The 2022 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 2-4 L. LP-Buckman (10-3, 4 6 3 3 1 3). HR-Pino (18/39), Hardy (27). Texas scored 3 times in the 2nd and that was enough to earn them the victory in the series opener.

Game 2: 8-6 W. WP-Salazar (1-0). S-R.Rodriguez (36). Starter-Stone (3 8 6 6 2 3, 4 HR). HR-Y.Alvarez (28), K.White (12/43), Rutschman (21), Hardy (28). A wild and strange game which saw Texas go up 6-2 after 2 thanks to Stone giving up 4 homers but the ball was flying out of the park for both teams as Yordan, White and Rutschman homered in the 3rd to tie it, the Rays went ahead in the 4th and the score stood there until Hardy added an insurance blast in the 9th. Salazar earned the win in relief of Stone in his MLB debut as the bullpen turned in 6 scoreless to preserve te lead.

Game 3: 1-0 W. WP-Acosta (6-5, 5.1 5 0 0 1 7). S-Ogando (8). Bell's 2nd-inning RBI single held up thanks to a great start from Acosta and another stellar day for the bullpen which held Texas hitless over the final 3 2/3 innings to give the Rays a series win.

Team record: 85-52. The Yankees also took 2 of 3 to stay 2 1/2 back of the Rays, but the Tampa Bay magic number is down to 23. Next up: An off-day then the road trip continues with 3 in Oakland.

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Game 1: 0-6 L. LP-Lennon (12-6, 4 10 6 6 1 8). Oakland's Julio Sarabia shut the Rays out on 4 hits while Lennon took a beating despite piling up the whiffs.

Game 2: 5-1 W. WP-Buckman (11-3, 5 5 0 0 1 5). HR-K.White (13/44). Rutschman's 2-run single and White's 2-run homer were the big hits as Buckman and five relievers combined on a well-pitched game.

Game 3: 2-3 L. LP-Stone (6-8, 5.1 6 3 1 1 5). HR-Bell (7). A costly error from White led to 2 unearned runs off Stone (although Stone gave up a homer that accounted for them) while the bats were mostly quiet as the Rays lost their first series in the last five.

Team record: 86-54. The good news is that the Yankees also dropped 2 of 3, so the division lead of 2 1/2 is maintained and the magic number drops to 20. Next up: The western road trip concludes with 3 in Anaheim against the Angels.

MLB News: A couple of milestones. In this alternate universe former Ray Austin Meadows continued his career rather than ending it due to personal issues and hit career homer #400 while with the Phillies. Also Mets OF Zac Veen deposited his 300th baseball into the stands.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 8-6 W. WP-Boyle (3-1). S-R.Rodriguez (37). Starter-Acosta (1.1 4 5 5 1 4). Rays lost leads of 5-0 and 6-5 but the third time was the charm as Rutschman's 2-run double in the 8th won it.

Game 2: 3-1 W. WP-Stevenson (8-3). S-R.Rodriguez (38). Starter-Fragoso (5.2 3 1 1 2 6). HR-Hardy (29). Fragoso was excellent and RBI singles from Cedillos and Pino in the 7th made the difference.

Game 3: 0-3 L. LP-Lennon (12-7, 5 4 3 3 3 2). Lennon was hit for 3 runs in the first and it turned out that would be the extent of the scoring in the game as Rays bats managed only 3 hits.

Team record: 88-55. Big news in the division as the Yankees were swept in Detroit, putting the Rays 4 1/2 up and reducing their magic number to 15. The Rays also officially clinched a playoff spot but the division is paramount.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 2-4 L (11). LP-Ogando (2-5). Starter-Buckman (6.1 5 2 2 3 7). Rays rallied to tie the game in the 8th but lost in the 11th when Ogando served up a 2-run homer. Worse yet Rutschman was lost for 2 weeks with hamstring tendonitis.

Transaction: Rutschman goes on the IL and Cade Arrambide is back up as the backup catcher.

Game 2: 4-2 W. WP-R.Rodriguez (5-3). Starter-Stone (6.1 7 1 1 0 7). HR-Pino (19/40), K.White (14/45). R-Rod blew the save by giving up a leadoff homer in the 9th but White came to the rescue with a 2-run walk-off shot in the bottom of the inning.

