[Art Deco]

October 2: Activated P Ben Bowden from the 15-day IL, optioned P Luke Little to AAA Durham.

Game 1: The Rays acquitted themselves a little better, but lost their sixth straight game 6-4 to Texas. The pattern of the starter putting them in an early hole continued as Shane McClanahan allowed 3 runs in the first three innings and the Rays trailed 3-1 through 5. But they actually rallied for 3 runs in the 5th (and it would have been more had Heston Kjerstad not thrown Nick Gonzales out at the plate) on a 2-run double from Gonzales and an RBI double from Judson Fabian, his 2nd RBI of the night. Mac made it through the 5th on 96 pitches going 5 6 3 3 1 5 and keeping his season ERA below 4 at 3.96. But Steven Casey loaded the bases in the 6th on 2 hits and a hit batter and the rusty Ben Bowden allowed them all to score, including on a couple of bases-loaded walks. Probably not the best move to go to Bowden there in the key situation right off the IL but I wanted him to get some work before the playoffs. The bats could do nothing off the Texas bullpen in the final 3 innings and that was all she wrote. It would sure be nice to win at least once before the playoffs begin. Amazingly this team's going to win at least 106 games while suffering losing streaks of 7 and (at least) 6 games.

Wild card race update: The White Sox got a 3-run walk-off HR from Tanner Craig to beat Minnesota 8-5 and keep their one-game lead for the 2nd WC over Cleveland, which also won 12-1 in Kansas City and eliminated the Royals. The Rangers with their win stay 2 behind Chicago but are pretty much out of it. Interestingly, the White Sox could force a tie for the division if they beat Minnesota the next two days, and they'd then play a 4th game on Monday to see who takes the Central and who plays at Baltimore. It would be quite the collapse by the Twins who had looked to have the division wrapped up for a while now. Over in the NL, the Mets lost and San Diego beat Arizona, so the Padres have wrapped up the 2nd wild card and will play the Nationals in the NL Wild Card Game.

Game 2: The beat(ings) goes on as with the full regular lineup in tonight they lost 6-0 and were one-hit by Lucas Giolito and Ryan Feltner. An Anthony Rizzo double in the 5th was the only hit they could muster, as it continues to be Groundhog Day for the Rays in a bad way. Mack Anglin gave up 5 runs in the first 3 innings, 4 of which came off a pair of homers, although he did settle down after that and go 6 5 5 5 1 8. Hayden Johns struck out the side in the 7th and I gave Jasseel De La Cruz some work, as he hadn't made an appearance in over a week and it took him 31 pitches to get through the 8th, allowing a run. The 7-game losing streak matches the one from back in May, and if they don't win tomorrow they'll go into the playoffs with about as much negative momentum as can be imagined. They lost the first game in this streak by a run but over the last 6 they've been outscored 45-11. Unbelievable.

Wild Card Race Update: High drama in Chicago as Mitch Haniger's 2-run HR in the 8th gave the White Sox a 3-2 win over Minnesota. Combined with Cleveland's loss to Kansas City (courtesy of 5 hits from former Rays farmhand Xavier Edwards), the White Sox clinch the second wild card, eliminating Cleveland and Texas. And Chicago can force a tie for the AL Central if they beat Minnesota on the final day tomorrow, so their aspirations are higher now.

October 4: Activated P Christian Little from his rehab assignment at AAA Durham, optioned P Hayden Johns to AAA Durham.

Here's hoping Little can stay healthy, having twice cut short rehab assignments with a recurring herniated disc issue. We're going to have him pitch at some point today to a) make sure he can get through a game without re-injuring himself, and b) to have him as ready as we can get him for the playoffs.

Game 3: THE RAYS WIN! THE RAYS WIN! Never thought I'd be so excited over a meaningless win, but avoiding heading into the playoffs on an 8-game losing streak is at least good for my psyche. They got a pretty decent start from Mitchell White and some dominating relief pitching from injury returnees Christian Little and Ben Bowden to take a 3-1 win over the Rangers. The bench was emptied today with only Fabian, Marsh, Brujan, Casas and Rizzo among regulars starting. They got on the board first in the 2nd inning on a Patrick Bailey HR (#11) off Chris Paddack who otherwise was outstanding against his old team (6.2 5 1 1 2 7). White meanwhile allowed plenty of runners but kept going out of it until Sam Huff homered off him leading off the 6th, which after another hit was his cue to come out having gone 5 8 1 1 1 4. Little came on and did Christian Little things: 2 1 0 0 1 5 on 35 pitches and picking up the win when Anthony Rizzo delivered a two-out, two-run double to give the Rays the lead in the top of the 8th. Bowden then pitched the 8th, striking out the side. With Jasseel De La Cruz wiped out from last night and lefties due up, Jose Alvarado came in, and did make things interesting by walking a pair but got through the 9th for save #9.

Final Regular Season Record: 107-55, their second-best regular season ever to the 115 won in 2023. Next up: the ALDS, against an opponent to be determined, either Baltimore, Chicago or Minnesota.

AL Playoff Race Update: The White Sox defeated the Twins 4-2, winning their 8th straight and forcing a 1-game playoff tomorrow for the AL Central title with the loser traveling to Baltimore to play the Orioles in the Wild Card Game and the winner facing the Angels in the ALDS. They scored their 4 runs in the most improbable fashion: Back-to-back-to-back-back HRs, something that as of 2020 has only been done 10 times in MLB history. I can't speak for my save since it's quite possible it's happened but I would have no way of determining that. Anyway, Collin Montez, Tanner Craig, Corey Seager and Mitch Haniger hit consecutive homers in the 4th inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead which stood up.