September 15-17, 2042: vs NY Yankees (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays took a back-and-forth game 6-5 over the Yankees in the series opener at Publix Park. Josh Beckett's sac fly broke in the 6th broke a 5-5 deadlock after Dan Gregory doubled in the tying run to make a winner of Chris Williams. Williams picked up his 5th win in a rare effective outing of late which saw him fan all 4 men he faced. Freddy Zamora had a 1-2-3 two-whiff 9th for save #11. Jeff Brockman got the start and had his first bad one in a while, going 4 9 4 4 0 5 while Seth Williams had a nice game with a solo homer (#31) and RBI triple.

Game 2: Jose Mendoza was dominant and a 7-run 5th inning turned the game into a laugher as the Rays routed the Yankees 11-0. Mendoza went 7 5 0 0 1 7 to improve to 16-3, 3.23 with Chris Johansen finishing up the shutout. Andy Ruggles drove in 4 with a pair of sac flies and a 2-run double, Doug Johns (#16) and Dave Frick (#9) had 2-run homers, and Jimmy Leonard (#25) added a solo shot.

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of New York with a 5-1 win behind Brad Jackson. The lefty arrested his recent run of bad starts with a 5.2 5 1 1 3 7 performance that saw him go to 15-7, 3.70. Jose Mendez had a pair of RBI singles, Seth Williams was 2-4 with an RBI and Jeff Googins hit a solo homer, his 3rd.

Team record: 115-36. Next up: 4 games at home vs Boston.

September 18-21, 2042: vs Boston (4)
 

An aside: those reading may or may have not noticed there was no Durham Playoff Update this year, and that's of course because Durham missed the playoffs - in fact they had their worst year by far in this save at 69-71, missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The pitching was terrible (4.38 ERA) and the hitting wasn't much better.

Game 1: Johnny Soland was excellent once again and the Rays took a 7-1 win over Boston in the opener of their 4-game series at Publix Park. Soland kept alive his hopes of winning 20 games with a 6 6 1 1 1 6 outing to get him to 19-3, 3.34 with one start remaining. Doug Johns had a 2-run HR (#17), Jimmy Leonard hit #26, and Seth Williams was 2-3 with 2 RBI as he seems to be getting back in gear.

Game 2: The Rays took their 7th straight with a 10-inning, 5-4 win over Boston thanks to Mike Willis' walk-off RBI double. The Rays led 4-2 after 5 but Jim Brophy (who went 5.1 9 3 3 3 6) and Dan Anderson (who gave up the tying run) couldn't hold it. Freddy Zamora ended up with win #8 after pitching the 10th. Jimmy Leonard homered again (#27, a 2-run shot) and Josh Beckett was 4-5 with an RBI as he looks to wrap up the batting title.

Game 3: Jeff Brockman was pounded big-time and the Rays dropped an 11-6 decision to Boston that wasn't really even that close. Brockman was tagged badly in an 8-run 3rd inning for the Sox, and finished a brutal 2.1 9 8 8 1 4. He had pitched well the last 4-6 weeks but is going to be the odd man out of the playoff rotation, given his stamina issues and relative inconsistency. Dan Gregory was 3-5 with HR #12 in the losing effort.

Game 4: The Rays closed out the home portion of their schedule with a 9-5 win over Boston and finished the year an incredible 70-11 at Publix Park, which is probably a record. Jose Mendoza was pretty good, getting the win after going 6 4 2 2 3 7 to improve to 17-3, 3.22. Freddy Zamora got the final out in the 8th and after the lead was extended he stayed on for save #12. Seth Williams and Mike Willis were the offense, with the former going 2-5 with a 2-run double and a 2-run HR (#32) while the latter was 4-5 with a triple and 3 RBI. Williams is also up to 130 RBI and 8.0 WAR as he's the frontrunner for AL MVP.

Team record: 118-37. Next up: 4 games in Baltimore as we start the regular season's final week.

MLB News: Former Rays slugger and current Houston slugger Danny Ayala belted his 400th HR and was named AL Player of the Week.

MLB Playoff Update: I haven't been giving many of these because this is going to be perhaps the lamest final week of a regular season in MLB history as everything is pretty much decided. The Rays and White Sox ran away with their divisions in the AL, and the Astros are on the verge of clinching the West. Seattle and the Yankees have wild cards wrapped up. In the NL, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and San Francisco are in command of their divisions while the Mets and Pittsburgh look like the wild cards with the only scintilla of a race left being the Dodgers are 3 back of Pittsburgh.

September 22-25, 2042: at Baltimore (4)
 

Game 1: The Rays blasted Baltimore 8-1 in their series opener at Camden Yards. Jeff Googins was the unlikely hitting star, going 2-4 with HR #4 and 3 RBI while Dave Frick was 2-4 with 2 RBI. Brad Jackson was excellent in what was his probably his last start of the regular season, going 6.2 3 1 1 1 10 to finish 16-7, 3.63. He's the runaway WAR leader among pitchers at 5.6 but he probably won't repeat as Cy Young given his higher ERA. Houston's Tim Levitt (15-7, 2.23 and with 4.7 WAR) is probably the favorite.

Game 2: Johnny Soland went into the game looking for win #20 and left up 3-1 in the 7th but the bullpen blew it even if the team didn't as they won 7-5. Soland finished 6.1 8 3 3 1 7 after Satoshi Sato gave up a couple of hits to allow the Orioles to tie in the 7th. Doug Johns homered to restore the Rays lead in the 8th (#18) but Ed Pretty gave up 2 in the 8th to put them behind. No problem though as Josh Beckett led off the 9th with HR #11 and then Josh Alexander hit a 2-run shot, his second of the game and 38th of the year, to win it. Pretty vultured win #5 while Kikuo Kawase notched save #37. Soland will probably get another chance on the season's final day as he's not slated to pitch until at least the following Friday in the ALDS.

Game 3: The Rays took a comfortable 5-1 win behind Jim Brophy to make it 3 straight against Baltimore. Brophy finished his season with a 6 6 1 1 2 4 outing to go 7-1, 2.30 with the Rays and 17-7, 2.81 overall. Josh Alexander had another big night, going 3-4 with HR #39 and 2 RBI while Jose Mendez hit #14.

Game 4: It was a scoreless game until the 8th when the Rays broke it open with 5 runs to take a 5-0 win and a sweep of the series. Jose Mendez hit a 3-run blast (#15) and Josh Beckett followed with a 2-run shot (#12) to provide the offense. Jeff Brockman was brilliant in his final start of the season at 7 2 0 0 1 7 and finishes 16-4, 4.09. This was probably Brockman's last start as a Ray as he's a free agent at year's end and should be pitching out of the bullpen during the playoffs.

Team record: 122-37. Next up: We close out the regular season with 3 games at Yankee Stadium, and we could open the playoffs against these same Yankees if they get by Seattle in the wild card game.

MLB Playoff Race Update: Everything is clinched, except technically for the 2nd NL Wild Card but Pittsburgh is 3 up on the Dodgers with 3 games to play.

September 26-28, 2042: at NY Yankees (3)
 

Game 1: The Rays dropped the opener of their final regular season series 7-6 to the Yankees despite coming back to tie from a 6-2 deficit. Jimmy Leonard's 3-run HR (#28) off former Ray Leo Ortega in the 8th brought them to parity but Jon Harbour gave up a run in the bottom of the 9th to send them to defeat. Josh Alexander was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI while Jose Mendoza struggled in his final regular season start going 5 8 4 4 1 3 and finishing the year 17-3, 3.35. Also, after playing out thousands of games over the last couple of years, I had a first:

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

The Rays had men on 1st and 2nd with nobody out in the top of the 5th when Mike Willis lined into a triple play. I honestly don't recall seeing one before.

Game 2: Joel Gird got the start as we decided to rest Brad Jackson for the playoffs, and he came through big as the Rays topped the Yankees 4-1. Gird went 6 4 0 0 0 7 in his best outing as a big leaguer and evened his record at 2-2. Kikuo Kawase finished for save #38. Having homered in his last at-bat last night, Jimmy Leonard picked up where he left off by homering twice, driving in 3, and getting to the 30-HR mark despite missing two months of the season.

September 28: Optioned P Joel Gird to AAA Durham, recalled 1B Joe Flores from AAA Durham.

As Gird pitched yesterday we figured we'd give someone on the 40-man who hasn't played in the majors a chance and the call went to Flores, who hit 244/350/523 with 26 HR and 80 RBI at Durham this year.

Game 3: Although it was the final day of the regular season and the games have long had not a lot of meaning there was something at stake today as Johnny Soland got one last chance at win #20. Once again he held up his end (6.1 6 1 1 2 4) and unlike last time out the bullpen did the job as he did get his 20th in a 2-1 win. Doug Johns broke a 1-1 tie in the 4th with HR #19 and four relievers preserved the win for Soland with Kikuo Kawase striking out the side in the 9th for save #39 in what should be his final regular season appearance with the Rays.

Final Regular Season Record: 124-38. Next up: The ALDS against either Seattle or these Yankees.

Final 2042 Regular Season Standings and Rays Stats
 

Another regular season is in the books. Final standings and leaders:

https://i.imgur.com/91z0WLW.png

Several Rays led the majors in various categories: Josh Beckett in BA, Josh Alexander in RBI, Seth Williams in OPS (although he may be slightly behind Luis Barela in the NL, I'm not going to take it down to a 4th decimal point), Johnny Soland in wins and not pictured here, Brad Jackson in pitcher WAR at 6.3. Our final team stats:

https://i.imgur.com/hwAsc7t.png

The usual offensive dominance (1000 runs!), the usual very good pitching and the usual lousy defense despite elite defenders at SS and CF. We won 9 more games than our Pythag record, so we were lucky and good.

Individual batting:

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

Seth Williams should win MVP, and I'd like to think Dave Frick takes Rookie of the Year. Pretty impressive to have 4 outfielders go over the 4-WAR mark, and none of them played much at DH as Andy Ruggles (who had a down year) was the main guy at that position. Jimmy Leonard was a beast after coming back from injury.

The pitching stats:

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

The starters were really good, with Brockman suffering a bit of bad BABIP luck (as did Jackson, but he was so good he overcame it). What a year for Freddie Zamora. I originally figured him as one and done since he's due for nearly $15M in arbitration next year, but I may have to reconsider that since that's the amount I'm saving when Kawase goes. Speaking of Kikuo, this was his first sub-2 WAR season and the age is starting to show, even if his numbers were superficially good.

September 30, 2042: AL Wild Card Game
 

https://i.imgur.com/2UOEKy5.png

It will be the Mariners facing the Rays in the ALDS, the first time we've played Seattle in the postseason since the 2023 ALDS on the way to winning our first of 11 World Series. This game featured a new-remarkable comeback from the Yankees as it was 6-1 Mariners with two out and two on in the 9th. Seattle got a strikeout, but the pitch eluded the catcher and the batter reached while a run scored. The next batter, Elias Aragune, hit a 3-run homer to make it 6-5 and then Eric Hall doubled before Victor Rivera struck out to finally end it.

Also this bit of news:

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

A nice cap to a nice season for Soland, who will be starting Game 2 of the ALDS. (No idea though why the story says May when it's referring to September)

October 1, 2042: NL Wild Card Game
 

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

An exciting game that saw long-time Met favorite in the twilight of his career Vince Giangrasso come off the bench and deliver a walk-off single to send New York to the NLDS.

October 2, 2042: ALDS Game 1
 

Off to a good start...

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

Brad Jackson was dominant and the Rays got a couple of big homers to take an easy 7-0 win over Seattle in their ALDS opener. Josh Beckett is the most interesting power hitter in the world as he doesn't homer often but when does it's usually a big one. And today's 2-run shot in the 2nd off a lefty to dead center was a big one, getting the Rays on the board before Doug Johns broke it open with a 3-run shot in the 5th. Johns later singled in a run to give him a 4-ribbie day. 20-game winner Johnny Soland will try to give the Rays a commanding 2-0 lead tomorrow.

In the other ALDS:


https://i.imgur.com/PEwT9vY.png

A battle of Cy Young candidates went Jonathan Willey and the White Sox' way today as they crushed the Astros and Tim Levitt.

October 3, 2042: ALDS Game 2 & NLDS Game 1
 

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

It was nearly a disaster of epic proportions as Freddy Zamora (mostly) and Kikuo Kawase blew a 5-run 9th inning lead, but the Rays managed to win anyway in 11 innings 10-9 to take a 2-0 lead in their best of 5 ALDS. Johnny Soland had a rough start as you can see above, but Chris Williams got him out of it, pitched a clean 5th, and Jeff Brockman was good in middle relief. With some lefties due up in the 9th Zamora got the call but just couldn't get anyone out, and Kawase loaded the bases and gave up a 2-run single to tie it. But Dan Gregory got them off the hook by singling in the game-winner and Jose Mendoza will look to close out the series in two days' time.

In the other DSes:

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

October 4, 2042: NLDS Game 2
 

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

Both of the NLDSes are tied at 1 game now, and our old friend Vinny Willard pitched well in a losing cause for Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, we had the Southern League Player of the Year:

https://i.imgur.com/Oz0btJh.png

Moranchel was a draftee of ours from 2039, and really blossomed this year, and it wasn't just the power and the average but his ability to get on base as he put up a .422 OBP, walking 85 times in 125 games. The problem is that he's blocked at 3B by Josh Beckett, who has turned out better than I hoped when he was acquired a few years ago, and also Tomas Laboy, who took a step back but is also a great 3B prospect. Laboy can play other IF positions and might be up with the team next year in the utility role while Moranchel is likely ticketed for Durham.

October 5, 2042: ALDS Game 3
 

On to the ALCS...

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

The Rays completed the sweep of Seattle behind a strong outing from Jose Mendoza and a couple of big hits while surviving another bullpen scare to take a 4-2 win. Josh Beckett's 2-run double in the 4th and Jimmy Leonard's 2-run homer in the 6th supplied the offense, and Mendoza allowed just one run in 6 innings. Things got a bit dicey in the 8th when Ed Pretty loaded the bases with 2 out, and Freddy Zamora, who struggled big-time in Game 2, walked in a run before getting a force to end the inning. Fortunately Kikuo Kawase closed out the 9th without incident, and the Rays are on to the ALCS once again.