Game 3: 5-4 W (14). WP-Stevenson (9-3). Starter-Acosta (5.1 6 3 3 1 8). HR-Gurrola (3), Pino (20/41). Rays appeared to be dead in the water in this one, trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the 9th with two out and a man on. But Gurrola homered off former Ray Bryce Eldridge to get them within one, and Solano and Pino followed with doubles to tie the game. And five innings later Pino was the hero again, belting a oppo walk-off shot which just cleared the RF fence.

Team record: 90-56. It was important that the Rays pulled out the finale as the Yankees swept their series with Toronto and moved within 3 1/2 games. Next up: Off to Baltimore for 3 games.

MLB News: Although the Jays were swept in New York there was a big moment for them as their legendary superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 600th career homer.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 3-4 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (5-4). Starter-Fragoso (6 5 2 2 1 5). HR-Gurrola (4), Bell (8), Y.Alvarez (29). A tough loss as they took a 3-2 lead into the 8th only to give up a run (with the hapless Max Green giving up the tying hit) and then R-Rod surrendered a leadoff triple in the 9th followed by a walk-off single.

Game 2: 10-0 W. WP-Lennon (13-7, 6 4 0 0 1 9). S-A.Salazar (1). HR-Pino (21/42), Y.Alvarez (30), K.White (15/46). Neither tough nor a loss as the Rays routed Baltimore. Lennon was outstanding and Salazar got his first major league save by going 3 to complete the shutout. Solano was 4-5 with a steal and RBI and Pino, Yordan and White each hit 2-run homers.

Game 3: 11-4 W. WP-Little (5-3). Starter-Buckman (4 7 4 4 0 4). HR-Bell (9), Hardy (30), Solano (11), K.White (16/47). Although the final score made it look like a romp this was a heavy lift for the Rays as Buckman put them behind 4-1 early before Bell's 3-run homer tied it up. Solo shots from Hardy and Solano in the 6th and 7th made it 6-4, and then finally a 5-run 9th capped by White's slam put it away. Little's 3 scoreless in relief earned him the win.

Team record: 92-57. Not only did the Rays take 2 of 3 in Baltimore but the Yankees were swept by arch-rival Boston, so that pretty much ends the division race as New York drops 5 1/2 games back and the magic number is down to 8.

Rays news: Veteran reliever Camilo Doval, who tore his labrum late last season and whom we signed to a 2-year deal to pitch next year, had a further setback with the injury and decided to retire.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 16-1 W. WP-Stone (7-8, 7 4 1 1 1 6). HR-K.White (17/48), Pino (22/43). A ridiculous game with Pino driving in 5, White 3, and Gurrola going 3-5 with a double, triple, RBI and 4 runs scored.

Game 2: 6-3 W (12). WP-L.Gonzalez (3-2). Starter-Acosta (5 6 3 3 0 10). HR-Pino (23/44), J.Lowe (2). Jalen Lowe's 3-run homer in the 12th won it as the rookie catcher has performed admirably in Rutschman's absence, hitting 333/373/507 after a 3-5 day today.

Game 3: 1-7 L. LP-Fragoso (5-5, 2.1 8 4 4 0 1). HR-Bell (10). They were due for a stinker, and stink they did managing only two hits.

Team record: 94-58. With the Yankees losing a game the magic number to clinch the division is down to five. Next up: The road trip concludes with 3 games in Cincinnati.

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Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Lennon (14-7, 6 9 2 2 0 9). S-R.Rodriguez (39). HR-J.Lowe (3), Cedillos (8). Solo homers from Lowe and Cedillos in the 7th broke a 2-2 tie in the Rays' favor.

Game 2: 0-2 L. LP-Buckman (11-4, 4.1 5 2 2 0 4). Rays did manage 8 hits but couldn't string them together at the right time and took the loss. Buckman herniated a disc so his regular season is over but he should be available for the playoffs.

Game 3: 2-3 L. LP-Stone (7-9, 6 6 3 3 0 5). HR-Gurrola (5). Stone gave up a 2-run homer in the 6th to lose it as the Rays struggled again to score runs.

