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October 7, 2026: AL Wild Card Game 2 & NL Wild Card Game 1
Bring on the decider...
https://i.imgur.com/N7VTZbj.png As has so often been the case this year (and one of the reasons why their Pythagorean record was 10 games better than their actual one) the Rays paired a tough 1-run loss with a blowout win and here today they teed off relentlessly against Detroit pitching to force a deciding Game 3 tomorrow with Drew Rasmussen getting the ball. 21 hits today including RBI knocks for Brooks Lee (in his first postseason at-bat) and Casey Schmitt who came off the bench. Elsewhere the White Sox advanced to face the Yankees in the ALDS and the NL got underway: https://i.imgur.com/2XMhW30.png |
October 8, 2026: AL Wild Card Game 3 & NL Wild Card Game 2
Movin' on...
https://i.imgur.com/zxeMBFO.png After losing at this stage last season and dropping an agonizing Game 1 this time around it was more than gratifying to pull out the decider and advance to the ALDS to face the Royals. Homers from the unlikely duo of Diego Cartaya and Zach DeLoach in the 5th broke a 1-1 tie and the slumping Marco Luciano added an insurance shot in the 8th to lead them to the deciding win, along with an excellent team pitching performance that saw Drew Rasmussen go 4, JP Sears 2 and three more relievers with scoreless innings. Our hottest hurler John Swanda will get the call in Kansas City to start the ALDS. Meanwhile we're looking a pair of Games 3 in the NL Wild Card round: https://i.imgur.com/goBu14v.png |
October 9, 2026: NL Wild Card Game 3
https://i.imgur.com/LtHbOJj.png
A monster game from Joey Gallo and 9th-inning drama in Philly put Atlanta and Arizona in the NLDS. For the Phillies it was quite the rough end to the year after they lost their final 12 games of the regular season to blow a sizable division lead. Atlanta will play Colorado in one NLDS and Arizona will face Milwaukee. |
October 10, 2026: ALDS Game 1
Let's go....
https://i.imgur.com/EvzDsTJ.png It was the Tork and Wander show as the two combined for 5 hits, 4 of the 6 runs batted in and a pair of homers, with Tork's 3-run shot in the first setting the tone. Swanda was wild and inefficient and the defense was lousy (2 of the 3 runs allowed were unearned) but the pen was excellent, especially the back end as waiver claim Charlie Ruegger has become the reliable 8th inning setup guy that we thought Liam Hendriks was going to be. Luis Castillo will try and give us a stranglehold on the series tomorrow before we head back to the Trop for Game 3. Meanwhile the White Sox smoked Jacob deGrom and the Yankees to open their series: https://i.imgur.com/u3ozTg9.png |
October 11, 2026: ALDS Game 2 & NLDS Game 1
An epic collapse...
https://i.imgur.com/0Lgj0Ue.png The Rays blew a 6-0 lead and a chance to take charge in this series tonight, losing 7-6 when Pete Fairbanks reverted to early season form and couldn't get anyone out (except for the guy who hit the sac fly to walk it off). But Fairbanks was only one of the issues tonight as it started with Luis Castillo who couldn't stand prosperity after 4 shutout innings and let KC back in the game when the halved the lead. And then bullpen which had been so brilliant this postseason couldn't get it done with every reliever either giving up a run or giving up a run-scoring hit. The offense going silent after the 5th didn't help either but 6 runs should normally be enough to win. Still like our chances going back to St. Pete with Shane McClanahan on the mound for Game 3, but this was a major missed opportunity. In the other DS action: https://i.imgur.com/qHugAhO.png |
October 12, 2026: NLDS Game 2
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October 13, 2026: ALDS Game 3
Advantage Rays...
https://i.imgur.com/XT2FyIn.png The Rays returned home after 16 days on the road which included the final seven of the regular season, three games in Detroit for the wild card and then two in Kansas City to start the ALDS, and enjoyed the home cooking in a 5-1 win over the Royals to move within one game of the ALCS. Mac was his usual excellent self, and they were opportunistic with the bats against a tough Jonathan Edwards tonight. Drew Rasmussen will try to wrap things up tomorrow and avoid a return to Kansas City. Meanwhile the Yankees have turned things around in their series: https://i.imgur.com/1tLTZLv.png |
October 14, 2026: ALDS Game 4 & NLDS Game 3
Unbelievable...
https://i.imgur.com/4zXPVpF.png They did it again, blowing a sizable lead in the late innings to let the Royals take the series back to Kansas City for a decisive fifth game. After losing a 6-0 lead in Game 2 tonight they lost a 5-0 lead. This time it came later and it wasn't the starter's fault as Drew Rasmussen was excellent after left up 5-1. Instead it was the normally-reliable JP Sears who started the collapse and Chris Gau, who has good numbers overall but always seems to come up small, gave up the key hit again. And finally Pete Fairbanks was a disaster in the 9th just as he was two games ago to give up the winning runs. So John Swanda will need to stay hot in a couple of days (and the bullpen will have to hold) if the Rays don't want to choke this series away. Elsewhere the Yankees and the Brewers reserved spots in their respective LCSes: https://i.imgur.com/2CTBBdn.png |
October 15, 2026: NLDS Game 4
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October 16, 2026: ALDS Game 5
Whew...
https://i.imgur.com/6ZLxbcs.png They had to do it the hard way, but the Rays finally prevailed over the Royals to advance to the ALCS against the division-rival Yankees, building a bullpen-proof lead this time in a 14-5 rout. A four-run 3rd featuring 2-run homers from Tork and Marco Luciano was key while Wander and Jeremiah Jackson had huge games. Shane McClanahan will get the ball for Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. |
October 17, 2026: NLDS Game 5
An interesting game for Joey Gallo as Atlanta advances to the NLCS to play Milwaukee:
https://i.imgur.com/WJ2K2TK.png |
October 18, 2026: ALCS Game 1
Overcoming the bullpen...
https://i.imgur.com/x8UZ5RY.png The Rays blew another late-inning lead in their ALCS opener against the Yankees but managed to re-take the lead in the 8th and hold on for a 6-5 win at the Stadium to get the early series advantage. Tanner Scott was particularly terrible, blowing a 5-3 lead in the 7th thanks primarily to his wildness, but Diego Cartaya's sac fly with the bases loaded in the 8th put Tampa Bay back on top. After Charlie Ruegger had a clean 8th, the playoff-shaky Pete Fairbanks put the first two men on in the 9th before getting a double play. With a tough lefty up and the tying run on 3rd, Jovani Moran was summoned and got a groundball to end it. The Rays did catch a break as Yankee ace Jacob deGrom had to leave in the 3rd with back spasms after giving up a Marco Luciano homer as they feasted on his replacement Luis Severino for four runs including a big 2-run Curtis Mead triple which led to 3 runs in the 6th. The injury was minor and deGrom should be available to start a Game 5 if necessary. Luis Castillo will take the hill tomorrow to try and get the Rays halfway to the World Series and will be hoping to pitch better than he did in his previous two playoff starts. |
October 19, 2026: ALCS Game 2 & NLCS Game 1
Doin' the splits...
https://i.imgur.com/Z78qAUA.png The Rays missed a golden chance to go up 2-0 in the ALCS, level with the Yankees into the 8th inning before Jovani Moran was the last Rays reliever to struggle this postseason by allowing a pair of 2-run homers as they fell 6-1 to the Yankees despite a great effort from Luis Castillo for a change. Brought in with two lefties due in the inning, Moran put one on for lefty Brandon Marsh, who drilled a fastball deep into the RF seats. Of course the way the Rays were not hitting tonight it may not have mattered as they were stifled by Zach Eflin who held them to 1 run and 3 hits on only 56 pitches, getting 13 groundball outs. So we had the usual post-game remarks about being happy with a split on the road to start the series and taking back home field advantage, but they're going to have to win in two nights to back that up as John Swanda will start. Advantage Atlanta in the NLCS: https://i.imgur.com/0prwqYK.png |
October 20, 2026: NLCS Game 2
Atlanta doing what the Rays couldn't do, taking the first two on the road:
https://i.imgur.com/tFCrXLK.png |
October 21, 2026: ALCS Game 3
Back on top...
