years with us. Guzman isn't much of a prospect. Stone will slot in as our #2 starter behind Acosta.

December 10: The top free agent pitcher out there, Robert Ahlstrom, switched sides in New York by leaving the Yankees for the Mets on a 5/175 deal, which is fine by us.

December 15: The Yankees, who just lost Ahlstrom as well as slugger Jackson Castillo in free agency, didn't stand pat and signed closer Andres Munoz for 5/92 and followed that up with former Rays rental Kyle Tucker for 3/80.

December 16: We're not done dealing:

https://i.imgur.com/z5WBpc5.png

We needed a lefty reliever to go with Luke Little so hence the deal for Green, who did pitch well for us in 2028. He's 35 and rated 60/50/60 so he's not the savior or anything but he did save 28 games for the Dodgers last year. It's a no-risk deal for us since they're eating all of his salary and we only had to give up Mendoza, a middling middle-infield prospect. Odds are given his age we end up with a scouting report in spring training saying his stuff is down 2-3 MPH and that 60 becomes a 50, but again not much given up here.

December 23: Added OF Juan Anaya, 3B Bob Pinon, P Alex Salazar and C Jalen Lowe to the 40-man roster.

Even with these additions, we have 4 open slots on the 40-man so if something intrigues us in the Rule 5 Draft we have the room.

December 26: Lost 1B Nic Abraham to Detroit and 1B/OF Andrew Vaughn to the Mets in the Rule 5 Draft.

There was one guy who intrigued us (a CF prospect) but he was taken early so that was it for us. Abraham was a 2nd round way back in 2024 but the fact that he's been in the minors for 8 years tells you all you need to know (45/50 hitting ratings don't play at 1B) and you probably didn't know we had the veteran Vaughn since I never mentioned him after he signed with Durham last year. Expect to get both of these guys back, for what it's worth.

December 29: Reliever Ivan Armstrong, who pitched his way off our roster last season, resurfaced in Baltimore on a 1/2.4 deal.

2032-33 Offseason: Part 2
 

January 5: The Hall of Fame Voting is in:

https://i.imgur.com/vma2mMY.png

Talk about taking it down the wire - in his final year of eligibility Mauer made it. Joey Votto should take encouragement as he keeps getting closer, and things bode well for Altuve and the Cardinals trio of Yadi, Goldschmidt and Wainwright.

Mauer was helped by a very week first-year class; the highest vote-getter among newcomers was JD Martinez and he managed a mere 8.6%.

January 6: Former Ray Natanael Santana, who came back out of nowhere to hit 53 homers for Toronto last season in one of the more well-time walk years ever, parlayed that performance into a 3/40 deal with Houston.

January 8: OF Zac Veen, who's averaged 36 HR and and just under 100 RBI over the last 4 seasons, joins the Angels for 2/24.

January 9: Colby Holcombe, one of the last men in our bullpen the last couple of years, somehow got a 3/11.4 deal with San Antonio.

January 12: Erubiel Armenta, so good for us as a lefty out of the pen the last couple of seasons, got a 3/47 deal from the Yankees to be a 40-stamina starter. We'll have to see how that goes.

January 13: 35-year-old veteran OF Alex Kiriloff inked a 3/36 pact with Boston.

January 14: A couple of more name free agents sign with Corbin Carroll surfacing in Los Angeles for 3/27 and ageless (38 actually) 1B Matt Olson is a Boston Red Sock for 1 year and $15M.

February 12: Alex Bregman, who will be 39 when the season starts and once helped the Rays to a championship in 2024, signed a 1-year, $7.6M deal with Minnesota while a much more recent former Ray, starter Ryan Okuda, joined Atlanta for 1/8.7.

February 17: Speaking of former Rays, 37-year-old OF Austin Meadows re-signed with Philly for 1/13.

February 28: Another of our free agents signed as P Tony Santillan somehow got $21.6M out of Philly for 1 season.