Team record: 95-60. The magic number is down to 2. Next up: We play the final week of the regular season at home starting with 4 against Boston.

Pennant Race Update: The White Sox and Mariners have already clinched the AL Central and West, the Yankees and Tigers have already clinched wild cards, and Kansas City has all but nabbed the third. The real race is for the two byes in the AL - Chicago is 96-59, Seattle 96-60 and the Rays 95-60 so it can go in any direction. In the NL the Dodgers have clinched the West while the Mets and Cardinals lead their divisions by a solid 3 and 3 1/2 games respectively, and all the wild cards are coming out of the East with Philly, Atlanta and Washington all but clinched.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 3-5 L (12). LP-Little (5-4). Starter-Acosta (6 4 2 2 0 9). HR-Hardy (31). R-Rod blew the save in the 9th and the Rays lost in the 12th, spoiling a good start from Acosta and a good game from Hardy (3-5, HR, 2 RBI).

Game 2: 3-2 W. WP-Boyle (4-1). Starter-Fragoso (7 6 2 2 0 6). The Rays need 15 hits to score three runs, leaving 13 on base and hitting into 4 double plays, but Evan Bell's third hit of the game in the 9th was an RBI single to walk it off. Pino was 4-4 with a ribbie. With the win the Rays also officially clinched the AL East.

Game 3: 2-1 W. WP-Boyle (5-1). S-R.Rodriguez (40). Starter-Lennon (5.1 4 1 1 0 8). Solano's RBI single in the 7th broke a 1-1 tie meaning Lennon's brilliant outing wouldn't go to waste.

Game 4: 11-6 W. WP-Stone (8-9, 5 3 2 2 0 9). HR-Solano (12), Pino (24/45). After a couple of low-scoring games it was slugfest time as Solano knocked in 4 including a big 3-run homer to give the Rays a 6-2 lead, and Pino was 2-3 with 2 walks, the homer and 3 RBI.

Team record: 98-61. Although the division is in hand there's still a lot to play for this final weekend against Baltimore as Chicago is 100-59 and the Tampa Bay and Seattle are both 98-61. Chicago should wrap up one of the byes so that leaves the Rays and Mariners fighting over the other. As for the tiebreaker, they're 3-3 head-to-head so we have to turn to divisional records where the Rays are 31-22 Baltimore while Seattle is 35-18 they're going to have to better Seattle's results against Oakland. This means the Rays also have to balance who they start over the final weekend as if they come up short they won't have the Sunday starter (and probably the Saturday starter unless it goes 3 games) available for a wild card series.

MLB Playoff Race Update: The only suspense left in either league as to making the postseason is in the NL Central where St. Louis leads Cincinnati by 2 games and the teams play head-to-head this final weekend, meaning the Reds have to sweep. Otherwise the Rays-Mariners fight for a bye is about it.

Durham Update: The Bulls made the IL playoffs as a wild card but are down 0-2 after the losing both games in Iowa to start the best-of-7 series.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Acosta (7-5, 5 2 0 0 0 6). HR-Y.Alvarez (31). Acosta was excellent and Rays pitching took a shutout into the 9th. They were backed by Yordan, who doubled in a run and hit a solo homer, and Pino, who delivered a 2-run double.

Game 2: 10-6 W. WP-Ogando (3-5). S-R.Rodriguez (41). Starter-Fragoso (3.2 4 2 2 1 5). HR-Hardy (32), Pino (25/46), Rutschman (22). Rays broke a 5-5 tie in the 8th with a 5-run inning featuring a bases-loaded walk to Yordan followed by a Rutschman grand slam. Hardy was 4-4 with a solo homer and Pino 3-5 with his 2-run shot. The victory put the Rays one win away from clinching a bye.

Game 3: 8-2 W. WP-Vargas (7-1). Starter-Salazar (4 4 1 1 1 5). HR-Gurrola (6), K.White (18/49), Y.Alvarez (32), Cedillos (9). Lennon was held back for the playoffs in favor of a bullpen day and the gamble paid off thanks to 4 strong innings from Salazar, the bullpen, and a 4th inning which saw Gurrola, White and Yordan homer (the latter two back-to-back). As a result the Rays clinched the 2nd AL bye and will not have to play in the wild card series (Seattle ended up losing today so in the end it didn't matter, but still).