https://i.imgur.com/AUnX7Zg.png Swanda was sharp and the Rays rode the longball to a 5-2 win and 2-1 ALCS lead over the Yankees. Wander's 2-run shot in the 3rd was immediately followed by a Mead mash, and after New York got within 3-2 in the 8th Marco Luciano, having a big postseason after struggling down the stretch in September, gave us much-needed breathing room with a 2-run blast. Drew Rasmussen will toe the rubber tomorrow to try to give us a commanding 3-1 series lead. |
October 22, 2026: ALCS Game 4 & NLCS Game 3
So close...
https://i.imgur.com/NHKxpSx.png The Rays followed a familiar formula to beat the Yankees again at Tropicana Field and pull within one game of a World Series berth: hit some homers, and overcome the bullpen. Jeremiah Jackson was the unlikely hero tonight as he tripled and scored in the 3rd and then homered back-to-back with Zach DeLoach in the 5th to make it 3-0. Curtis Mead added another jack in the 6th and it proved to be very important when yes, the bullpen once again struggled allowing 3 Yankee runs in the 8th to make it a nail-biter. To further increase the degree of difficulty Drew Rasmussen had to leave in the 4th with a sore elbow after pitching very well but Luis German rode to the rescue with 3 1/3 scoreless of his own. And after Gau and Moran made the mess in the 8th Charlie Ruegger came through again and stayed on through the 9th to grab the save with Fairbanks a bit fatigued. Now the Rays are in an enviable position, needing only one more win to advance and their ace Shane McClanahan taking the mound tomorrow. (Rasmussen's sore elbow is going to dog him for a week; he'll probably be put on the WS roster should we get there though but German could start in his stead if necessary.) Over in the NLCS, it's been all road teams so far: https://i.imgur.com/Ucg8Rei.png Andrew Vaughn, who struggled for us early this season before being dealt and raking for Milwaukee, was the big bat today going 3-4 with his homer and 3 RBI. Certainly wouldn't mind seeing him again next week. |
October 23, 2026: ALCS Game 4 & NLCS Game 3
U-G-L-Y...
https://i.imgur.com/dyfUuOv.png If you had told me we chased Jacob deGrom in the 5th and had 5 runs with Mac on the mound, I would have been selling World Series tickets. Instead Rays pitching, including Mac, turned in perhaps their ugliest game of the year, giving up 13 runs on 18 hits and 9 walks. At least our postseason homer binge continued with two more tonight, giving us a crazy 25 in 13 games. Otherwise not much else to say about this one except we're heading back to New York and Luis Castillo will try to keep us from having to face a Game 7. In the NLCS a home team finally breaks through: https://i.imgur.com/09BZE8O.png |
October 24, 2026: NLCS Game 5
https://i.imgur.com/IxMhUix.png
The only team that was close to dominant in this season of record parity was Milwaukee, winners of 99 games and the sole squad to win more than 90. But they're going home now and we're assured of a >90-win team taking the World Series as 88-win Atlanta will face either the Rays or Yankees, both of whom won 87. |
Injury update
In the good news/bad news department the bad news is that Natanael Santana suffered an intercostal strain in Game 5 and is done for the playoffs. He had been one of our top power hitters and will be missed. The good news is that we're getting Ozzie Albies back, although how effective he'll be after sitting out almost a month remains to be seen and Jeremiah Jackson has hit 273/327/523 in the postseason. One possibility is to keep them both in the lineup by DHing one of them and having Tork play LF. Joshua Mears was called up to supply some of Santana's RH power while Brooks Lee was taken off the roster.
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October 25, 2026: ALCS Game 6
Bring on Atlanta....
https://i.imgur.com/NwxHQKl.png The Rays are heading back to the World Series for the third time this decade including a 2024 win after edging the Yankees 4-3 to take the ALCS in 6 games. The team that's averaging 2 homers/game in the postseason hit a pair for all their runs in the 2nd inning, with Tork leading off the inning with one and Jeremiah Jackson justifying the decision to keep him in the lineup with Albies back by hitting a two-out, 3-run shot. The bats took the rest of the game off but they were able to as the bullpen did a 180 and gave them 4 2/3 hitless innings to make those 4 runs stand up. JP Sears bounced back from his nightmarish Game 5 to go a key 2 2/3 including retiring Juan Soto with two on in the 5th in relief of Luis Castillo. And Charlie Ruegger got a big third out in the 8th after Jovani Moran walked a pair. Finally Pete Fairbanks, who had as many saves (3) as blown saves this postseason, retired the Yankees on a tidy 8 pitches in the 9th and found himself at the bottom of a dogpile. With the Series not starting for 4 days, we can set up the rotation to have Mac pitch Game 1 and we might move John Swanda up to Game 2 as Luis Castillo has been kind of lousy. The delay will also enable Drew Rasmussen to recover from his elbow strain and start either Game 3 or Game 4. |
October 29, 2026: World Series Game 1
A leg up...
https://i.imgur.com/1O4ZTsw.png During the season it was primarily the Rays' pitching which carried them as the offense was up and down throughout. But it's been the bats which have come alive in the playoffs and they got it done once again tonight to open the World Series. Literally in the case of Zach DeLoach who took Max Fried deep to lead off the game, a clear statement of intent. And whenever Atlanta looked like getting back in the game, they responded. Shane McClanahan was also very good and in fact he gave the Rays a big advantage tonight, however inadvertently, by plunking Atlanta star Ronald Acuna Jr and breaking his collarbone. John Swanda will take the ball for Game 2 tomorrow. |
October 30, 2026: World Series Game 2
Well we know we're playing 5 now...
https://i.imgur.com/3nsS72D.png It looked early like the Rays were going to pick up where they left off in Game 1 when Tork drilled a 2-run homer in the first, but that would be the highlight of the day for Tampa Bay as Atlanta wore down Swanda with Joey Gallo's 2-run homer turning the tide in the 5th and the pen really letting it get away from there. Luis Castillo will take the mound at the Trop in a couple of days to try to restore the series lead. |
November 1, 2026: World Series Game 3
Back on top...
https://i.imgur.com/ejPDai1.png In what will be remembered as the Ozzie Albies Revenge Game the Rays ended up walloping Atlanta 9-2 to take a 2-1 series lead. Albies had looked terrible since missing most of October with an injury and after starting today's game 0-2 he was 1-15 and I was seriously considering benching him or dropping him in the lineup. And then he blasted a 2-run homer against his old team to cap a 5-run rally which put the Rays on top and followed that up with a 2-run shot in his next at-bat to blow the game open. Speaking of guys returning from injuries, Drew Rasmussen will get the nod tomorrow in Game 4 after missing a couple of weeks with an elbow strain. Luis German will be standing by to take over for him if needed. |
November 2, 2026: World Series Game 4
We have a series now...
https://i.imgur.com/r66ASyA.png The Rays learned tonight that Atlanta would no go quietly as Joey Gallo homered twice off Drew Rasmussen and Luis Oviedo dominated their bats as the Series is now tied at 2. There was one glimmer in the 8th when the Rays put two on bringing Ozzie Albies (who homered for their only run earlier, his third in two games) to the plate, but the former Atlanta man looked at a called third strike and that was that. Mac is back to take the mound in Game 5 as we'll definitely want to go back to Atlanta with an edge. |
November 3, 2026: World Series Game 5
One win away...
https://i.imgur.com/mLwzVxj.png Shane McClanahan finished his 2026 just as he spent most of it - excellently - as he led the Rays to a 5-2 win in Game 5 to head to Atlanta up 3-2 in the Series. His only blemish was a 2-run homer allowed to Joey Gallo, the 10th of the postseason for the lefty slugger which ties him with former Ray Randy Arozarena (2020) for the all-time single-postseason record. But that was little consolation to Gallo as Rays hitters were fairly relentless, banging out 13 hits as they probably should have scored another 2-3 runs but the 5 they did was quite sufficient with the key sequence in the 3rd when with two out Albies singled in a run and Tork followed with a 2-run blast off Max Fried. John Swanda will try to pitch the Rays to immortality in two days at Truist Park. |
November 5, 2026: World Series Game 6
CHAMPIONS!!
