Game 1:
Game 2:
Game 3:
A tough back-and-forth loss in the finale as the Rays dropped the series in Toronto. The good news is that Baltimore did a number on the Yankees so Tampa Bay is only 1/2 game back in the division. Next up: A day off then 3 at home against 15-16 Boston.
MLB News: Kansas City lost one of their top starters as lefty Cole Ragans tore his UCL and will undergo Tommy John surgery. And in the series finale above Toronto lost closer Aroldis Chapman for five weeks due to a strained forearm.
Rays News: 2022 first-round pick
Xavier Isaac continues to mash at AAA Durham, culminating in a 5-for-5 game last night in which he hit his 12th homer and drove in 4 runs. He's hitting 315/417/667 with those 12 homers and 29 RBI in 29 games so performance is not an issue but position is - we have Yandy, Aranda and Duran at 1B/DH/LF so there's no apparent place for him to play right now. And he would be a big defensive downgrade from Duran in left. We could move Duran to CF and sit the Thomas/DeLuca platoon but they're both hitting well too, and that was also compromise the defense. A trade of Yandy in his final contract year could be a possibility but he's probably our best RH bat and Isaac's a lefty. So for now Isaac will be raking at Durham.