Final Regular Season Record: 101-61. Next up: the ALDS against either WC3 Kansas City or D3 Seattle.

Durham Update: The Bulls bounced back to win Games 3 and 4 at home against Iowa (Game 4 with 2 runs in the 9th to walk it off), so their first-round best-of-7 series is tied at 2 games apiece.

MLB News: Philly's Emerson Hancock pitched a no-hitter against the Mets on the season's final day, fanning 11, walking none and losing a perfect game on a hit batter, all on 115 pitches. The Cardinals also clinched the NL Central by beating Cincinnati in the first of their 3-game set.

[Art Deco]

The offense really came on in the second half and with the additions of Pino and White it's become one of the league's best. We're still a terrible baserunning team despite all the steals (check out some of the CS numbers coming up in the next graphic). The pitching was fine as always but the defense was subpar although not horrible.



Also really coming on in the second half was Hardy, who had his best MLB season after dropping off from a good 2031 last years. Pino's numbers above of course are only with the Rays, he earned 7.1 on the season in total. Gurrola was a definite spark after being recalled while White was something of a disappointment after being acquired, hitting for power but not much else.



We had to constantly rebuild the rotation on the fly due to injuries but it ended up one of the league's best anyway. Lennon is a strong contender for Rookie of the Year and might get a few Cy votes. Meanwhile a sneaky-good season from Vargas in middle relief and his surface numbers would have been even better had he not suffered from one of the worst BABIPs on the team. The less said about Green and Watters the better though.



Overall the farm system looks pretty dire and it could present some longer-term issues. But it did produce three positive contributors to the current squad, especially Gurrola while Lowe and Salazar were outstanding in limited action. Keep an eye on Arroyo, our first-round pick this year who held his own in high-A.

[Art Deco]

The Yankees will take on the White Sox in the ALDS.



And the Rays now know their ALDS opponent, Seattle.



Atlanta moves on to face the Mets in the NLDS.



And to round things out the Cards will take on the Dodgers in the other NLDS.

[Art Deco]

A rough start...



The Rays came out in defense of their World Series title and laid an egg to open the ALDS. Dakota Stone was terrible, giving up 3 in the first and 3 more later, and the offense was just as poor. They'll have to shake the dirt off and get back up for Game 2 with Jaheim Lennon on the hill.

Yesterday's NLDS openers:



And the rest of today's DS action:

[Art Deco]

Level, but just barely....



Last year the Rays struggled on offense throughout the season only for the bats to come alive in the playoffs on the way to a World Series win. This season is looking like the opposite as one of the league's top offenses has managed only three runs throw two games but at least have managed a split thanks to today's 2-1 win. Lennon was brilliant and we had to ride the Randycoaster in the 9th as Rodriguez loaded the bases with three walks before getting a groundout to 2nd to end the game and send us back to Seattle even. Aldry Acosta, who had an inconsistent regular season, will hopefully be in form come Game 3.

The other ALDS is all even as well:

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Still not scoring much, but ahead...

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Offense remains at a premium but Rays pitching came through once again as they eked out a 3-1 win to take a 2-1 series lead over Seattle. The good Acosta showed up today and 2-run 6th inning keyed by Pino's double was enough offense to win. Isaac Cedillos hurt his wrist ("moderate") and will probably sit the rest of the series but his replacement Carson Williams came through with an insurance homer in his lone at-bat. We'll try to wrap this up tomorrow with Danny Fragoso on the mound.

Yesterday's NLDS action saw the Dodgers book their NLCS slot with a sweep:



And in today's DS action, the Mets joined LA in the NLCS:

[Art Deco]

Going the distance...



When the Rays scored twice in the top of the first to take an early lead we thought maybe their offense would come untracked. It didn't, and as a result we're heading back to St. Pete for a decisive Game 5 featuring a Game 1 pitching matchup that needs to do a 180 if Tampa Bay wants to advance to the ALCS. That would be Dakota Stone on the mound for the Rays and he'll hope to wash out the bitter taste of his poor Game 1 performance.

Meanwhile the White Sox are awaiting our series to resolve:

[Art Deco]

Finally some offense...



