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Art Deco · 06-17-2023, 11:39 AM

Record: 17-8
1st place AL East, 1/2 game up on the Yankees

Picking up where we left off last year (in the regular season that is), the Rays are off to a blazing start in 2026 and might even have a better record if not for a few games blown by the bullpen. Our collection of dynamic young talents is carrying us with Elly de la Cruz off to an MVP-like start and rookies Jackson Chourio and Brock Jones not far behind. The starting pitching (with one exception) has been very good, the team defense is solid and the only quibble is with the pen. How the month has gone:

Aside from a few tough losses the most frustrating thing so far is that we can't shake the Yankees, who are off to their own 17-9 start:

Yes Mason Auer is the unlikely MLB RBI leader with 25.

The offense has been something to behold, hitting .293 as a team and able to sustain rallies with hit after hit instead of the home run. They're only 8th in the league in longballs with nobody other than de la Cruz hitting more than 3 this month. And with the team speed off the charts we're stealing bases like crazy. Meanwhile it's not often you see the pen with a significantly worse ERA than the rotation but that's the story so far. It's pretty much the same pen as last year so I'm going to chalk it up to one of those things for now (in fact Huascar Ynoa, the main new addition, has been one of the better relievers so far). And the team defense has been brilliant with Wander Franco going from a liability at SS to Gold Glove-caliber defense at 2B.

The de la Cruz, Chourio and Jones trio has been incredible in April and with Chourio seemingly always on base Auer has been an RBI machine. And we've done all this with a fairly lousy month on offense from Wander, whose WAR is being carried by his +2.7 ZR at 2B - an incredible number for 25 games of action. Shea Langeliers hasn't hit as much as we'd hoped but he's been a Gold Glover behind the plate and while it's probably early statistical noise, his CERA is 3.12 to Patrick Bailey's 4.50.

Overall we stayed injury-free. Jose Siri is on a rehab assignment at Durham but we're in no hurry to bring him back as Chourio isn't giving back his CF job nor shifting to LF as Jones has been a revelation. Maybe he takes Cade Doughty's backup role although I like the fact Doughty can play the IF as well.

The rotation has been great with one glaring exception: Drew Rasmussen. After being perhaps our most consistent starter in 2025 Ras saw his stuff downgraded to 45 and has been routinely hit hard. He's better than this of course and he has by far the worst BABIP among the starters, but it's something to keep an eye on. The pen meanwhile has been an adventure with normally shutdown setup guys like Doval and Dominguez struggling and even closer Jason Adam had a meltdown where he blew a multi-run lead by giving up a 3-run homer in the 9th.

With Chourio and Jones graduated (but still on this list), Junior Caminero becomes our best near-term hitting prospect but he suffered a severely sprained ankle which will sideline him until mid-June; fortunately we don't really need him to help out. Diaz or Santana could join the rotation if needed, as could Costume, and all could contribute as relievers. Down there at #20 is Chase Petty, whom we claimed on waivers from Baltimore and has closer stuff and could be called on if the big league pen continues to struggle.

This has been a fun team so far, and we'll see what's in store for May which includes a big series mid-month at the Trop against the Yankees who have their own collection of exciting young talent (Tyler Soderstrom, Jasson Dominguez, Jordan Lawlar, Tink Hence, Brock Wilken).

06-17-2023, 11:39 AM	#45
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,708	April 2026 Record: 17-8 1st place AL East, 1/2 game up on the Yankees Picking up where we left off last year (in the regular season that is), the Rays are off to a blazing start in 2026 and might even have a better record if not for a few games blown by the bullpen. Our collection of dynamic young talents is carrying us with Elly de la Cruz off to an MVP-like start and rookies Jackson Chourio and Brock Jones not far behind. The starting pitching (with one exception) has been very good, the team defense is solid and the only quibble is with the pen. How the month has gone: Aside from a few tough losses the most frustrating thing so far is that we can't shake the Yankees, who are off to their own 17-9 start: Yes Mason Auer is the unlikely MLB RBI leader with 25. The offense has been something to behold, hitting .293 as a team and able to sustain rallies with hit after hit instead of the home run. They're only 8th in the league in longballs with nobody other than de la Cruz hitting more than 3 this month. And with the team speed off the charts we're stealing bases like crazy. Meanwhile it's not often you see the pen with a significantly worse ERA than the rotation but that's the story so far. It's pretty much the same pen as last year so I'm going to chalk it up to one of those things for now (in fact Huascar Ynoa, the main new addition, has been one of the better relievers so far). And the team defense has been brilliant with Wander Franco going from a liability at SS to Gold Glove-caliber defense at 2B. The de la Cruz, Chourio and Jones trio has been incredible in April and with Chourio seemingly always on base Auer has been an RBI machine. And we've done all this with a fairly lousy month on offense from Wander, whose WAR is being carried by his +2.7 ZR at 2B - an incredible number for 25 games of action. Shea Langeliers hasn't hit as much as we'd hoped but he's been a Gold Glover behind the plate and while it's probably early statistical noise, his CERA is 3.12 to Patrick Bailey's 4.50. Overall we stayed injury-free. Jose Siri is on a rehab assignment at Durham but we're in no hurry to bring him back as Chourio isn't giving back his CF job nor shifting to LF as Jones has been a revelation. Maybe he takes Cade Doughty's backup role although I like the fact Doughty can play the IF as well. The rotation has been great with one glaring exception: Drew Rasmussen. After being perhaps our most consistent starter in 2025 Ras saw his stuff downgraded to 45 and has been routinely hit hard. He's better than this of course and he has by far the worst BABIP among the starters, but it's something to keep an eye on. The pen meanwhile has been an adventure with normally shutdown setup guys like Doval and Dominguez struggling and even closer Jason Adam had a meltdown where he blew a multi-run lead by giving up a 3-run homer in the 9th. With Chourio and Jones graduated (but still on this list), Junior Caminero becomes our best near-term hitting prospect but he suffered a severely sprained ankle which will sideline him until mid-June; fortunately we don't really need him to help out. Diaz or Santana could join the rotation if needed, as could Costume, and all could contribute as relievers. Down there at #20 is Chase Petty, whom we claimed on waivers from Baltimore and has closer stuff and could be called on if the big league pen continues to struggle. This has been a fun team so far, and we'll see what's in store for May which includes a big series mid-month at the Trop against the Yankees who have their own collection of exciting young talent (Tyler Soderstrom, Jasson Dominguez, Jordan Lawlar, Tink Hence, Brock Wilken).