https://i.imgur.com/1OcVE39.png They did it! A season that was about five months of frustration and underachievement (10 games below their Pythagorean record), hovering around (and often below) the .500 mark, was capped by a strong September to get into the playoffs and then an even stronger October (and early November) to go all the way. And today's championship clincher was the season in microcosm as it looked for 8 innings that we'd be playing a Game 7 tomorrow as Atlanta held a 4-1 lead. But a furious rally off Dustin May in the 9th saw Zach DeLoach come through with a bases-clearing double and then series MVP Ozzie Albies singled home DeLoach to give the Rays a shocking 5-4 lead in the 9th. But it wouldn't be that easy, of course. Pete Fairbanks tried to close it out in the bottom of the inning but was greeted by Buddy Kennedy's second homer of the game to tie it, so onto extras we went. In the 12th Curtis Mead led off with a double but after a strikeout and a fly ball it looked like he'd be stranded there. Diego Cartaya had other ideas though and he blooped a single over the shortstop's head to score Mead with the winner, and Charlie Ruegger, who solidified the bullpen and put up a 12.1 5 0 0 5 16 combined line with 2 wins and 6 holds in the postseason, got Atlanta 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to start the celebrations: https://i.imgur.com/71Jm52t.png The title is the Rays' second in three seasons and second in club history. Albies was named MVP of the series, having gone 10-26 with 3 HR and 8 RBI and he would have had the series-winning hit had Fairbanks not blown the save. |
2026-27 Offseason: State of the Team
Right now the state of the team is pretty good:
https://i.imgur.com/ItZ4w3L.png Projected 2027 salaries for those not making the minimum: https://i.imgur.com/dP8RZfd.png $126M to bring the whole band back, although Tork is going to make a few more million than that based on our arbitration negotiations (I can't risk him getting the $22M he's asking for) while Shane Baz is a non-tender given his injuries and reduced ratings and Josh Lowe is surplus to requirements so will be traded or non-tendered. The good news is that coming off our Series win Stu Sternberg is giving me a $150M payroll. We're losing the following to free agency: OF Seiya Suzuki, SP Drew Rasmussen, RP Tanner Scott, RP J.P. Feyereisen. Suzuki was great for us in the postseason and down the stretch but we have loads of outfielders. Rasmussen has been a rotation fixture the last several years but has been somewhat inconsistent - Luis German may take his spot. Scott's been a good lefty reliever but we did claim fireballing Kyle Dohy on waivers as the regular season ended. Feyereisen was also up and down and terrible in the postseason, he's replaceable. Position-by-position outlook: C-Diego Cartaya struggled most of the year but like many of his teammates starting hitting late in the year and in the postseason, Rene Pinto is a decent backup. 1B-Curtis Mead had a career year. 2B-Ozzie Albies' team option of $7M was exercised. Hoping he picks it up in his free agent season, especially defensively. SS-Wander Franco earned 6.5 WAR and is one of the front-runners for MVP. 3B-Marco Luciano stabilized the position defensively and hit OK, fine with him back. IF-Jeremiah Jackson wasn't impressive during the regular season but did well when forced into postseason action, and provides versatility and pop; in other words, a good backup infielder. LF-Natanael Santana was the spark we needed down the stretch and looks to be a 30-35 HR guy going forward. CF-Zach DeLoach had a pretty good season and played the position adequately so no reason not for him to come back. RF-With Suzuki gone free agent, I'm looking for a James Wood/Joshua Mears platoon which should provide power and decent defense, and hopefully more contact as both are capable of better than what they showed last year. DH-Tork is Tork. OF-Lonnie White was good as a Rule 5 guy last year and is our best defensive OF; he should return to that role and provides us with a CF option if DeLoach falls off. Others-Casey Schmitt's star dimmed last year after a fine rookie 2025 and Luciano took his job. Schmitt will be trade bait along with the aforementioned Josh Lowe Rotation-Our top 3 of McClanahan/Castillo/Swanda return and Taj Bradley will get another shot. As mentioned earlier German is the top candidate to replace Rasmussen, and guys like Forrest Whitley (recovered from injury) and J.P. Sears (so good in long relief last year) are candidates as well. This is one area we may also look to upgrade in a deal. Bullpen-The back end returns intact with Fairbanks (who albeit had a checkered regular and postseason) as closer and Jovani Moran and Charlie Ruegger (who was our stealth MVP of the playoffs) back as the lefty/righty options to set him up. Chris Gau returns as well and hopefully he'll cut down on the inopportune homers allowed, while Kyle Dohy provides gas from the left side although control is an issue. Garrett Whitlock is the big question mark - he was terrible after coming over from Boston but should be better than that. I'd put him in the rotation derby but he only has 40 stamina so he'd have to be paired with someone like Sears or Whitley. Farm-Our farm system has really fallen off in recent years with the most likely to come up and contribute is 2023 1st-round pick Bryce Eldridge who finally came on last season in the minors and is ranked the #60 prospect overall. Eldridge is a longshot to start or relieve but probably needs at least a few months at Durham as he's risen no higher than AA. P Sandy Gaston, who's been up in the past, has a shot as well and I believe he's out of options next year which will give him a chance. Off-season goals: *Add a starting pitcher and a reliever or two *Possibly upgrade a corner OF to play with Santana, although it would have to be someone really good like our Soto/Tucker rentals of the past. |
2026-27 Offseason: Part 1
Didn't waste any time making a deal for a starter and shipping out our trade bait players:
https://i.imgur.com/NlHtSNA.jpg Orze is a back-end starter (55/50/55) who was 9-13, 4.01 with the Mariners but earned a solid 3.0 WAR with a 67/181 BB/K ratio in 184 IP. Right now he'll slot it as our #4. November 10: Claimed RP Joey Stock on waivers from Boston. Stock seems interesting at 65/45/55 and he was free. He had an 8/62 BB/K ratio in 46 IP at AA/AAA in Boston's system with 24 saves. Retirements: There were numerous big names calling it quits with the most notable being Paul Goldschmidt, whose #46 was retired by Arizona, and Jose Alutive, who had his #27 retired by Houston. Others of note included Michael Brantley, Anthony Rizzo, Freddie Freeman, Sal Perez, Eugenio Suarez, Kyle Hendricks, Mike Soroka, Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel, Charlie Blackmon, Patrick Corbin and Joc Pederson. Former Rays retiring included Ji-Man Choi, Matt Duffy and Christian Vazquez. Awards Season: Gold Glove: LOL, we didn't win any. Reliever of the Year: Detroit's Will Vest won in the AL after a brilliant 3.9 WAR season which saw him put up an 18/119 BB/K ratio in 76 IP, save a league-best 45 games and turn in a 1.89 ERA. In the NL Milwaukee's Josh Hader won for the second straight year and sixth time in his career after saving 41 with a 1.83 ERA and 112 whiffs in 68 IP. Silver Slugger: Our keystone combo of 2B Ozzie Albies and SS Wander Franco both won, as did Spencer Torkelson at DH. Rookie of the Year: Baltimore's Coby Mayo was an unanimous AL winner as the first-sacker hit .281-26-80, good for 2.3 WAR. The NL winner was unanimous as well with Cubs indy-league discovery Stephon McNeill hitting .265-40-92, earning 4.3 WAR. Cy Young: Jacob deGrom has turned out to be of the Yankees' all-time great free agent signing and he won his third consecutive AL Cy Young for the Yanks after going 15-11, 3.57 and leading the league in pitcher WAR at 6.1. He took 23 of 30 first-place votes with the other 7 going to our Shane McClanahan, who finished second with 133 points to deGrom's 