May 5-7, 2034: vs Seattle (3)
 

Game 1: 9-3 W. WP-Buckman (4-0, 7 4 2 2 3 8). HR-Pino (8). Buckman has gone 4-0 in his four starts this year after coming off the IL with today's excellent outing and the offense came alive, led by C.Williams (2-4, double, 2 RBI), Haro (2-run double) and Pino (2-run homer).

Game 2: 2-6 L. LP-Najera (4-3, 4.2 9 4 4 2 7). HR-Solis (1). Najera suffered his worst outing since joining the Rays (first time over 3 ER allowed) and the bats didn't do much in the loss. The 32-year-old Cuban rookie Solis did bag his first homer.

Game 3: 0-4 L. LP-Lennon (2-3, 7 2 1 1 2 8). Lennon deserved a far better fate than he suffered as he now leads the majors in pitcher WAR at 1.7 but the bats only managed five hits in another limp effort.

Team record: 19-13. Fortunately Toronto cooled off as well, losing 2 of 3 to stay only 1/2 game ahead of the Rays. Next up: 4 games in Baltimore.

May 8-11, 2034: at Baltimore (4)
 

Game 1: 3-6 L. LP-L.Gonzalez (0-1). Starter-Vargas (6.1 4 0 0 1 7). HR-Gurrola (5), K.White (7). A gut-punch of a loss as the Rays took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th only to see the bullpen (Boyle, Gonzalez and Ogando) allow 6 runs to send the team to defeat. Worst yet Boyle tore his UCL and is done until next season. The one bright spot was 6 1/3 more shutout innings from Vargas in his second start and he's now pitched 25 1/3 this year without allowing a run.

Transaction: Joe Boyle goes on the 60-day IL and Christian Rodriguez is up from Durham.

Game 2: 10-4 W. WP-Acosta (3-1, 5.2 2 1 1 2 8). HR-Solis (2), Rutschman (4), J.Jones (2), Haro (5). A 17-hit attack led the Rays to a blowout win with Haro homering and driving in 4 and Rutschman and Solis each going 3-5 with a homer and 3 RBI. Unfortunately the injury big hit again and Josh Jones suffered a bone bruise which will sideline him 2-3 weeks.

Transaction: Jones hits in the IL and IF Elijah Watts is called up from Durham.

Game 3: 4-8 L. LP-Buckman (4-1, 4.1 3 4 4 6 3). HR-Pino (9), Rutschman (5), Hardy (6). After four great starts after coming off the IL Buckman finally had a stinker today, walking 6 as Rays pitching issued a total of 9 free passes on a terrible day.

Transaction: Claimed P Chase Lee on waivers from Philadelphia, optioned P Christian Rodriguez to Durham. This will be Lee's second tour of duty with the Rays as he briefly was with the club in 2024. He's rated 60/70/55 so he should be a good contributor and has a career 2.87 ERA in 135 IP.

Game 4: 8-2 W. WP-Najera (5-3, 6 4 1 1 1 5). HR-Solis (3), C.Williams (5). Najera was excellent again (ERA down to 2.62) and Solis had a big 3-run homer early as the Rays salvaged a split in Baltimore.

Team record: 21-15. Toronto lost 3 of 4 so the Rays edged back into first place by 1/2 game over the Jays. Next up: 3 games just a little bit up I-95 against the Phillies, who sport an identical 21-15 record to Tampa Bay.