March 18: A late free agent signing for us:

https://i.imgur.com/93wE2xz.png

Thomas is a solid OF who plays excellent LF defense and will slot in at the position with Yordan going to DH and Haro to 1B. He's been a 2-3 WAR player the last couple of years and while he isn't sexy he'll be helpful.

2033 Opening Day Roster and Preseason Predictions
 

A largely injury-free spring training with only OF Norietsu Kurokawa landing on the IL with a mild shoulder strain that should sideline him until mid-April.

The Opening Day roster shakes out as such:

C-Rutschman, Arrambide
1B-Haro
2B-Mesa
SS-Cedillos
3B-C.Williams
IF-J.Jones
LF-A.Thomas
CF-R.Solano
RF-Hardy
OF-Tovar, Jasso

DH-Y.Alvarez

Tovar is Manny Tovar, who was up for a little bit in 2031 but had been at Durham since. He made the team in lieu of the injured Kurokawa. Otherwise with the exception of Alek Thomas it's pretty much the same lineup as last year.

SP-Acosta, Khattak, Stone, Stevenson, Oviedo
LR-Lennon
MR-Buckman, Little, Vargas, Watters, L.Gonzalez
SU-Ogando, M.Green
CL-R.Rodriguez

L.Gonzalez is Luis C. Gonzalez, whom we claimed on waivers from Philly just before Opening Day, He's a righty rated 65/65/45 who saved 7 games with 80 Ks in 52 IP last year and should improve the pen.

What does BNN think of this team? Quite a bit it seems:

https://i.imgur.com/uwxP0dW.png

Much as last year we're not expected to have any true standout players but a solid all-around team. Perhaps we'll get hot in October and win the World Series just like last year too.

April 4-7, 2033: at Baltimore (4)
 

Game 1: The Opening Day box:

https://i.imgur.com/W5h7e5l.png

Looking more like the regular-season Rays of last year than the playoff version. At least Alek Thomas had a decent Tampa Bay debut, getting two of the team's three hits.

Game 2: 11-3 W. WP-Khattak (1-0, 5 8 3 3 1 5). S-Lennon (1). HR-Y.Alvarez 2 (2), Hardy (1), Rutschman (1), R.Solano (1). The offense returned with a vengeance, pounded out 16 hits (and drawing 7 walks) including 5 homers. Everyone except Mesa had a hit and he walked twice. The rookie Lennon went 3 hitless for the save.

Game 3: 3-4 L. LP-Stone (0-1, 5 9 4 4 1 6). HR-A.Thomas (1). Rays squandered a 3-0 lead which included Thomas's homer to lead off the game as he continues to impress with his new club.

Game 4: 9-7 W. WP-Little (1-0). S-R.Rodriguez (1). Starter-Stevenson (4 8 1 1 1 3). HR-A.Thomas (2), C.Williams (1). They scored 9 but left 13 on and it nearly cost them when Watters gave up a grand slam (this on the heels of his OD 3 runs allowed in 1/3 inning) in the 8th. Thomas scored 3 runs including his homer and is hitting .467 and Williams' 3-run homer in the 8th turned out to be the key hit.

Team record: 2-2. Next up: 3 games in Detroit as part of our 10-game season-opening road trip.

April 8-10, 2033: at Detroit (3)
 

Game 1: 15-0 W. WP-Oviedo (1-0, 5 3 0 0 2 6). HR-Y.Alvarez 3 (5), C.Williams (2). An incredible game from Yordan, going 4-4 with 3 HR and 7 RBI and scoring 5 runs as the Rays scored in every inning but the 3rd and 9th while banging out 17 hits (other than Yordan 5 other players had 2 apiece). Oviedo's first start since being converted from the pen was also a success.

Game 2: 3-2 W (10). WP-R.Rodriguez (1-0). Starter-Acosta (5.2 3 1 1 2 7). HR-Hardy 2 (3), Rutschman (2). Hardy's second homer of the game was a 488-foot titanic blast to center in the 10th to win it as the Rays overcame losing a 2-0 lead in regulation.

Game 3: 9-2 W. WP-Khattak (2-0, 5 7 0 0 1 7). HR-Cedillos (1), Mesa (1). As has been well-chronicled in this thread the Rays struggled on offense for just about all of the 2032 regular season but had untapped potential which they discovered in their run to a World Series title and this year they seem to be picking up where they left off with just about the entire same cast. Today's offense explosion came courtesy of grand slams hit in the 2nd and 3rd inning by Cedillos and Mesa and they cruised from there to secure a Motown sweep.

Team record: 5-2. Rays are tied with the Yankees atop the AL East in the early going. Next up: The season-opening road trip concludes with 3 in Kansas City.

Team news: We signed SS/3B Gunnar Henderson to a minor league contract. The one-time star infielder had fallen on hard times the last couple of seasons, beginning with a disappointing 2031 with us. He'll provide depth on the infield should we need it.

April 11-13, 2033: at Kansas City (3)
 

Game 1: 0-6 L. LP-Stone (0-2, 4 7 6 6 1 2). Lousy game in all phases as Stone was rocked and the bats only managed three hits.

Game 2: 2-1 W. WP-Ogando (1-0). S-R.Rodriguez (2). Starter-Stevenson (5 2 0 0 1 5). HR-Jasso (1). It looked as though the Rays would be shut out for a second straight game but Jasso came off the bench to deliver a one-out, pinch-hit 2-run homer in the 9th after KC went up 1-0 in the bottom of the 8th.

Game 3: 6-4 W. WP-Oviedo (2-0, 5 6 2 2 1 5). S-R.Rodriguez (3). HR-Tovar (1), Mesa (2), Jasso (2). Manny Tovar got the start and had a big early 3-run homer while Oviedo looked good as a starter again, enabling the Rays to take the series from the Royals.

Team record: 7-3, tied with the Yankees for first place. Next up: A day off then back home for 3 against Minnesota.

Forgot to mention this in the last post:

https://i.imgur.com/61r2ovU.png

MLB News: Cleveland lost superstar OF Juan Soto for 7 weeks to a torn hamstring.

April 15-17, 2033: vs Minnesota (3)
 

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Acosta (1-1, 6 3 1 1 2 5). S-R.Rodriguez (4). HR-Hardy (4). Hardy's 3-run homer in the 6th broke a 1-1 tie and the Rays held on for another win.

Game 2: 10-2 W. WP-Khattak (3-0, 6.1 7 2 2 5 2). HR-Rutschman (3), Haro 2 (2). Junior Caminero is a Twin now and they're playing him at 3B after several years with us at 1B, and his 2-out error in the first opened the door for 5 Rays runs to score. Haro had a monster game, going 4-5 with the two homers and 3 RBI while Solano and C.Williams each plated 3 runs in the 5th game this year they've scored 9+ runs.

Game 3: 6-4 W. WP-Stone (1-2, 6 3 2 2 3 6). S-R.Rodriguez (5). HR-A.Thomas (3), Rutschman (4). Dakota Stone got his first Rays win and pitched his first decent game while Victor Mesa was 2-2 with 2 walks and 2 RBI singles to lead the offense as Tampa Bay finished off another sweep and have now won 9 of their last 10.

Team record: 10-3. Can't shake the Yankees, who kept pace with a sweep of their own and are also 10-3. Next up: Off to Chicago for 3 against the White Sox.

April 18-20, 2033: at Chicago White Sox (3)
 

Game 1: 3-2 W. WP-Vargas (1-0). S-R.Rodriguez (6). Starter-Stevenson (6.1 6 2 2 1 2). HR-Cedillos (2). Stevenson was excellent but Vargas, who allowed the tying run to score, vultured the win when Carson Williams came through with an RBI single in the 8th to win it.

Game 2: 0-3 L (6). LP-Oviedo (2-1, 4 4 3 3 5 4). Rays couldn't get much going before the rains came and ended the game in the 6th, denying them a chance to come back.