189. Freddy Peralta of Milwaukee was a unanimous winner in the NL after a 17-4, 2.65 season with 275 Ks in 217 IP and a majors-best 6.5 pitcher WAR. Perlata is a pending free agent whom I'm sure we won't be able to afford. (Update: Yup, he's asking $32M/year). So is deGrom, who won't be ready until Opening Day due to shoulder inflammation. MVP: Stop the presses! https://i.imgur.com/SKgqCR9.png Wander's triple crown numbers (.314-30-90) were all career-highs and he lapped the field. Tork finished 4th but 2nd in first-place votes with 3. The NL nod went to Colorado 2B Yunior Severino, who hit .311-41-120 and nosed out former Ray and current Phillie Alex Bregman who was .283-38-111. Severino had 16 first-place votes to Bregman's 11 and outpointed him 345-319 in close voting. Severino was released by the Pirates in 2024, a move they certainly regret. November 27: Boston signed 2B Trevor Story to a 4/57 extension, which will keep him under contract with the club through age 38. December 9: At least we won't have to see very much of Jacob deGrom anymore as the Phillies signed him to a 2/66 deal. We'll see how much they get out of him as the 38-year-old battles back from shoulder inflammation. December 11: A couple of huge trades took place with Houston sending Carlos Correa to Arizona for #69 overall prospect CF Simon Juan and rookie CF Druw Jones, the 2nd overall pick back in 2022. Meanwhile it was a crosstown deal in Chicago with the Cubs sending veteran starter Aaron Nola to the White Sox for a prospect. December 14: Keston Hiura, who blossomed in the last two seasons with Philadelphia hitting 82 homers, parlayed that career renaissance into a 6/153 deal with the Angels. And it appears that LA is all-in on 2027 as they also acquired veteran IF Xander Bogaerts from the Cubs for a prospect. December 15: Veteran IF Jake Cronenworth, who had an underwhelming stretch run with the Rays in 2023 but was part of the deal which brought Juan Soto to the club in 2024, turned his 3 good years with Washington into a 5/80 deal with the free-spending Phillies. Also Josh Fleming, who had spent most of the last decade in our system, elected minor league free agency after a nice year in Durham and signed a minor league deal with a major league option with the Royals. December 16: The Phillies appear to have an unlimited budget as they inked 1B Garrett Cooper, coming off a monster .274-30-100 year with Milwaukee, to a 3/35 pact. December 17: The Dodgers signed SP Trevor Rogers, who spent the past few years with Boston after a trade from Miami, to a 6/135 deal. Also the Cardinals acquired starter Jared Jones from Pittsburgh. Jones is coming off a rough year with a 5.82 ERA and 104 walks but was a BABIP victim (.335) and has good stuff to go with his iffy control. December 18: Reigning NL Cy Young winner Freddy Peralta found his riches in San Francisco, joining the Giants on a 6/185 deal. At least the Yankees didn't sign him. December 20: Top closer James Karinchak signed a 2/19 deal with the Dodgers while former Ray Jonathan Loaisiga will no longer be on a division rival as Toronto dealt him to San Diego for a couple of prospects. December 23: The Phillies continue to add to their roster as they dealt for veteran starter Jose Berrios, sending Toronto an outfield prospect. December 26: Added IF RJ Austin to the 40-man roster. Rule 5 time. It's probably an indictment of our system that there really weren't any players that were must-adds to the 40-man with Austin, our first-round pick in 2022, the only choice and he projects as a utility infielder. And we still have 3 open spots so who knows, maybe we find someone like Lonnie White in this year's draft to add. December 26: Lost SS Alika Williams and SP Ian Seymour to the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft. The Cubs did us dirty, taking a pair of guys who had spent some big-league time with us. It hurts a little depth-wise but we'll survive. They were 2 of only 7 players taken. |
2026-27 Offseason: Part 2
January 1: Shane Baz, whom we non-tendered, signed a minor league deal with an MLB option with Minnesota.
January 2: Well-traveled veteran reliever Edwin Diaz, who's played for 6 teams since 2022, will join a 7th as he signed a 3/31 deal with the Dodgers. Meanwhile the Cubs signed former Yankee IF Isaiah Kiner-Falefa for 5/111. January 4: The Dodgers stayed busy, inking OF Mark Canha to a 3/59 deal after he spent the last three years with the crosstown Angels. January 5: The Yankees attempted to fill the hole left by the departed Jacob deGrom by signing starter Joe Musgrove to a 4/56 contract. Meanwhile the Cubs also kept the checkbook out to sign top reliever Devin Williams for 2/19. January 6: Well we won't be bringing back Tanner Scott on another one-year deal as he got some security from the Dodgers (who else when it comes to relievers?) with a 3/11.4 contract. January 12: Frankie Montas, whom we claimed on waivers and gave us an erratic September last year, signed a minor league deal with Washington. January 13: Another Yankee free-agent defection as starter Zach Eflin went to the other coast for 5/98 with the Dodgers. Also the Hall of Fame voting results and we had 3 guys get in, however overdue: https://i.imgur.com/xQMaGY0.png Congrats to Ichiro, Helton and C.C.! Carlos Beltran came close and should eventually get there, and perhaps Joe Mauer will. Real life and OOTP have diverged though as Scott Rolen dropped off the ballot with a paltry 16.7%. January 17: Liam Hendriks, whom we traded for last season and then couldn't wait to trade away, joins the Dodgers' annual collection of free agent relievers on a 2/10.6 deal. January 19: Dustin May, normally a starter but used by Atlanta as their closer in the postseason last year where we famously scored 4 times off him in 9th of Game 6 where we went to win the World Series, will join the depleted Yankee rotation on a 1/9 deal. And the Dodgers whipped out the checkbook again to sign Sandy Alcantara to a big 6/98 contract. January 26: A rare interesting AI trade as the Mets and Twins swapped young sluggers with Ronny Mauricio going to Minnesota for Andy Pages. Mauricio had a breakout .297-39-105 year while Pages hit .234 with 32 HR. The Twins also included a 1B prospect in the deal. January 27: Texas swapped OF Alex Verdugo to Detroit for a couple of prospects including their 2022 first-round pick Gavin Kilen. February 1: Veteran reliever Raisel Iglesias, coming off a torn labrum, still managed a 2/14 deal with Boston. February 9: Boston signed one of the best bats left on the market in 34-year-old Nick Castellanos, coming off three straight years of 20-25 HR, 80-100 RBI and a .260-.280 BA with the Angels, to a 3/40 pact. February 16: Claimed 2B Max Viera on waivers from Washington. Fun with the waiver wire as Viera is ranked the #90 prospect in baseball and could be our Ozzie Albies successor. He did break his kneecap in late 2025 and ended up missing all of last season, so there is a catch. He has options left so he can go to Durham. Also another of our free agents found a home as J.P. Feyereisen signed a 2/6.8 contract with......who else? the Dodgers. February 20: Atlanta traded a couple of high-end prospects including BNN's #55 guy to Detroit for reigning AL Reliever of the Year Will Vest. February 21: San Diego signed free-agent OF Teoscar Hernandez to a 2/20 deal. February 23: Kyle Schwarber inked a 1/8.2 deal with Washington. February 24: Toronto filled its Teoscar hole by signing Ramon Laureano to a 3/31 contract. March 3: Sad news from Cleveland where star starter Shane Bieber had to cut his career short at age 31 after his torn labrum didn't heal sufficiently. March 30: A flurry of late Spring Training signings with our recent rotation fixture Drew Rasmussen signing a modest 1/1.6 deal with Cleveland, Brandon Belt returning to the Giants after spending the last few with the Angels on a 1/5.7 deal and Randy Arozarena returning to the AL East with Toronto at 1/4.5. |
2027 Opening Day Roster and Preseason Predictions
We completed an injury-free ST, all I could ask for.