In the other ALDS:

https://i.imgur.com/bu9iE4h.png

Houston is one game away from forcing a rematch of the last season's ALCS thanks to a couple of former Rays as Danny Ayala had a big homer and Alfredo Vega went 5 2/3 innings of 1-run ball.

October 6, 2042: ALDS Game 4 & NLDS Game 3
 

The rematch is on as the Astros knocked off the 109-win White Sox while the Phillies and Mets are each one game away from making the NLCS an all-East affair:

https://i.imgur.com/2RUY5Tq.png

October 7, 2042: NLDS Game 4
 

Both series are going the distance:

https://i.imgur.com/SFvpv1t.png

October 9, 2042: NLDS Game 5
 

https://i.imgur.com/I4YeyGx.png

An exciting Game 5 win sends the Giants to the NLCS for the first time since 2014.

https://i.imgur.com/YdZz1j3.png

And an equally exciting Game 5 win means the Reds will play those Giants. Former Ray Billy Haroutunian gave up the go-ahead run on a homer but his teammates bailed him out with a 3-run 8th.

October 10, 2042: ALCS Game 1
 

https://i.imgur.com/r8sfSMd.png

Not the best of starts for the Rays as Brad Jackson wasn't very sharp and Houston's Tim Levitt & Co made sure the bats weren't sharp either. Johnny Soland will hope to right the ship in Game 2.

October 11, 2042: ALCS Game 2 & NLCS Game 1
 

Phew...

https://i.imgur.com/px616U9.png

Trailing 5-1 in the 5th, the Rays were looking at going to Houston down 0-2 in the ALCS, but they knew former Ray Ted Hadley was homer-prone (30 movement), and sure enough they got back in the game with a pair of homers and went on tie and win the game 6-5. The winning rally in the 9th off Houston closer Chris Martin came when Dave Frick led off the inning with a double, the red-hot Josh Beckett doubled him to 3rd, and Frick scored the winner when Martin uncorked a wild pitch. Also we can't overlook Jeff Brockman, who was great in his 2 2/3 innings of relief, including getting Johnny Soland out of the 5th without further damage, striking out two men with runners on 2nd and 3rd. So we head to Houston in 2 days with Jose Mendoza looking to put us in front.

In the NLCS opener:

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

October 12, 2042: NLCS Game 2
 

October 13, 2042: ALCS Game 3
 

https://i.imgur.com/j4N4aPY.png

A tough one for the Rays as Ed Pretty served up a homer in the bottom of the 8th to give Houston a 3-2 win. The Rays had a chance in the 9th after a dropped fly ball put men on 2nd and 3rd with two out but Josh Beckett grounded out to end the game. They were held in check by former Ray Alfredo Vega, who didn't give them anything except back-to-back homers in the 2nd from Jimmy Leonard and Dan Gregory. Jose Mendoza pitched well but ran out of gas in the 6th and Houston was able to tie it up. Jim Brophy gets his first action of postseason tomorrow to try and keep the Rays from falling into a deep 3-1 hole.

October 14, 2042: ALCS Game 4 & NLCS Game 3
 

Back to even...

https://i.imgur.com/TEPXwa6.png

The Rays needed a win tonight to avoid going down 3-1, and Josh Alexander answered the call, homering twice, doubling, driving in 3 and scoring 4 times to the lead the offense in a 7-0 win to even the ALCS at 2. Jim Brophy wasn't bad either, getting out of early jams with key strikeouts and pitching 6 shutout innings in his Rays playoff debut. Sean Forbes finished nicely for his first playoff save as well. The series is now assured of going back to Tampa for Game 6, and Brad Jackson will try to give us a leg up when that happens.

In the NLCS:

https://i.imgur.com/Ni6pgNB.png

A brilliant outing from likely NL Cy Young winner Michiyo Hamada, who went 5 1/3 innings of 1-hit ball to get the Giants up in the series.

October 15, 2042: ALCS Game 5
 

Backs to the wall...

https://i.imgur.com/NpKeWT9.png

The Rays are going to have to win the next two games in Tampa if they want to keep defending their World Series title after a 6-1 loss in Houston in Game 5. Brad Jackson wasn't bad, but the bullpen was as Dan Anderson and Chris Williams gave up 2-run homers to put the game out of reach. The real problem today though was the bats, who didn't do much against Astros ace Tim Levitt (who inexplicably was pulled after 4) and especially middle reliever Bob Sherman, who had a 6.21 ERA this season. Johnny Soland's going to need to pitch better in two days than he did in Game 2 to save the season.

Meanwhile the Giants are a win away from their first World Series since 2014 thanks to a big game from former Ray Omar Rodriguez:

https://i.imgur.com/Q9mh6f8.png