Game 3: 8-4 W. WP-L.Gonzalez (1-0). Starter-Acosta (4 5 3 3 1 5). HR-Rutschman 2 (6), Y.Alvarez (6). Rays squandered an early 4-0 lead but scored twice in both the 8th and 9th to win it. Rutschman had a monster game, homering in the 1st, singling in a run in the 3rd ahead of Yordan's 2-run blast, and then homering again in the 9th with a man on to put the game away. The win was costly however as Nelson Haro strained an abdominal muscle and will miss 6-7 weeks.

Team record: 12-4. Still not good enough for first as the Yankees won 3 of 4 including one on our off day to move 1/2 game ahead. Next up: Back home for three against Detroit after that off-day.

April 22-24, 2033: vs Detroit (3)
 

Transaction: Placed 1B Nelson Haro on the 10-day IL with an abdominal strain, recalled 1B Evan Bell from AAA Durham.

As mentioned in the last post Haro will be out 6-7 weeks. Getting a shot at replacing him is Bell, our 5th-round pick in 2027 who's climbed the ladder one rung at a time and has put up modest but decent numbers in the high minors. He is rated 55 contact and power so he should be able to provide some production.

Game 1: 3-5 L (12). LP-Ogando (1-1). Starter-Khattak (6 6 3 3 1 3). HR-Rutschman (7). A tough one to lose as after Khattak was hit for 3 runs in the first inning and the Rays trailed 3-1 after 7, they scored in the 8th and tied it on Adley's solo homer leading off the 9th. Alas Ogando and Little made a mess in the 12th to lose it.

Game 2: 1-0 W. See below as it was more than a typical 1-0 game:

https://i.imgur.com/X5Hgao7.png


Yes, an honest-to-goodness no-hitter courtesy of Dakota Stone, who needed all of his 123 pitches to hurl what I believe is the first Rays no-hitter in this save which is in its 12th season (I'm not going to go through all the pages of this thread to confirm). Stone was our big offseason rotation addition and he struggled in his first few starts before pitching a good game his previous time out and today of course he took the cake. The problem for most of the game though was that the bats couldn't score for him, but finally in the 8th Rutschman came through with an RBI single to make it 1-0. I seriously considered going to the bullpen since the first priority was to win the game and Stone was in the red at 112 pitches. But I decided to take it batter-by-batter in the 9th and he struck out the first and final batters of the inning, whiffing Jackson Holliday to end it and finish the gem.

Game 3: 4-6 L. LP-Green (0-1). Starter-Stevenson (5 3 3 3 3 2). Rays came back to tie it a 4 in the 7th only for Green to give up a 2-run homer in the 8th to lose it. Yordan was 3-4 with an RBI to lead the offense as the Rays failed to capitalize on the momentum of last night's no-hitter and dropped the series to Detroit.

Team record: 13-6. The Yankees' insane start to the season continued with a sweep so they're now 16-4 and 2 1/2 up on the Rays. Next up: Toronto visits for 3 games.

April 25-27, 2033: vs Toronto (3)
 

Game 1: 4-6 L. LP-Buckman (0-1). Starter-Acosta (5.1 5 3 3 0 8, 3 HR). HR-Solano (2), C.Williams (3). Rays were cruising up 4-1 into the 6th before Acosta gave up a couple of homers to let Toronto tie and then Buckman gave up a homer immediately upon relieving him, wasting a big day from Williams who was 3-4 with a homer and 2 RBI.

Game 2: 4-3 W. WP-Lennon (1-0, 5 4 2 2 3 7). S-R.Rodriguez (7). HR-Rutschman (8), Hardy (5). Lennon's first MLB start was a success and he was backed by his battery mate Rutschman, who drove in 3 of the 4 runs including a 2-run homer as his blazing start to 2033 continues.

Game 3: 4-2 W. WP-Oviedo (3-1, 5 7 2 2 1 4). S-R.Rodriguez (8). HR-C.Williams (4). Another solid win with the big story being the bullpen as four relievers combined to go 4 perfect innings with 7 strikeouts.

Team record: 15-7. We did gain a game on the Yankees and sit 1 1/2 back in the AL East. Next up: A day-off before the White Sox come to town for 3 games.