The Opening Day roster: C-Cartaya, Pinto 1B-Mead 2B-Albies SS-Wander 3B-Luciano IF-J.Jackson LF-N.Santana CF-DeLoach RF-J.Wood OF-Mears (platooning with Wood), Head DH-Torkelson SP-McClanahan, L.Castillo, Swanda, Orze, Whitlock LR-German, Sears MR-Whitley, Gaston, Gau, Dohy SU-Ruegger, Moran CL-Fairbanks The two "surprises" on the active roster are guy who are out of options and I didn't want to waive (although odds are they'd clear): Hudson Head in the OF, which means Lonnie White goes to Durham, and Sandy Gaston on the staff at the expense of Joey Stock. Otherwise, it's largely the same team as last year with Orze taking Drew Rasmussen's rotation spot and Dohy taking Tanner Scott's. Also Garrett Whitlock will get a shot in the rotation and Taj Bradley was optioned to Durham. We really didn't spend any of the $25M we have available as the free agents who might have improved us were way too expensive and ones who were affordable weren't better than the players we have. Instead I'll be looking to upgrade with rentals who may become more available as the season goes on. The preseason predictions are typically bearish on us: https://i.imgur.com/esVoFJ0.png Next up: We open the season with an interleague matchup as the Padres come to town and Opening Day will feature a matchup of Rays past and present as Tyler Glasnow will go for San Diego against Shane McClanahan. |
April 5-7, 2027: vs San Diego (3)
The Opening Day box:
https://i.imgur.com/JgQ1H5y.png Tyler Glasnow was perfect the first time through the order and then the Rays unloaded on him for 7 runs in the 4th to go on to an 11-3 win to start 2027. Wander's 2-run homer got things going in the right direction and then they teed off later against another former Ray, hitting 3 homers off Joe Ryan. Forrest Whitley, who missed just about all of last year with injury was impressive in his first 2 innings back. Some news: https://i.imgur.com/0IiOoWR.png Look who's back! Perhaps our best hitter in the postseason last year, Suzuki didn't get the offers he'd hoped for so we offered a minor league deal worth $1.8M if he makes the big club. He's insurance in case the Wood/Mears platoon in RF doesn't work out. Game 2: 3-8 L. LP-Moran (0-1). SP-Castillo (5 5 2 2 2 5). HR-Albies (2). This one's on the pen as the Rays led 3-2 after 7 before Jovani Moran gave up a 2-run homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. then the Padres tacked on 4 more in the 9th, mainly off Sandy Gaston and Kyle Dohy with the latter issuing a pair of bases-loaded walks. Albies looks like he knows it's his contract year with his second homer in as many games, but the rest of the offense was frustrated as they hit into 4 double plays. Game 3: 8-6 W. WP-Swanda (1-0, 5.2 6 2 2 1 5). Mead and Albies each had 3 hits including a double and 2 RBI while Santana drove in 3 with a pair of hits as they banged out 15 in total. The game really wasn't this close but Fairbanks got some work in an 8-3 game and gave up a 2-out, 3-run homer to Tatis in the 9th. Team record: 2-1. Next up: A day off then Cleveland visits for 3 games. |
April 9-11, 2027: vs Cleveland (3)
Game 1: 3-4 L (11). LP-Fairbanks (0-1). Starter-Orze (4.1 6 3 3 3 5). HR-Torkelson (1). Eric Orze had an undistinguished debut with the Rays putting them down 3-0 before Tork tied it with a 3-run shot in the 4th. We stayed there until Fairbanks had his second poor outing in as many appearances this year and allowed the winner in the 11th.
Game 2: 6-0 W. WP-Whitlock (1-0, 7 4 0 0 1 5). HR-Franco (2), Albies (3). Garrett Whitlock was unimpressive after being acquired last year and was essentially the 14th man on the staff, but given a chance to start this year he was brilliant in his season debut. Plenty of offense with Wander leading the way going 3-5 with an RBI triple and solo homer. Game 3: 5-4 W. WP-McClanahan (2-0, 6 5 2 2 0 7). S-Fairbanks (1). HR-Wood (1). Mac was solid and James Wood had his best game as a Ray, going 3-4 with an RBI double and a solo insurance homer in the 8th, an insurance run that was needed when Fairbanks was lousy again, needing a double play and then putting two more on before finally getting the third out. Mead was 2-3 with a 2-run double. Team record: 4-2. Next up: A day off then 3 games in Anaheim against the Angels. Transactions: JP Sears had to leave the finale with elbow inflammation and he goes on the 15-day IL when he should be back. Joey Stock is summoned from Durham. Also we signed a couple of vets to minor league deals: SP Jesus Luzardo and OF Andrew Benintendi, the latter having not played in MLB since 2024. |
April 13-15, 2027: at LA Angels (3)
Game 1: 12-3 W. WP-Castillo (1-0, 5 4 3 3 2 5). S-Gaston (1). HR-DeLoach (1). DeLoach's 3-run homer, one of his three hits, made the game 5-0 in the 2nd and sent the Rays on their way. Mead was 3-5 with 3 RBI, Luciano doubled twice and drove in a pair, and Tork was 2-3 with 2 RBI. Sandy Gaston went 4 1 0 0 1 7 to close out the game.
Game 2: 3-7 L. LP-Swanda (1-1, 4 7 5 5 0 5). HR-Torkelson (2). Tork's 1st-inning homer gave them a quick 2-0 lead but Swanda wasn't very good from there. Joey Stock gave up a 2-run homer to first man he faced as a Ray. Game 3: 4-3 W (14). WP-Gaston (1-0). S-Moran (1). Starter-Orze (3 8 3 3 1 3). HR-Albies (4), Franco (3). A pair of homers were big as Albies' 2-run shot in the 5th tied the game at 3 and Wander's solo blast in the 14th won it. After another terrible start from Orze the bullpen was magnificent with 11 innings of 4-hit shutout ball, helping the Rays to Meat Loaf their first three series of the season. Team record: 6-3, 1/2 game behind the Red Sox and Jays. Next up: Back home for 3 vs Detroit. |
April 16-18, 2027: vs Detroit (3)
Game 1: 8-0 W. WP-Whitlock (2-0, 7 1 0 0 2 5). HR-N.Santana (1). He did it again - Garrett Whitlock made it two starts with 7 shutout innings apiece to start the year as the Rays romped. DeLoach, Wood, Santana and Albies each drove in a pair.
Game 2: 1-4 L. LP-McClanahan (2-1, 5.2 7 3 3 2 4). HR-DeLoach (2). DeLoach led the game off with a homer and that was as good as it got for Tampa Bay today. Game 3: 8-2 W. WP-Castillo (2-0, 7 3 1 1 2 8). HR-DeLoach (3), Torkelson (3). Luis Castillo was brilliant and he got plenty of support as the Rays have started 2027 by taking 2 of 3 in each of the 4 series they've played. Cartaya's bases-clearing double in a 4-run 2nd was the game's big hit. Team record: 8-4, 1/2 game behind Toronto. Next up: Baltimore visits for 4 games. MLB News: Sad news to report as the career of Logan Webb is over due to a torn rotator cuff. Also Mike Trout recorded his 2000th hit while the last remaining big-name holdout free agent finally signed as C Yasmani Grandal joined Houston on a 1-year, $10.4M deal. Also this: https://i.imgur.com/5cgVwUo.png |
April 19-22, 2027: vs Baltimore (4)
Game 1: 3-0 W. WP-Swanda (2-1, 6 2 0 0 3 7). S-Fairbanks (2). Swanda had his best start of the young season and Wander (2 for 4) and Mead singled in runs to back him.
Game 2: 3-4 L. LP-Orze (0-1, 4.2 5 3 3 3 4). HR-Cartaya (2). Eric Orze had his third poor start in three outings, giving up a pair of homers to let the game get away. The Rays did rally from 4-0 down to get within one and had the tying run at 2nd with nobody out in the 9th but couldn't get him home. Game 3: 3-0 W. WP-Whitlock (3-0, 5.2 5 0 0 1 5). S-Fairbanks (3). HR-Head (1), Franco (4). Garrett Whitlock continues to dazzle in the rotation and has yet to allow a run in his 3 starts covering 19.2 IP. Hudson Head homered and was 2-4 as the Rays continued their pattern of taking 2 of 3 in every series this year, although there was another game to play. Game 4: 2-0 W. WP-McClanahan (3-1, 6.1 7 0 0 0 5). S-Fairbanks (4). Rays pitching had its third shutout of the series as Mac was solid and he and the pen danced around Oriole runners as Baltimore had 10 hits, but not walking anyone helped. Jeremiah Jackson and DeLoach had RBI singles to provide the offense. Team record: 11-5, 1 game behind 12-4 Toronto. Next up: We wrap up the homestand with 3 against Oakland. MLB News: Former 2024 Ray Juan Soto did something that's never been done before in the majors: He had consecutive 3-homer games against Boston this week, and he homered again on Wednesday to give him 7 in 3 games, which I also believe to be a record. Elsewhere Nolan Arenado hit his 400th career homer and Atlanta signed the perpetually-injured Julio Urias to a 1/4.7 deal. Urias is unsurprisingly on the shelf currently with a torn flexor tendon and isn't expected back until mid-season. |
April 23-25, 2027: vs Oakland (3)
Game 1: 8-3 W. WP-Castillo (6.2 6 3 1 0 8). HR-Franco (5), Cartaya (3), Wood (2). Luis Castillo was solid again and lowered his ERA to 2.66 while Wood doubled and homered among his 3 hits and drove in a pair to lead the attack.
Game 2: 4-0 W. WP-Swanda (3-1, 7 5 0 0 0 6). HR-Luciano (1). Swanda and Luis German combined on a 6-hit shutout and Luciano finally hit his first homer after getting off to a miserable start at the plate this year, a 2-run shot. Unfortunately Ozzie Albies tore a hamstring and will be out 6 weeks. Transaction: Albies goes to the 10-day IL and Junior Caminero was recalled from Durham where he was hitting 359/468/641. Caminero, who was being eyed to take over next year after Albies' contract is up, will give us a 2028 preview as he takes over the job. He's a 60 contact/50 power hitter who is MLB-ready. Game 3: 5-6 L. LP-Whitley (0-1). Starter-Orze (4 6 0 0 1 4). HR-Mead (2). A tough one as the pen lost 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the 6th and 7th and with the game 3-3 in the 8th Whitley loaded the bases with nobody out. Charlie Ruegger came in and seemed like he'd get out of it with an force at the plate and an infield pop but then gave up a bases-clearing double. Mead's 2-run homer got them back within one but they couldn't get any more. Junior Caminero had an impressive debut, going 2-4 with a walk. Team record: 13-6, still 1 behind Toronto which took 2 of 3 as well. Next up: The Rays will finally get to do something about the Jays as they head north of the border for three. MLB News: Christian Little, a Hall of Fame legend in my 2020 save and who's currently on the Rays in my 2021 save, will not be on the 2022 version as his career is over due to a torn labrum. He got into 5 games with the Twins in 2025 before going to the Yankees system where he pitched in the minors. Also Atlanta lost star Austin Riley for 6 weeks with a lat strain. |
April 26-28, 2027: at Toronto (3)
Game 1: 5-8 L. LP-Whitlock (3-1, 2.2 5 5 5 2 3). HR-Cartaya (4), Mears (1). The clock struck twelve for Garrett Whitlock, who after a scoreless inning gave up 5 over the next two, seeing his 20.1 IP shutout streak to start the season come to an abrupt end. The bats kept trying to get back in it but the pen kept giving up runs.
Transaction: Almost as quickly as he got the job, Junior Caminero suffered a "substantial" bruise of his collarbone which will sideline him for a week, so he goes to the IL and Brooks Lee is called up from Durham with Jeremiah Jackson taking over as the everyday 2B. Game 2: 11-9 W. WP-Ruegger (1-0). S-Fairbanks (5). Starter-McClanahan (4 8 7 7 2 6). HR-Pinto (1), Mead (3), Franco (6). Holy comebacks, Batman! Mac was rocked and the Rays trailed 7-1 after 4, only to score 6 times in the 5th to tie it up. Still Toronto went back ahead with 2 in the 6th only for Wander and Mead to tie it with back-to-back homers in the 8th and then Jeremiah Jackson singled in the go-ahead run in the 9th to keep the Rays within 1 game of the Jays. Pinto drove in 3 with an RBI single and his 2-run homer. Game 3: 6-5 W. WP-Gau (1-0). S-Fairbanks (6). Starter-Castillo (6 5 1 1 0 6). HR-Cartaya 2 (6), Luciano (2), Mead (4). They did it again, coming back late to win and continuing their remarkable streak of taking 2 of 3 in every series of 2027 to date (except the one 4-game series in which they won 3). The game was a 1-1 pitchers' duel between Castillo and Toronto's Clayton Beeter through 6 1/2 before Luis German gave up 3 to the Jays in the 7th. But a 4-run 8th capped by a mammoth 443-ft Curtis Mead 3-run homer to dead center put them up 5-4 and Cartaya added an insurance run with his second homer of the game and third of the series in the 9th, insurance they made a claim on when Fairbanks gave up a run in the bottom of the inning before getting the final out. As a result they're now tied with Toronto atop the AL East. Transaction: Unfortunately Forrest Whitley tore his flexor tendon in the second game and is done for the year (and for the first couple of months of 2028). He goes on the 60-day IL and Taj Bradley gets to return to the big club. Team record: 15-7. Next up: An off-day then home for 3 against Boston. |
April 30-May 2, 2027: vs Boston (3)
Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Moran (1-1). Starter-Swanda (5 5 3 2 0 8). HR-Cartaya (7). Rays came back from down 3-0 to pull out the win on Wander's walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th scoring Luciano who had led off with a double.
Game 2: 4-5 L. LP-Fairbanks (0-2). Starter-Orze (3.2 6 4 3 0 4). HR-Torkelson (4). Once again the Rays had to try and overcome an early deficit with Orze terrible yet again. They did come all the way back from 4-1 down thanks largely to Tork, who homered and then had the tying RBI double in the 8th, only for Fairbanks to give up a run in the 9th. Sadly they couldn't score despite loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th. Game 3: 3-2 W (10). WP-Ruegger (2-0). Starter-Whitlock (5.1 4 2 1 0 4). HR-Mead (5). Another tight game, another comeback for the Rays as they scored in the 8th to send it to extras and Mead won it with a walk-off blast to left as once again they took 2 of 3 in a series. Team record: 17-8. The Jays swept the White Sox, who were 17-5 coming into Toronto, but then lost on our Monday off-day to the Angels, so they lead us by 1/2 game. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Oakland. Nobody on the big club won a monthly award for April, but we did have some recognition on the farm: https://i.imgur.com/ndInXCm.png An incredible month for Chin, whom we signed from Taiwan a few years back. We are deep in OFs but Chin is knocking on the door and is an excellent defensive OF. Also 31-year-old hurler Brian Gonzalez, who was up briefly last year after coming over for Christian Vazquez, won the IL Pitcher of the Month award after an outstanding 4-0, 1.45 performance with a 5/30 BB/K ratio in 31 IP. |
May 4-6, 2027: at Oakland (3)
Game 1: 9-4 W. WP-Gau (2-0). Starter-McClanahan (5 11 3 3 1 5). HR-Franco (7). Rays were down 3-0 going to the 7th when they scored 3 on a DeLoach triple and Wander 2-run homer to tie it, only for Gau to give up a go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning. No problem though as they exploded for 6 in the 8th on 2-run doubles from DeLoach and Wander again as the duo drove in 7 of the 9 runs.
Game 2: 4-2 W. WP-Castillo (4-0, 5 2 1 1 4 5). S-Fairbanks (7). A 3-run 4th keyed by a James Wood double propelled the Rays tonight as Luis Castillo continued his strong start to 2027. Game 3: 5-6 L. LP-Gau (2-1). Starter-Swanda (4 5 5 5 2 2). HR-Torkelson (5). This played out similarly to the opener was Swanda's first bad start of the year put them behind 5-2 but they fought back on a solo shot and RBI single from Tork to tie it at 5 in the 8th. But once again Gau gave up the go-ahead run after tying and this time there was no ensuing Rays rally as they now seem mandated by federal law to never sweep but always take 2 of 3 games as they have in every series this season (except the 3 they took in a 4-gamer). Team record: 19-9, now tied atop the AL East with the Jays who split their two remaining games with the Angels. Next up: The road trip continues with 3 in Texas. |
May 7-9, 2027: at Texas (3)
Transaction: Activated 2B Junior Caminero from the 10-day IL, optioned Brooks Lee to Durham. Lee never got into a game while he was up while Caminero goes back into the lineup despite Jeremiah Jackson playing well while he was sidelined.
Game 1: 6-0 W. WP-Orze (1-1, 6 4 0 0 0 5). HR-Pinto (2), Wood (3). Eric Orze finally pitched a good game and it was quite good while James Wood had a 2-run double and a solo homer to go with Pinto's 2-run shot. Game 2: 5-7 L. LP-Whitlock (3-2, 4 6 4 4 0 4, 2 HR). HR-Franco 2 (9), Torkelson (6). Whitlock was awful and Wander's mega-game (3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) wasn't enough to bring them back. Game 3: 10-11 L. LP-Fairbanks (0-3). Starter-McClanahan (6 4 3 3 1 6). HR-Torkelson (7), Santana (2). It took the most epic of bullpen fails for the Rays to end their "take 2 of 3 in every series" streak to open 2027 as they led 10-3 after 7 innings but somehow lost it. Taj Bradley was given the ball in the 8th with the 7-run lead and gave up 4, then Jovani Moran allowed 2 more in the inning and it was suddenly 10-9. Then to cap it off the inconsistent Fairbanks gave up a 2-run homer with 2 out in the 9th to Corey Seager allowing Texas to walk it off. That wasted a great game from the offense including the slumping Natanael Santana breaking out with a double and a grand slam. Team record: 20-11. Despite losing their first series of the season the Jays were swept so the Rays are actually 1 game up in the AL East. Next up: The road trip concludes with 4 in Baltimore. MLB News: Former Ray, current Cardinal and 2-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell is out for pretty much the rest of the regular season with ulnar nerve entrapment. |
May 10-13, 2027: at Baltimore (4)
Game 1: 3-7 L. LP-Castillo (4-1, 4.1 7 7 7 1 8). HR-Mears (2), Franco (10). Although he piled up the strikeouts Luis Castillo had his first bad start of the year with a 3-run Gunnar Henderson homer doing much of the damage.
Game 2: 11-1 W. WP-Swanda (4-1, 8.2 7 1 1 2 9). HR-Franco 2 (12), DeLoach (4), Wood (4). Massive game by the offense with 20 hits led by James Wood (4-5, HR, 4 RBI) and Wander (2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI). With the big lead Swanda was allowed to take a shutout into the 9th and missed by one batter, finally losing it with 2 out in the 9th and having thrown 129 pitches. Game 3: 0-1 L. LP-Ruegger (2-1). Starter-Orze (5 3 0 0 0 3). From feast to famine as the Rays could only get 2 hits off Grayson Rodriguez who fanned 11 and wasted Orze's second straight good start after his lousy beginning to the year. Ruegger gave up a homer in the 8th to the first man he faced to lose it. Game 4: 8-4 W. WP-Whitlock (4-2, 6 3 4 3 2 4). HR-Caminero (1), DeLoach (5), Cartaya (8). Junior Caminero's first MLB homer was a 3-run shot in the first which got the Rays going after last night's futility and DeLoach's 2-run shot made it 5-0 in the 2nd. Whitlock pitched well outside of one bad inning (the 3rd) when he allowed 4 runs on a pair of homers but the offense picked him up with Cartaya's 2-run 5th-inning shot giving them breathing room again. Team record: 22-13. Toronto lost 3 of 4 to Philly so the Rays are back in sole possession of first, one game ahead. Next up: Back home for some interleague but intrastate action with 3 against Miami. MLB News: The White Sox signed star CF Luis Robert to a 7/210 extension coming off nearly 11 WAR earned over the last two seasons. |
May 14-16, 2027: vs Miami (3)
Game 1: 8-1 W. WP-McClanahan (4-1, 6 4 1 1 2 11). HR-DeLoach (6), Torkelson (8), Luciano (3). Mac was dominant, DeLoach led off the game with a homer and then Tork and Luciano each hit 3-run homers in a 6-run 3rd to send them on their way to victory.
Game 2: 4-5 L. LP-Castillo (4-2, 4.1 5 5 2 3 5). HR-Cartaya (9), Luciano (4). Rays fell behind 5-0 by the 5th and nearly came all the way back but didn't. Game 3: 6-1 W. WP-Swanda (5-1, 6 3 0 0 2 8). Swanda moved into second in the AL with 2.0 pitcher WAR after another fine outing, and James Wood was 3-4 with 2 RBI to lead the offense as the Rays have resumed their regular business of taking 2 of 3 in every series. Team record: 24-14. Toronto also won 2 of 3, so the division lead remains 1 game. Next up: More interleague action as we head to Philly for 3 games. |
May 17-19, 2027: at Philadelphia (3)
Game 1: 4-2 W. WP-Orze (2-1, 6.2 4 2 2 2 3). S-Fairbanks (8). HR-Torkelson (9), Franco (13). Eric Orze has been just as great in May as he was terrible in April and solo homers from Tork and Wander led the way on offense.
Game 2: 7-2 W. WP-Bradley (1-0). Starter-Whitlock (2.2 3 1 1 2 3). HR-Cartaya (10), DeLoach (7), Torkelson (10). Tork was 3-5 with a 2-run homer and RBI single and Mead was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI to lead another impressive offensive performance while Taj Bradley went 6.1 4 1 1 0 4 in relief of Whitlock, who strained a hamstring and will miss 2 months. Bradley will take his spot in the rotation. Transaction: Whitlock goes to the IL of course and coming up from Durham is Bryce Eldridge, our first-round pick in 2023 who looked like a future ace at the time. He's not quite that anymore but still looks like a pretty good pitcher and had an outstanding 2/32 BB/K ratio in 30 IP with Durham as a swingman. He'll take over Taj Bradley's long relief role with Bradley joining the rotation. Game 3: 6-3 W. WP-McClanahan (5-1, 6 5 3 3 1 6). S-Fairbanks (9). HR-DeLoach (8), Mead (6), Luciano (5), N.Santana (3). They did it! For the first time this year the Rays actually swept a series, breaking from their metronome-like consistency of taking 2 of 3 in nearly every series (not that there was anything wrong with that, 108 wins will do just fine). Another four homers and although Mac gave up a trio of solo homers he allowed nothing else. Still had to survive Fairbanks loading the bases in the 9th but he got out of it in Don Stanhouse-esque fashion. Team record: 27-14. Toronto took 2 of 3 from Atlanta so the division lead grew to 2 games. Next up: An off-day then back home for more interleague action with 3 against Washington, who are an absymal 14-28. |
May 21-23, 2027: vs Washington (3)
Game 1: 4-2 W. WP-Fairbanks (1-3). Starter-Castillo (8 4 1 1 1 5). HR-Luciano (6). After the Nats tied it in the 9th on a passed ball by Diego Cartaya, the catcher atoned by singling and then scoring on a 2-run walk-off jack from Luciano in the bottom of the inning. Castillo deserved a win but had to settle for the team victory.
Game 2: 3-2 W (10). WP-Ruegger (3-0). Starter-Swanda (8 7 2 2 1 7). HR-Mears (3). Walk-off excitement for the second straight night as Josh Mears, who tied it with a single in the 8th after coming off the bench, won it with a solo blast, saving the Rays from a night of potential frustration as they banged out 14 hits but could only score twice before Mears' winner. Swanda was excellent again and leads MLB in pitcher WAR at 2.4. Game 3: 1-6 L. LP-Orze (2-2. 4 3 3 3 3 2). HR-Wood (5). Orze wasn't sharp while Washington's Bryse Wilson, who came in at 0-5, 6.08, was, holding the Rays to 4 hits over 7 innings. Only bright spot for Tampa Bay was the MLB debut of 2023 top pick Bryce Eldridge, who went 2.2 1 0 0 1 4 to finish the game, although the hit he allowed was an RBI double scoring Washington's final run. Between Wilson and Eldridge one could say the Bryce was right. Team record: 29-15. Toronto was swept in Miami so the Rays' division lead has grown to 4 games. Next up: Those same Jays are coming to town for 4 games, so we can end up anywhere from tied to 8 games up on them. |
May 24-27, 2027: vs Toronto (4)
Game 1: 2-1 W. WP-Bradley (2-0, 6 2 0 0 1 7). S-Fairbanks (10). Taj was excellent in his first start of the year and Luciano was 3-4 with a double and an RBI to help provide the minimal offense that was needed.
Game 2: 9-12 L. LP-German (0-1). Starter-McClanahan (4.1 9 4 4 3 4). HR-Luciano (7), Pinto (3). Mac struggled big-time but the Rays still managed to take a 6-4 lead in the 5th, only for German and Sandy Gaston combining to allow 7 runs in the 6th. A 3-run Pinto (who drove in 4 total) shot got them back in it but it wasn't enough. Game 3: 2-4 L. LP-Castillo (4-3, 6 7 4 4 0 5). HR-Cartaya (11). A 3-run first including a 2-run Vlad Jr homer sent the Jays on their way. Only bright spot was Bryce Eldridge in long relief going 3 1 0 0 0 4 in his 2nd MLB appearance. Game 4: 2-1 W. WP-Swanda (6-1, 6 1 0 0 2 2). S-Ruegger (1). HR-Torkelson (11). Tork's 4th-inning solo shot was the game's first run and Junior Caminero singled in the eventual winner as Swanda's remarkable season continues apace with his ERA dropping to 2.54. It was 2-0 going to the 9th when Fairbanks came on and struggled mightily again, allowing a run on 3 walks with the bases loaded and he was pulled for Ruegger to get the final out. Fairbanks has been abysmal this year (negative WAR, 16 walks in 19 IP) and is out of the closer role; it will be a committee for now. Team record: 31-17. The split keeps the Rays 4 games up on the Jays. Next up: 3 games in Houston, which sits atop the AL West at 27-22. |
May 28-30, 2027: at Houston (3)
Game 1: 8-3 W. WP-Orze (3-2, 5 5 3 3 0 7). HR-Franco (14), Wood (6). Tork's bases-clearing triple put the Rays up 4-0 in the 2nd and sent them on their way to a fairly easy win. JP Sears had 3 scoreless out of the pen.
Game 2: 2-6 L. LP-Bradley (2-1, 5.1 6 5 4 2 8). HR-Torkelson (12). Tampa Bay was done in by a couple of former Rays as Jorge Lopez held them to 6 2 0 0 1 5 and the guy we traded Lopez to Houston for before he returned there, Kyle Tucker, was 3-3 with a triple, homer and 3 RBI. Game 3: 8-7 W. WP-McClanahan (6-1, 5.2 5 3 1 1 5). S-Fairbanks (11). HR-Head (2), Franco (15), Torkelson (13), Mead (7). Rays built an 8-3 after Mead's 3-run homer but the pen nearly frittered it away, giving up 4 runs by the 8th. In a twist of recent fate it was Fairbanks who had to bail out Ruegger in the 9th and he got the final two outs to preserve the nail-biter as our Meat Loaf season continues with two out of three again. Team record: 33-18. Toronto swept its series so they've pulled with 3 games. Next up: 3 games in Minnesota, where the Twins are off to a rough 20-32 start. |
May 31-June 2, 2027: at Minnesota (3)
Game 1: 9-8 W. WP-Castillo (5-3, 6 7 4 4 1 5). S-Fairbanks (12). HR-J.Jackson (1), Torkelson (14), N.Santana (4). A wild one with Natanael Santana's 3-run homer in the 7th breaking a 4-4 tie and putting the Rays ahead to stay. Tork was 4-5 with the HR and 2 RBI and Wander was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.
Transaction: Activated 2B Ozzie Albies from his rehab assignment and returned IF Junior Caminero to Durham. Game 2: 11-0 W. WP-Sears (1-0). Starter-Swanda (0.1 1 0 0 0 1). HR-Torkelson (15), Franco (16), Albies (5). As you can see Swanda had to leave in the first with a dead arm and will be out 2 weeks, but all the bullpen did was combine for a 5-hit shutout with Sears going 2 2/3 for the win and Sandy Gaston going 3 scoreless with 6 whiffs. It was only a 3-0 game through 6 before they broke it open with Albies returning big from the IL going 2-5 with the HR & 4 RBI while Wander was 2-4 with his HR and 2 RBI. Transaction: Swanda goes on the IL and Yoniel Curet is called up from Durham. The rookie has good stuff but iffy control but is on the 40-man. When we next need a starter Brian Gonzalez will likely get the call or we could go with Sears or Gaston. Game 3: 3-1 W. WP-Ruegger (4-1). S-Fairbanks (14). Starter-Orze (4 2 1 0 1 3). HR-Mears (4), Mead (8). Rays were being dominated by Minnesota's Kyle Muller who shut them out through 7 before Mears homered off him in the 8th to tie it and Wander singled in another run later in the inning before Mead homered for insurance in the 9th. Fairbanks now has 3 saves since I said he was out of the closer's role; funny how things work out sometimes. Team record: 36-18. Toronto lost twice and have been overtaken by the Yankees who sit in second 4 1/2 behind us. Next up: A day off then 3 in Detroit. MLB News: Former Ray and current Padre Jonathan Loaisiga is done for the year and much of next with a torn UCL, right after he was named NL Pitcher of the Month for May, going 5-0, 2.30. The AL nod went to Texas reliever Carlos Vargas who had 9 saves and 28 whiffs in 16 IP. AL Player of the Month was Seattle's Julio Rodriguez (.387-11-27) and the NL winner was Colorado's Zac Veen (.324-8-26). |
June 4-6, 2027: at Detroit (3)
Game 1: 5-14 L. LP-Bradley (2-2, 4 10 7 7 0 2). HR-Luciano (8), Cartaya (12). An ugly game all around from the staff with Taj getting hit hard including a pair of homers, one of which came from Detroit's Elly De La Cruz, who hit for the cycle as part of a 5-hit game. Yoniel Curet made his MLB debut and pitched two scoreless before putting a man on to lead off his next inning before leaving and of course that man came around to score.
Game 2: 6-1 W. WP-McClanahan (7-1, 7 5 1 1 0 4). HR-DeLoach (9), Wood (7), Albies (6). Three early solo homers gave Mac all the support he needed as the Rays got back in the win column. Game 3: 1-2 L. LP-Moran (1-2). Starter-Castillo (8 4 1 1 1 7). A great start from Castillo was wasted when the Rays couldn't take advantage of their 9 hits, with two double plays hit into and a caught stealing. Then the unclutch Moran put the first two men on in the 9th, and the equally unclutch Fairbanks walked a man to load the bases and gave up a sac fly to lose it. Team record: 37-20. The Yankees took 2 of 3 to move within 3 1/2. Next up: 4 games in Boston. |
June 7-10, 2027: at Boston (4)
Game 1: 8-2 W. WP-Sears (2-0, 5 4 2 2 2 5). HR-Mead (9). Mead was 2-3 with 2 walks, the homer & 3 RBI while Albies was 3-5 with a double and 2 RBI to lead another fine game from the offense. JP Sears acquitted himself well in his first start after nearly 80 relief appearances over the past few years.
Game 2: 6-4 W. WP-Orze (4-2, 6 2 0 0 2 2). S-Fairbanks (14). HR-Mead (10), DeLoach (10). Zach DeLoach was 2-5 with a double, homer & 4 RBI and backup C Rene Pinto was 4-4 to provide the offense. Orze had his best start but we had to survive a shaky pen which almost lost a 6-1 lead including Fairbanks allowing a homer in the 9th. Game 3: 7-4 W. WP-Bradley (3-2, 5.1 6 3 3 0 5). S-Fairbanks (15). HR-DeLoach (11). Zach DeLoach is having himself a season and after today's solo homer he's third in the AL in WAR at 2.8, trailing the leader and teammate Wander Franco at 3.0. Wander and Tork each knocked in a pair and today the pen fared well as Fairbanks had a 1-2-3, two-whiff 9th. Game 4: 9-0 W. WP-McClanahan (8-1, 5.1 2 0 0 5 8). HR-N.Santana (5), Mead (11). Tampa Bay completed the sweep in emphatic fashion with Mac and a pair of relievers combining on a 5-hit shutout although they walked 7 in total. Sandy Gaston fanned 6 in his 2 1/3 innings of work while Mead was 3-3 with 2 walks, the homer and 2 RBI, Santana 2-5 with the homer & 3 RBI, and Josh Mears added a 2-run double as the offense put 30 on the board in the 4 games in a modern "Boston Massacre". Team record: 41-20, now 5 up on both the Jays and the Yankees. Next up: A return home for 3 against the Rockies. |
June 11-13, 2027: vs Colorado (3)
Game 1: 1-12 L. LP-Castillo (5-4, 3.1 4 7 4 5 5). Sometimes you just take it on the chin and that's what happened tonight with the Rays. Luis Castillo was unusually wild and it caught up to him while the bats were held in check.
Game 2: 3-2 W. WP-Dohy (1-0). Starter-Sears (5 4 2 0 2 7). High drama at the Trop as we went to the bottom of the 9th with Colorado holding a 2-0 lead on a couple of unearned runs due to JP Sears' own throwing error. But a rally loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th and brought home one run with two out before Joshua Mears singled to tie it and Jeremiah Jackson's infield dribbler to 3rd went for a single and the Rays walked it off. Game 3: 8-7 W. WP-Moran (2-2). S-Fairbanks (16). Starter-Orze (5 4 1 1 2 2). It was nearly the polar opposite of yesterday as the Rays took a 7-1 lead into the 8th before Yoniel Curet loaded the bases and allowed a run and then the hapless Jovani Moran gave up a pair of homers including a grand slam and it was suddenly 7-7. Fortunately in the bottom of the frame Luciano led off with a double and came home on Wander's sac fly to put Tampa Bay back on top. It still wasn't clear sailing though as Fairbanks loaded the bases with nobody out only to strike out the next three batters to hang on, taking ten years off all our lives. Team record: 43-21. The Yankees swept their series and moved within 4 games. Next up: More action against the NL West as the Dodgers roll into town for 3. LA has started a rough 28-36 this season. |
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