The bats woke up at last and as a result the Rays are marching on to the ALCS to face the White Sox after an 8-2 Game 5 rout of the Mariners. That sound you heard was a collective sigh of relief from the entire Tampa Bay area after Hector Gurrola's 2-run double in the 6th led to a 5-run inning which broke the game and the series wide open. Dakota Stone had to leave early with back stiffness (which won't keep him from taking his next turn) and Benjamin Buckman came through heroically with 5 scoreless 2-hit innings of relief. We'll see Jaheim Lennon on the hill at Guaranteed Rate Field in Game 1.

[Art Deco]

A good way to begin...



It was a chilly 41-degree night in Chicago, which lived up to its nickname of The Windy City as the breeze was blowing out to right and the Rays took advantage with a couple of big homers to win Game 1 of the ALCS 8-5 over the White Sox. Alistair Hardy's 3-run shot in the 5th gave them a 6-2 lead and then after Chicago got uncomfortably close at 6-5 Kevin White drilled a 2-run shot in the 9th to provide breathing room. The other big hit of the night (the Rays scored their first 6 runs on 2-out hits) came from Carson Williams, filling in admirably for the injured Isaac Cedillos (at least at the plate - his error was a key in the 3-run Chicago rally), who delivered a 2-out, 2-run single in the 2nd to get them going. Aldry Acosta will get the ball for Game 2 tomorrow.

In the NLCS the last two days:



Long time ago Ray Luis Patino having a nice postseason.



Dodgers heading back to LA up 2-0.

[Art Deco]

Halfway there...



In last season's surprise run to a World Series title, vets Yordan Alvarez and Adley Rutschman carried the team to victory, but this year despite the team advancing to the ALCS neither had done much to get them there. That changed in a big way in Game 2 today as Rutschman's 2-out, 2-run single in the top of the 10th broke a 0-0 tie and Alvarez followed with a 2-run double to remove any doubt. Those big hits combined with excellent work from Acosta and the bullpen mean the Rays are heading back to St. Pete with two wins in their back pocket and Dakota Stone will be looking to make it 3-0 in a couple of days at The Trop.

[Art Deco]

All over but the shouting...



The Rays took a commanding 3-0 lead in the ALCS thanks once again to the Rutschman & Yordan show with the former belting a 2-run homer to give them a 2-0 lead and after that advantage disappeared the latter homered to restore supremacy. Unfortunately Rutschman came down with back spasms, which is a "moderate" one-week injury. Jalen Lowe is a capable understudy and he'll play in Game 4 tomorrow and hopefully Adley will be good to go come World Series time, barring a unforeseen collapse (and if that came to pass he'd be pressed into action sooner). Danny Fragoso will try to pitch us to a sweep in Game 4.

While there's a clear frontrunner in the AL, things have gotten murky in the NLCS:





Nothing but road wins so far over there.

[Art Deco]

How sweep it is...



The Tampa Bay Rays are heading back to the World Series to defend their 2032 title after making quick work of the White Sox, sweeping the 102-win club thanks to an 8-3 Game 4 win. But while the series was easy in the end, there was nothing easy tonight about the clincher as Chicago jumped to an early 3-1 off a shaky Danny Fragoso. Fortunately Jaden Stevenson stabilized things and the Rays chipped away with Carson Williams' 2-run single in 4th tying it and Jose Pino's RBI knock in the 6th putting them up to stay. Still at 4-3 it was far from done and dusted and in the 8th the Pale Hose put men on first and third with nobody out before Gerald Ogando struck out the next three men to escape with the lead intact. That missed opportunity took the wind out of Chicago's sails as the Rays then put 4 on the board in the bottom of the inning with rookie Jalen Lowe's 2-run single in his playoff debut the big hit to end things. As predicted yesterday, Lowe filled in just fine for the injured Adley Rutschman, going 2-3 with a walk, run scored and the two ribbies. The bench played a big role in this series with Williams also filling in and going 5-13 with 5 RBI in the 4 games. So now it's on to the World Series against either the Mets or the Dodgers but either way things will open with Game 1 at the Trop.

And it's advantage Mets as the road team continues to win all the games in the NLCS, potentially good for the Dodgers as the series returns to New York although I'm sure they'd have rather won tonight: