The 2022 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 7-8 L (11). LP-R.Rodriguez (3-3). Starter-Acosta (3.2 8 6 6 2 2). HR-Jasso (2). Rays were down 7-3 in this one and came back dramatically to tie it in the 9th on a bases-clearing two-out double from Jasso, who had earlier homered, but couldn't finish the deal in extras. To add injury to insult, Randy Rodriguez had to leave with forearm stiffness after giving up the winning homer and will miss a week but not be ILed.

Game 2: 8-1 W. WP-Stevenson (6-4, 7 2 0 0 1 7). HR-Luciano (6), Cedillos (14). Luciano's slam in the 2nd and Cedillos' 3-run shot in the 5th propelled the Rays to a rout behind an outstanding effort from Stevenson.

Game 3: 8-1 W. WP-Santillan (2-2, 6 4 1 1 2 7). HR-Rutschman (3/20), Luciano (7), Caminero (18). The moribund offense struck for 23 runs in this 3-game series, winning by an 8-1 scoreline for the second straight night. Rutschman, who's been more like Bustman since coming over from Cleveland, came through with a 462-foot 3-run shot to dead center to get the blowout going, and Luciano homered for his third straight start off the bench.

Team record: 77-63. We remain 4 ahead of Minnesota for the third wild card and two back of both Kansas City and Toronto in the first two spots. Next up: A day off to travel across the USA to San Diego, where we'll play 3 and hope to make a better showing away from the Trop.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 6-3 W. WP-Khattak (4-8). S-Watters (3). Starter-Okuda (3.2 5 2 2 1 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (20), Caminero (19). Caminero's 2-run homer in the 8th broke a 2-2 and sent the Rays on their way to victory. Khattak has really taken to long relief and went 3 1/3 hitless for the win.

Game 2: 3-2 W (11). WP-Ogando (4-2). Starter-Evans (4.1 5 1 1 2 4). Hardy was the hero, coming off the bench with a game-tying RBI single in the 9th and then bringing home the winner in the 11th with a sac fly.

Game 3: 6-1 W. WP-Khattak (5-8). Starter-Acosta (4.2 5 1 1 1 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (21). The Rays pulled off a rare road sweep with another late win, scoring 5 times in the 9th to snap a 1-1 deadlock. Rutschman's 2-run single was the game-winning hit and then Yordan followed up with a 3-run shot after driving in the lone previous run. Khattak meanwhile did it again in long relief with 3 1/3 1-hit innings.

Team record: 80-63. The Rays are now in a tie with Toronto for the first wild card with them both a game up on Kansas City. Next up: A day-off to fly back across the country to Boston for 3 against the Sox.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 7-4 W. WP-Buckman (13-7). S-R.Rodriguez (34). Starter-Stevenson (5 4 2 2 2 4). Rays were down 2-1 headed to the 7th in this one before exploding for 4 runs with Hardy's 2-run single the big hit. Look out Roy Face, Benjamin Buckman won his 13th game in relief.

Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-Watters (7-1). S-R.Rodriguez (35). Starter-Santillan (3.2 4 5 5 3 3). HR-Rutschman (4/21). The Rays keep winning on the road and tonight featured an impressive comeback from 5-0 down. And Rutschman is finally coming out of his funk as his 2-run homer cut the Boston lead to 5-4 in the 6th and his RBI single was the game winner in the 8th as the Rays made it 5 straight wins on the road and 7 overall.

Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Buckman (14-7). Starter-Evans (4.2 4 0 0 2 6). A sweep of the road trip and 8 straight wins as the Rays have become MLB's hottest team. Today was a romp although Evans couldn't quite finish the 5th, loading the bases with the score 4-0 and totally out of gas so Buckman came in, got the final out and made it 14 wins which is good for 4th in the AL. Rutschman came through big again with a 2-run triple among his 3 hits and Solano was 3-5 with 3 runs scored, a steal and an RBI.

Team record: 83-63. Unfortunately Toronto and Kansas City also swept their series so the Rays remain in the second wild spot tied with Toronto, which gets the nod for #1 thanks to going 8-6 in the season series while the Royals remain one game behind both. What the Rays and the Jays have done is close the gap on the Yankees and are now both are only 4 games back. Only 16 games left in the season though. Next up: Home for 3 against Baltimore.

[Art Deco]

Transaction: Claimed P Luke Little on waivers from Kansas City, optioned P Jaheim Lennon to AAA Durham.

Little gives us a second lefty in the pen to go with Armenta, and he has 70 stuff (but 35 control).

Game 1: 8-3 W. WP-Okuda (9-8, 5.2 5 2 2 0 10). HR-Mesa (20), Luciano (8). Victor Mesa had a huge game with a 3-run homer in the 2nd and a 2-run single in the 6th to lead the Rays to a comfortable win, their 9th straight.

Game 2: 5-3 W. WP-Oviedo (1-3). S-R.Rodriguez (36). Starter-Acosta (6 5 2 1 0 10). When a team is as hot as the Rays have been it seems like they always find a way to win and today was no exception as they trailed 3-1 in the 7th, got back to 3-2 and then in the bottom of the 8th Hardy delivered a bases-clearing double to extend their win streak to double digits.

Game 3: 3-4 L (10). LP-Buckman (14-8). Starter-Stevenson (5.2 4 2 2 1 5). HR-Mesa (21). All good things and that as the Rays saw their win streak end in painful fashion, much in the way they won the previous night's game. They were up 3-0 early and 3-2 late before Armenta walked in the tying run in the 8th and then in the 10th Buckman loaded the bases with nobody out, got an out at the plate and a strikeout to pull within one out of escaping, only to hit the next batter and force in the winning run.

Team record: 85-64. The good news is that Toronto was swept and KC lost a pair over the weekend meaning the Rays are now 2 games up on both in the first wild card and home field for that round. Unfortunately the Yankees swept their series to move 5 ahead and with only 13 games left the division is pretty much gone now. Next up: An off-day then the 91-59 NL Central-leading Cubs come to town for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 1-7 L. LP-Santillan (2-3, 3 7 6 6 1 3, 3 HR). All-around ugly as Santillan gave up 3 homers including a pair to veteran Will Smith. Rays had some chances (11 LOB) but it probably didn't matter.

Game 2: 5-7 L. LP-Evans (8-7, 3.1 7 7 7 5 5, 2 HR). Another brutal start and Chicago was up 7-0 before the Rays rallied and had good chances in the 8th and 9th to go ahead but couldn't get it done. They outhit Chicago 14-8 but the Cubs relied on the longball.

Game 3: 1-4 L. LP-Okuda (9-9, 5 3 2 2 0 6). They got a decent start for a change from Okuda but the end result was the same as they were swept in a critical late-season series at home. Once again they had chances (10 hits) but faltered in the clutch.

Team record: 85-67. As a result of being swept the Rays are now in the second wild card a game behind Kansas City, whom they hold the tiebreaker advantage over, and one ahead of Toronto, whom they don't. Next up: The final 3 home games of the regular season against 61-91 Milwaukee, so taking advantage is a must.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 2-3 L. LP-Acosta (10-5, 4.2 5 3 3 1 5). HR-Rutschman (5/22). Another dispiriting loss at home to a bad Milwaukee team as that makes 5 straight dropped. The offense had some late chances but squandered them.

Game 2: 4-1 W. WP-Stevenson (7-4, 5 5 1 1 2 5). S-R.Rodriguez (37). Yordan's 2-run double was the big hit and Haro knocked in the other two while the Rays got some fine pitching to end the losing streak.

Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Santillan (3-3, 5 3 0 0 1 8). Santillan pitched his best game as a Ray and the offense exploded, making this a rare comfortable win of late in their home regular season finale. Yordan doubled twice and drove in a pair and Luciano had a 2-run double to lead the attack. The win clinched a wild card for the Rays but positioning is the key thing now.

Team record: 87-68. They remain a game behind the Royals for the first wild card but are now two up on Toronto for the second. Next up: The final week of regular season action on the road starting with 4 games in Boston against the 76-79 and eliminated Red Sox.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 2-10 L. LP-Evans (8-8, 3.1 8 7 7 1 5). Another brutal outing for Donye, the second straight in which he's allowed 7 runs. Not the way you want your "ace" going heading into the postseason.

Game 2: 6-1 W. WP-Okuda (10-9, 5 5 0 0 3 3). HR-Rutschman (6/23), Caminero (20). Rutschman's 2-run homer in the 2nd got things going and Okuda successfully pitched out of trouble several times. Solano was 3-5 with a pair of doubles and runs scored.

Game 3: 4-7 L. LP-Acosta (10-6, 5 5 4 4 2 1, 3 HR). HR-Caminero (21). Caminero's 2-run homer in the 6th brought them back to 3-3 but Acosta gave up his 2nd homer of the game to Spencer Torkelson and 3rd overall and Boston took it from there.

Game 4: 6-4 W. WP-Buckman (15-8). S-R.Rodriguez (38). Starter-Stevenson (3.2 8 4 4 0 3). HR-Y.Alvarez (22). Yordan was 3-5 with 3 RBI including a 2-run homer to help the Rays build a 6-0 lead after 3 which Stevenson nearly gave away in the 4th. Fortunately the bullpen held Boston off the scoreboard for final 5 1/3 innings and Tampa Bay hung on for the split.

Team record: 89-70. Kansas City took 3 of 4 in the meantime so they're 2 up on the Rays for the first wild card with 3 games to go. The Rays do own the tiebreaker but now they'll have to sweep 3 in Baltimore while the Royals lose at least 2 of 3 or they'll have to take 2 of 3 while KC is being swept. Toronto has dropped 3 back so they'll be in the third wild card and travel to the Yankees.

Pennant Race Update: The AL is set with likely top seed Chicago and second-seeded Seattle getting the byes; the only question is where the Rays-Royals wild card series will take place and as described above KC is the likely destination. Things are a bit more fluid in the NL. Philly (1) and Chicago (2) have clinched divisions and byes while the pathetic battle for the NL West continues with San Diego and Arizona tied at 78-81 atop the division. San Antonio (formerly Pittsburgh) will be WC1 but Atlanta and Washington are tied for WC2 with Miami only a game back of that pair. Given WC3 will play a .500 or lower team in the West "champ" that might be the slot to go for.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 10-0 W. WP-Santillan (4-3, 5.2 3 0 0 2 6). S-Khattak (2). HR-Kurokawa (7), Rutschman (7/23). The Rays did their part trying to claim WC1 but the Royals won as well and another Royals win will relegate the Rays to WC2 and a trip to KC. Tonight they rapped out a season-high 22 hits with five players each tallying 3. Hardy led the way with 4 RBI.

Game 2: 9-1 W. WP-Little (1-0). Starter-Evans (4 2 1 0 4 8). HR-C.Williams (19), Mesa (22). Once again the Rays blew out Baltimore but it was for naught as the Royals won again to clinch the first wild card. Hardy drove in 3 more with a bases-clearing double.

Game 3: 1-5 L. LP-Eldridge (10-6, 5 5 3 3 4 5). With nothing to play for in the final regular season the Rays emptied the bench and went down to defeat.

Final Regular Season Record: 91-71. Next up: The best 2-of-3 wild card series at Kansas City. The Rays have played better on the road in September and will need to keep that up.

Playoff Race Update: The two races in the NL played out and true to form the Padres and Diamondbacks stunk this weekend with San Diego the only team to win one game and hence the NL West with a pitiful 79-83 record. Atlanta and Washington held off Miami for the 2nd and 3rd wild cards with the Nats better off in third getting to play the Padres.

[Art Deco]

I don't believe what I just saw...



In what will go down as one of the wildest postseason games ever played, the Rays scored 9 times in the 9th to overturn a 9-3 Royals lead and hung on to edge Kansas City 12-11 to take the all-important first game of their best-of-3 wild card series. The script was originally playing out the way the Rays wanted it, a good start from Aldry Acosta and turning over a 3-1 lead to their solid back-end of the bullpen. Unfortunately KC had other ideas and erupted for 8 against Erubiel Armenta and a woefully ineffective Jacob Watters. And so it went to the 9th down 9-3 and when Adley Rutschman hit a 2-run homer it looked like a consolation prize. But Javy Jasso came off the bench to deliver a 2-run triple and the turnstiles kept turning with Alistair Hardy finally delivering the go-ahead blow and Rustchman coming through again with an RBI double. And that RBI double proved huge when Randy Rodriguez made a mess in the 9th, giving up 2 runs but not a third and the Rays hung on for an unforgettable win. Ryan Okuda will go tomorrow with a chance to clinch an ALDS spot.

Meanwhile advantage Yankees in the other AL Wild Card:



A couple of side notes:

1. I have no idea why OOTP started putting some of the text in yellow.
2. I was so disgusted by 8-run KC rally to go up 9-3 that I let the AI play the rest of the game out so imagine my surprise when it ended up 12-11 Rays.

[Art Deco]

On to the ALDS...



The Rays made quick work of the Kansas City Royals and an offense that found it hard to score runs much of the season ended up scoring 20 runs in the two games after today's 8-2 series-clinching win. The Rays had some adversity to deal with as starter Ryan Okuda left in the first inning with back spasms but Walt Khattak and Jaden Stevenson took over the rest of the way and were very effective, with Stevenson getting the rare 5 1/3-inning save. Isaac Cedillos' 2-run single in the 2nd gave them a lead they'd never relinquish and Rodolfo Solano's 3-run homer in the 8th put the game and the series away. Now it's on to the ALDS against Seattle with Donye Evans penciled in for Game 1.

In the rest of the Wild Card action:



Like the Rays the Yankees swept their wild-card series and they'll face the White Sox in the other ALDS. Meanwhile pundits across the country decried the presence of the 79-83 Padres in the postseason but they reminded the baseball world that everyone starts off 0-0 in October by thrashing the Nationals 11-3 to get the edge in their series.

[Art Deco]

Both Game 1 losers forced a decider:





The Padres defied the odds and will advance to play the Cubs in one NLDS while Atlanta moves on to face Philadelphia in the other.

[Art Deco]

Staying on a roll...



Before the playoffs started the Rays' deadline acquisition of star catcher Adley Rutschman looked like a flop - the veteran backstop hit a lousy 204/282/361 with only 7 homers in 50 games. But come the postseason he's lived up to his "Clutchman" nickname as he led the Rays to a quick 2-game Wild Card sweep in Kansas City and today bashed two more homers to propel the Rays to a 5-0 win in their ALDS opener at Seattle. He commenced the scoring in the 1st with a solo shot and then went back-to-back with Yordan Alvarez to put the game away in the 8th. Donye Evans returned to Donye-mating form after a rough September and four relievers turned in a scoreless inning apiece to finish it out. Aldry Acosta will take the ball tomorrow to try to give the Rays a commanding 2-0 lead heading back to St. Pete.

Meanwhile the Yankees also got a road shutout to get a leg up in the other ALDS:

[Art Deco]

Can't win 'em all...



After scoring 25 runs while winning their first three postseason games the Rays' offense came a screeching halt today in Seattle as Frank Balandra and a pair of relievers fanned 13 Tampa Bay batters and allowed a mere 3 hits in as Seattle returned the favor of a 5-0 win to even up this ALDS. Aldry Acosta pitched reasonably well, giving up only a pair of solo homers in his 5 innings of work, but it wouldn't matter with the bats like limp noodles today. With Ryan Okuda needing an extra day with his sore back and the Rays not on the verge of elimination, Jaden Stevenson will get the Game 3 start in two days at the Trop.

Elsewhere in DS action:



In both ALDSes the teams have traded shutouts while Chicago and Atlanta got the early advantage in the NLDS.

[Art Deco]

Almost there...



Adley Rutschman has been getting all the publicity early in the Rays' postseason but another grizzled vet has come through big for Tampa Bay as well and today was Yordan Alvarez's time to shine. The slugging LF isn't quite the fearsome presence he was in his glory days in Houston but he's still the Rays' top power hitter and today he was 3-4 with a double, RBI single and solo homer to lead Tampa Bay to a critical 6-4 win to go up 2-1 in their ALDS. The Rays were up 4-2 in the 6th before Jacob Watters surrendered a 2-run homer to Kevin Alcantara but they weren't fazed. Nelson Haro, who hadn't done much in these playoffs, did a lot today, homering to lead off the 7th and break the 4-4 tie in Tampa Bay's favor before Alvarez hit his longball for insurance. And the bullpen held with Luis Oviedo fanning 3 in the 8th after some of the late-inning guys had to come in early to put out a fire in the 6th. Ryan Okuda will try to close it out tomorrow at the Trop.

In today's other ALDS:



Unlike the Rays the Yankees couldn't take advantage of returning home and now are a game from elimination.

In yesterday's NLDS action:

[Art Deco]

Right there for the taking...



They were practically in the ALCS - a 4-3 lead in the 9th, a rabid home crowd on their side, and the AL leader in saves Randy Rodriguez on the mound. But it all went horribly wrong as Rodriguez put two men on and then gave up a 3-run homer to Alika Williams of all people, the light-hitting former Rays SS, and suddenly the Rays have to go back to Seattle to play a deciding Game 5 they shouldn't have had to. Before that it looked like Yordan Alvarez was clearing a space for the Series MVP trophy on his mantel after homering in the 6th to give the Rays that 4-3 lead but instead it's just a statistic in a box score. For Game 5 Donye Evans will try to replicate his Game 1 performance which saw him lead Tampa Bay to a 5-0 win.

Also forcing a Game 5 was the Yankees behind former Ray Luis German, while the Cubs became the first team to book their spot in the LCS round:

[Art Deco]

Turnabout is fair play (and a ticket to the ALCS)...



Look at it. Just look at that win probability chart above. After losing Game 4 and a berth in the ALCS in the 9th inning on a 3-run Seattle homer, the Rays turned the tables on the Mariners and homered three times in the 9th with two out and down 3-1 to pull out the unlikeliest of wins to take their ALDS. Pinch-hitter Javy Jasso beat out an infield single with one out to reach but Nelson Haro flied out and then this happened:



In a perfect bit of symmetry, back in Game 4 it was 38-save Randy Rodriguez who gave up the 3-run homer for the Rays and tonight it was the guy who tied him for AL save lead, Seattle's Carlos Campos, who was touched for the tying and go-ahead homers before former Ray Shane Baz served up Caminero's to truly put the game away.

So who do the Rays now play in the ALCS?



It will the Yankees, who also pulled off the upset of the higher-seeded White Sox. Look for Aldry Acosta to start Game 1 at Yankee Stadium as the AL East race is re-litigated.

Meanwhile in yesterday's NLDS Game 4



Atlanta forces a deciding Game 5 in Philly for a date with the Cubs in the NLCS.

[Art Deco]

And despite an excellent game from Hunter Greene, Atlanta got by the Phillies in the NLDS decider and will take on the Cubs in the NLCS as baseball's final four is set:

[Art Deco]

A great start...



The Yordan & Adley show took their act to the Big Apple today and wowed a hostile crowd by going 6 for 8 with a triple, homer and 6 RBI as the suddenly heavy-hitting Rays routed the Yankees 10-3 to open the ALCS. Alvarez especially was on fire, going 4-4 including hitting a 2-run single in a 3-run 3rd to make it 5-0 and then putting the game away with a 3-run blast in the 8th. Rutschman meanwhile came through with a huge hit when the Yankees had cut the lead to 5-3, his triple drove in a run to make it 6-3 and then he scored on a wild pitch. Aldry Acosta had a rough 2nd with a couple homers allowed and while he didn't make it through 5 he fanned 9 and got out of a couple of jams, and the bullpen took it from there. Ryan Okuda will try to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 series lead tomorrow before we head to the Trop.

[Art Deco]

Doing it again...




The Rays are now up 2-0 in the ALCS and haven't played yet at Tropicana Field, in case you were wondering how things were going for them. The Adley & Yordan Show took a day of rest for the most part, with the bottom of the order coming through in the 2nd to set up leadoff man Nelson Haro for a 3-run homer and a 4-0 lead and they coasted from there. Alvarez still had something to say though as he launched his 5th homer of the postseason in the 8th just when the Yankees thought they at least kept him off the board. So we now head to St. Pete with Donye Evans on the mound and try to put a stranglehold on the series.

In the NLCS lid-lifter:




That's one-time Ray Taj Bradley with the win.

[Art Deco]

This is getting a bit silly...



Another ALCS game, another rout for the Rays as they whooped the Yankees 8-2 to go up 3-0 in the series and now have outscored the New Yorkers 24-6 in aggregate. Donye Evans rebounded from a shaky first inning to overpower Yankee bats and Victor Mesa stepped up with a pair of homers and reached base all five times to lead the offense. And Isaac Cedillos, one of the few Rays not hitting in this postseason and coming into the day hitting .107 in the playoffs, was 3-4 with a double and an RBI. It's contagious. Jaden Stevenson will take the mound looking to complete the sweep tomorrow.

In yesterday's NLCS game: