The 2022 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays - Page 43

Art Deco · 08-04-2024, 11:14 AM

Game 1: 6-0 W. WP-Acosta (7-2, 5.2 2 0 0 1 9). HR-Hardy (8). Acosta was dominant and Victor Mesa was 2-3 with 2 RBI to lead the offense as the Rays extended their winning streak to 7.

Game 2: 2-1 W. WP-Stevenson (2-2, 5 3 1 1 1 3). S-R.Rodriguez (23). HR-Mesa (12). All the action in this one came in the first inning as Cincy got its run and 3 hits off Stevenson in the top of the inning and after the leadoff man reached for the Rays, Mesa homered in the bottom of the frame and it stood up for the duration.

Game 3: 13-2 W. WP-Eldridge (7-4, 5 4 2 2 4 5). HR-Caminero (11), Mesa (13), C.Williams (11). The Rays routed the Reds to complete their third straight series sweep and make it 9 wins in a row. Williams was 3-3 with a walk, homer and 5 RBI while Mesa hit a second-inning grand slam to give him an 8-RBI series.

Team record: 48-36. The sweep enabled us to move into first place in the AL East, a half-game ahead of the Yankees. Next up: Boston visits for 4 games.

Art Deco · 08-09-2024, 12:02 PM

Transaction: Reliever Brandon Marklund goes on the IL with elbow inflammation and he'll be out three weeks. Christian Rodriguez, up briefly last season, is recalled to take on a long relief role.

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-R.Rodriguez (2-0). Starter-Evans (4.1 3 1 1 3 8). HR-Haro (6), Rivera (6), Hardy (9). Rays lost leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in this one before walking it off in the 9th on a pinch-single from Javy Jasso to extend the win streak to 10 games.

Game 2: 4-1 W. WP-Okuda (6-5, 7 5 0 0 1 5). HR-Kurokawa (5), Luciano (4). Okuda was brilliant and Kurokawa's 3-run homer in the 2nd was all the offense they needed as a result, making it 11 straight wins.

Game 3: 4-7 L. LP-Buckman (9-4). Starter-Acosta (5 4 2 2 3 2). HR-Kurokawa (6). The Rays took a 4-2 lead into the 6th but the bullpen let them down, resulting in the end of the team's 11-game win streak. Kurokawa hit another 3-run homer to give them that lead but Armenta blew the lead in the 6th allowing a 2-run homer, Buckman allowed the winner to score in the 7th and Armstrong allowed 2 more in the 8th.

Game 4: 5-4 W. WP-Khattak (2-7). Starter-Stevenson (3 7 4 4 2 2). The Rays bounced back from seeing their win streak snapped by prevailing in the most dramatic fashion, scoring 3 times with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th after trailing 4-2 to walk off a thriller. Hardy's RBI single made it 4-3 and then Yordan Alvarez came through with a 2-run double giving him 3 RBI on the day to send the Tropicana Field crown into delirium.

Team record: 51-37. The good run has enabled them to open up a 1 1/2-game lead on the Yankees and 2 1/2 on Toronto. Next up: We're off to Detroit for 3 games before we hit the All-Star break.

Art Deco · 08-11-2024, 11:39 PM

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Eldridge (8-4, 7 4 1 1 1 7). S-R.Rodriguez (24). Eldridge pitched perhaps his best game of the year and Angel Rivera's 2-run double in the 7th broke a 1-1 tie as the Rays made it 13 out of their last 14.

Game 2: 9-2 W. WP-Evans (7-2, 6 4 1 1 1 6). S-Khattak (1). HR-C.Williams (12), Mesa (14). Carson Williams' 2-run homer in the 2nd got them going and after Detroit got within 2-1 in the 6th they broke it open a 7-run 7th which included a 2-run Solano double and an RBI single from Williams. Khattak fanned 6 over the final 3 innings for his first career save.

Game 3: 6-3 W. WP-Okuda (7-5, 5 3 2 2 1 8). S-R.Rodriguez (25). HR-Mesa 2 (16). The Rays are probably the team most disappointed to see the All-Star break come as they completed the sweep of Detroit and made it 15 wins in their last 16 games. Victor Mesa had a career game, going 4-4 with 2 homers and 3 RBI to lead the way while Okuda and four relievers held Detroit to 2 runs.

Team record: 54-37, now 3 1/2 up on both the Yankees and Jays. Next up: the All-Star break before we return to action with 3 games in Kansas City.

Also we just had the Amateur Draft, so a post on that is next followed by All-Star coverage.

MLB News: Veteran KC OF Alex Verdugo collected his 2000th big-league hit.

Art Deco · 08-14-2024, 11:20 AM

All of our top picks are high schoolers.

Greene - A bat-first dude with potential for 75 contact, 65 power and 80 gap. The optimistic take on his glove is a 50 at 2B so that bat will have to carry him.

Gallashaw - Being a HS 1B he will to need to hit as well and the 75/65 potential needs to be mostly realized.

Miller - He seems to have a broad-based set of skills on offense

Also projects as a decent defensive corner OF, though CF might be pushing it.

Mendoza - He certainly fits the type in this draft for us as the bat is his calling card as well, although he could be a 50 behind the plate, which will play if he lives up to 65 contact and 60 power.

Botello - Finally a pitcher and one with 65/60/55 potential. A lefty from Illinois who throws in the low 90s with projection.

Guajardo - A righty from the IMG Academy in Bradenton who has an interesting profile. Only projected for 45 stuff but 70 movement and 80 control, he is a groundballer with a lot of dip on his pitches.

Art Deco · 08-14-2024, 11:49 AM

The rosters:

This year's American League standouts are:

SP Robert Ahlstrom (NYY)* - 8-5, 3.03 ERA, 113.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 3.5 WAR
SP Frank Balandra (SEA) - 9-3, 2.07 ERA, 108.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Donye Evans (TB) - 7-2, 2.43 ERA, 96.1 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 3.4 WAR
SP Ignacio Gonzales (NYY) - 8-7, 3.24 ERA, 119.1 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP Marcus Haynes (DET) - 6-3, 2.81 ERA, 105.2 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Dakota Stone (BOS) - 7-5, 3.01 ERA, 110.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 2.6 WAR
SP Melvin Trevino (BAL) - 4-9, 11 SV, 3.06 ERA, 88.1 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 12.2 K/9, 2.3 WAR
RP Luarbert Arias (SEA) - 5-1, 6 SV, 0.91 ERA, 39.2 IP, 0.78 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 1.7 WAR
RP Erubiel Armenta (TB) - 1-2, 2.08 ERA, 39.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Benjamin Buckman (TB) - 9-4, 2.20 ERA, 57.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 1.1 WAR
RP Nate Pearson (NYY) - 3-1, 2.82 ERA, 60.2 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.2 WAR
RP Randy Rodriguez (TB)* - 2-0, 24 SV, 0.78 ERA, 34.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 16.6 K/9, 1.9 WAR
CL Jason Thompson (LAA) - 2-1, 17 SV, 1.56 ERA, 52.0 IP, 0.85 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 2.2 WAR
C Blake Hunt (TEX) - .285/.360/.430, 200 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
C MJ Melendez (KC) - .256/.325/.500, 246 AB, 16 HR, 7 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.7 WAR (Injured)
C Adley Rutschman (CLE)* - .258/.319/.500, 264 AB, 16 HR, 121 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
C Tyler Stephenson (CWS) - .311/.392/.437, 167 AB, 3 HR, 135 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
1B Robby Castillo (MIN) - .298/.371/.531, 292 AB, 16 HR, 148 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)* - .305/.391/.595, 328 AB, 26 HR, 3 SB, 171 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
2B Bo Bichette (TOR) - .322/.396/.535, 314 AB, 13 HR, 4 SB, 158 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
2B Juan Corona (MIN)* - .366/.453/.616, 320 AB, 17 HR, 6 SB, 195 wRC+, 5.4 WAR
2B Noelvi Marte (SEA) - .309/.393/.621, 317 AB, 29 HR, 12 SB, 181 wRC+, 5.9 WAR
2B Jose Pino (TEX) - .259/.361/.522, 316 AB, 23 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
3B Wander Franco (BOS)* - .297/.367/.501, 337 AB, 15 HR, 4 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
3B Justin Sill (CWS)* - .282/.373/.613, 344 AB, 32 HR, 2 SB, 166 wRC+, 3.1 WAR (Injured)
SS Carlos Correa (NYY)* - .271/.376/.403, 295 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
SS Joe Fisher (OAK) - .275/.321/.412, 284 AB, 6 HR, 104 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
LF Dave Aleman (DET) - .274/.344/.480, 325 AB, 15 HR, 23 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
LF Xavier Crosby (LAA) - .326/.364/.484, 273 AB, 6 HR, 36 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
LF Natanael Santana (TOR) - .248/.322/.570, 298 AB, 26 HR, 4 SB, 140 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
LF Juan Soto (CLE)* - .288/.444/.640, 278 AB, 30 HR, 3 SB, 198 wRC+, 4.9 WAR (Injured)
LF James Wood (NYY) - .268/.349/.603, 257 AB, 22 HR, 2 SB, 157 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
CF Mitsuyoshi Arakawa (SEA) - .247/.340/.558, 231 AB, 19 HR, 12 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
CF Julio Rodriguez (SEA)* - .278/.368/.542, 288 AB, 18 HR, 9 SB, 150 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
CF Daulton Varsho (MIN) - .249/.331/.533, 285 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
RF Kyle Tucker (HOU)* - .254/.331/.429, 331 AB, 14 HR, 5 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
RF Trea Turner (MIN) - .305/.355/.536, 347 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR

The National League stars will be represented by:

SP Corbin Burnes (SD)* - 6-3, 2.92 ERA, 64.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, 2.1 WAR (Injured)
SP Matt Canterino (SD) - 10-4, 2.53 ERA, 103.0 IP, 0.94 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.7 WAR
SP Parker Detmers (WSH) - 6-2, 2.41 ERA, 101.0 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 13.2 K/9, 3.5 WAR
SP Emerson Hancock (PHI) - 8-4, 2.27 ERA, 99.0 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 2.6 WAR
SP Victor Mederos (MIA) - 10-3, 2.12 ERA, 102.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 3.6 WAR
SP Michael Mercado (WSH) - 8-6, 4.89 ERA, 114.0 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 1.3 WAR
SP Ryan Pepiot (MIA) - 7-4, 4.50 ERA, 102.0 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 1.7 WAR
SP Eduardo Zapata (SA) - 7-6, 2.78 ERA, 110.0 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 2.7 WAR
RP Javier Fuenmayor (MIA) - 4-2, 7 SV, 2.22 ERA, 65.0 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.9 WAR
RP Drew Strotman (SF) - 2-0, 1.53 ERA, 47.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Brandon Williamson (MIL) - 5-0, 1.44 ERA, 62.1 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 1.0 WAR
CL Joe Boyle (NYM) - 1-0, 18 SV, 2.35 ERA, 30.2 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 14.7 K/9, 0.7 WAR
CL Max Green (LAD) - 2-4, 13 SV, 3.24 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 0.9 WAR
CL Billy Sullivan (STL)* - 5-3, 17 SV, 2.78 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.73 WHIP, 16.4 K/9, 1.5 WAR
C Francisco Alvarez (NYM) - .231/.285/.408, 260 AB, 12 HR, 92 wRC+, 0.7 WAR
C Diego Cartaya (LAD)* - .253/.323/.468, 237 AB, 14 HR, 118 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
C Jesus Galiz (MIA) - .278/.363/.417, 216 AB, 5 HR, 120 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
1B Nate McCollum (MIA)* - .293/.375/.583, 314 AB, 26 HR, 164 wRC+, 3.3 WAR (Injured)
1B Matt Olson (ATL) - .284/.407/.478, 268 AB, 13 HR, 149 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Marco Sosa (PHI) - .358/.421/.637, 190 AB, 12 HR, 187 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
2B Jacob Gonzalez (ARI)* - .296/.342/.573, 321 AB, 23 HR, 4 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
2B Jose Herrera (PHI) - .288/.384/.620, 274 AB, 26 HR, 2 SB, 170 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
2B Hector Juarez (WSH)* - .351/.392/.609, 350 AB, 21 HR, 7 SB, 171 wRC+, 4.9 WAR
2B Jorge Polanco (NYM) - .280/.340/.531, 318 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
3B Colson Montgomery (COL) - .266/.354/.438, 297 AB, 7 HR, 3 SB, 111 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
3B Dean Moss (CHC) - .231/.332/.527, 338 AB, 31 HR, 134 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
3B Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)* - .291/.371/.582, 251 AB, 21 HR, 7 SB, 163 wRC+, 3.5 WAR (Injured)
3B Bobby Witt Jr. (PHI) - .287/.347/.520, 327 AB, 20 HR, 16 SB, 136 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
SS Eric Bitonti (PHI) - .301/.340/.537, 339 AB, 22 HR, 5 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
SS Adalberto Mondesi (LAD) - .276/.353/.523, 304 AB, 20 HR, 37 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
LF Manny Becerra (COL) - .348/.424/.520, 296 AB, 2 HR, 43 SB, 153 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
LF Zach DeLoach (SA)* - .293/.377/.491, 273 AB, 12 HR, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
LF Angel Reinas (LAD) - .280/.362/.557, 314 AB, 24 HR, 3 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
CF Dylan Carlson (STL)* - .310/.392/.581, 155 AB, 12 HR, 5 SB, 171 wRC+, 1.6 WAR (Injured)
RF Justin Bates (PHI)* - .322/.371/.551, 370 AB, 18 HR, 42 SB, 151 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
RF Omar Delgado (CIN) - .252/.341/.534, 305 AB, 25 HR, 136 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
RF Tony Ortiz (SD)* - .339/.398/.528, 339 AB, 10 HR, 21 SB, 160 wRC+, 4.4 WAR
RF Andy Pages (NYM) - .248/.333/.576, 250 AB, 27 HR, 3 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.7 WAR

Very on-brand for us to send 4 pitchers to the game and no hitters. The second selection for Donye and Armenta and the first for Buckman and Randy Rodriguez.

The Derby:

The game:

Armenta and Buckman combined to allow all 3 NL runs over their two innings but at least Randy tossed a scoreless frame. Former Ray Arakawa (whom we traded for Armenta) ended as the MVP.

Art Deco · 08-14-2024, 11:02 PM

Game 1: 9-7 W (11). WP-Buckman (10-4). Starter-Evans (3.1 5 5 5 4 7). Rays lost leads of 2-1 and 7-5 in this one but still prevailed with a pair in the 11th when Hardy singled home the winner and Yordan followed with an RBI knock of his own to give him 4 on the day. Solano was 3-6 with 2 RBI as well as the Rays overcame a non-all-star caliber start from their all-star Evans to win their 16th game in their last 17.

Game 2: 2-4 L (11). LP-Holcombe (0-2). Starter-Acosta (5 5 1 1 0 7). This should have been in the win column as the Rays took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th but all-star closer Randy Rodriguez allowed the Royals to tie it up and then Cody Holcombe surrendered a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th and defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

Game 3: 2-4 L. LP-Buckman (10-5). Starter-Stevenson (5 4 2 2 1 3). The offense was anemic again and suddenly the red-hot Rays are cold, losing their second straight.

Team record: 55-39. The Yankees swept Baltimore cut the division lead in half to only 2 games. Next up: 3 games at Coors Field against the Rockies, which should be fun I think.

Art Deco · 08-18-2024, 12:51 PM

Game 1: 3-4 L (10). LP-Khattak (2-8). Starter-Eldridge (6 5 0 0 0 6). HR-Hardy (10), Haro (7). A tough pill to swallow for the Rays as they took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th thanks to Eldridge's best start of the season in the unlikeliest location. But Ivan Armstrong, who has struggled mightily this year but was pressed into action with other pen arms tired, gave up 3 to tie it and another struggler Khattak lost it on a walk-off homer in the 10th.

Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-Buckman (11-5). S-Ogado (3). Starter-Okuda (3.1 7 5 5 2 5). HR-C.Williams (13), Haro (8). While the bullpen was at fault in last night's loss they were great today, going 5 2/3 scoreless and preserving a thin-one run lead in the thin air of Coors Field. Williams was the offensive star with a 2-run homer and RBI groundout in the 6th which proved the difference while Haro had a 3-run homer for the other Rays runs.

Game 3: 2-10 L. LP-Evans (7-3, 4.2 4 4 4 0 10). A quick 2-0 lead with ace Evans on the mound started things optimistically but that was short-lived as Colorado put 5 on the board in the 5th and never looked back.

Team record: 56-41. The division lead is down to 1 1/2 on the Jays and 2 on the Yankees. Next up: An off-day then home for 3 against cross-state rivals Miami.

Art Deco · 08-22-2024, 01:43 PM

Game 1: More LOB frustration for the Rays as they stranded 10 runners in a 3-1 loss to Miami at the Trop. Aldry Acosta (7-3) pitched well at 5 6 1 1 1 7 but was saddled with an undeserved loss while the bullpen came in and let the Marlins expand the lead.

Game 2: Jaden Stevenson had his best start since joining the rotation and offense wasn't a problem today as Tampa Bay beat Miami 6-1. Stevenson (3-2) was a tidy 6 2 0 0 1 4 and six different players knocked in a run apiece while five had two hits in the most balanced of attacks.

With the deadline approaching we swung a big trade to try and boost the middling offense:

Yes, the guy I end up trading for in just about every one of my Rays saves (I believe 23 is the exception) is playing for Tampa Bay again. We add perhaps the top all-around catcher in baseball for the stretch run with the division up for grabs and the cost for this rental is our 2028 and 2029 first-round picks. Both come with caveats though. In the case of Lake, he's never lived up to his pedigree and projects as a borderline fifth starter. As for Dreher, he's considered the #62 prospect in MLB and still has upper half of the rotation potential of 60/60/65. But he's still quite a ways from reaching it at 40/35/35 currently with some ugly minor league numbers - at AA Montgomery he's allowed 56 baserunners in 25 innings with a terrible 17/11 BB/K ratio. Rutschman meanwhile is a rental but is having a typically very good season at 2.6 WAR and on pace for 4.4 with 17 HR and an 804 OPS combined with very good defense. He's a big upgrade over Angel Rivera, a faithful servant of the club for the last several years but having an -0.1 WAR season at the moment. To make room for Rutschman on the active roster we DFA'd C Patrick Bailey, whose WAR was also underwater.

Game 3: A typical tight Rays game this season given our great pitching and mediocre offense has been a 2-1 or 3-2 game so it was quite a culture shock for Tampa Bay fans to witness a slugfest with Miami in the finale, one in which the Rays ended up prevailing 11-10 in 12 innings after trailing at one point 7-2. The deciding run scored on a walk-off wild pitch after they had loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th and made a winner of Erubiel Armenta (2-2). Before that the Rays had to suffer through a bad start from Brad Eldridge (4 8 5 5 0 2) and an unusual bad relief outing from Benjamin Buckman, who allowed 4 runs himself. The last two of those came after Rays scored 5 times to tie the game at 7, but they rallied again in the bottom of the 6th to go ahead 10-9. We stayed there until the 9th when Randy Rodriguez had a rare blown save and onto extras we went. The leading lights on offense were Nelson Haro and Carson Williams, both 4-6 with 2 RBI while Yordan Alvarez contributed a 2-run homer (#14). Adley Rutschman joined the club after the game started and came on in the 10th to hit a pinch-double in his first Rays at-bat.

Team record: 58-42. The Jays and Yankees played each other at the same time and New York swept them to pull within a game of us. Next up: The homestand concludes with 3 against the team tied for the best record in baseball, the 67-33 Mariners.

(Just realized I wrote this up in my wordier 20/21-save recap format so enjoy the extra text).

Art Deco · 08-25-2024, 09:17 PM

Game 1: 0-3 L. LP-Okuda (7-6, 4.1 3 1 1 4 4). Rays hitters only managed 6 hits as Seattle's Wyatt Hudepohl went to 14-2 with a complete-game shutout. Rutschman was 0-4 in his first Tampa Bay start.

Game 2: 2-4 L. LP-Evans (7-4, 5 5 3 3 1 10). They were fortunate not to be shut out again as Haro's 2-run double in the 8th halved the Seattle lead but was all they'd end up getting as the Mariners continued to show why they have the best record in the AL.

Game 3: 3-0 W. WP-Acosta (8-3, 6 3 0 0 1 7). S-R.Rodriguez (26). HR-Y.Alvarez (15). Rays only managed 4 hits but one of them was a 2-run blast by Yordan in the 3rd and they rode some splendid pitching to salvage the finale.

Team record: 59-44. The Yankees also dropped 2 of 3 to stay a game behind but Toronto swept its series to pull within one game themselves as the division has become a jumble again. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Houston which normally seems a daunting task but this year's Astros are a woeful 41-62.

Art Deco · 08-29-2024, 02:07 PM

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Stevenson (4-2, 5.1 7 2 2 2 4). S-R.Rodriguez (27). A solid outing from Stevenson with Cedillos' 2-run single the game's big hit. Unfortunately Cedillos later tweaked his groin and will have to go on the IL.

Transaction: Cedillos to the IL and SS Elijah Watts called up from Durham. Watts is a defensive specialist (rated 65) and he and Luciano will fill at short until Cedillos returns, which should be at the end of his 10-day stint.

Game 2: 4-6 L. LP-Eldridge (8-5, 4 6 6 6 2 3). HR-Solano (9), Haro (9). Eldridge was awful and put them in a 6-1 hole. The offense valiantly fought back and had some opportunities late to maybe tie or go ahead, but came up short.

Game 3: 9-8 W. WP-Khattak (3-8). S-R.Rodriguez (28). Starter-Okuda (4.1 6 4 4 1 4). HR-Solano (10), Haro (10), Hardy (11). Rays turned this one around from down 4-1 to up 9-4 then had to hold on for dear life as the normally-reliable Ogando and R.Rodriguez made a huge mess in the 8th and 9th nearly losing the lead. Haro's 3-run shot to cap a 5-run 6th put them up for good at 6-4 and Hardy's 3-run blast to make it 9-4 in the 8th proved to be huge given the troubles at the end.

Team record: 61-45. The Yankees swept their series to move into a first-place tie with us while the Jays held serve at a game behind. Next up: We conclude a fairly short road trip with 3 games in Minnesota against the 54-52 Twins.

Art Deco · 09-01-2024, 07:42 PM

Game 1: 4-11 L. LP-Evans (7-5, 4.2 6 6 6 0 6). HR-Caminero (12). It was a 1-1 game in the 5th before Minnesota unloaded on Evans for 5 runs and it only got worse from there. Caminero had a 2-run homer and Haro banged out 3 hits.

Transaction: Claimed P Tony Santillan on waivers from the Yankees, optioned P Walt Khattak to Durham.

Always good to take someone off the team you're battling for the division title with as Santillan became excess baggage after some deadline deals by New York but he had a 2.55 ERA with a 9/69 BB/K ratio in 55 innings so I have no idea what they were thinking but I'm not complaining. Santillan can start as well as we're going to stick him in the rotation in place of the struggling Bryce Eldridge. And we send another fallen starter in Khattak to the minors where he'll get a regular turn and maybe iron things out.

Game 2: 8-3 W. WP-Acosta (9-3, 5 7 2 2 0 9). HR-Y.Alvarez (16), Hardy (12). This started similar to yesterday's game (1-1 into the 6th) but went in a different direction as the Rays scored 5 in the inning on a Mesa RBI single to break the tie, a 3-run Yordan homer to break it open, and a back-to-back jack from Hardy. It was also another 3-hit game for the red-hot Haro.

Game 3: 6-14 L. LP-Santillan (0-1, 1.2 6 5 5 2 4). HR-Haro (11). Well maybe Santillan was a Yankee sleeper agent looking to sabotage us as he couldn't have done better (or worse) if that were the case, losing 1-0 and 3-1 leads in the first two innings before being yanked. And in case Eldridge was looking to show we made a mistake by pulling him from the rotation, he and was almost as bad as Santillan when he relieved him. Haro remained scorching hot with two more hits and 3 RBI, including a homer to lead off the game.

Team record: 62-47. The Yankees and Jays went head-to-head with New York taking 2 of 3, so they lead the division by a game over us while we're a game ahead of Toronto. Next up: A day off then we're back home for 3 against Boston.

Art Deco · 09-06-2024, 06:31 PM

Transaction: Christian Rodriguez came down with a tired arm and will miss a couple of weeks so Walt Khattak got a reprieve on his option to Durham and will continue to work out of the pen.

Game 1: 1-2 L. LP-Buckman (11-6). Starter-Stevenson (5 2 1 1 0 6). HR-C.Williams (14). The offense came up lame and Boston scored twice in the 6th off Buckman, who's struggled some since being named to the All-Star team.

Game 2: 5-6 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (2-1). Starter-Okuda (4 4 4 4 3 6). HR-Hardy (13). Another tough loss for the Rays as they battled back from 4-0 and 5-4 deficits only to lose when Randy gave up a rare run in the 9th. Hardy's 3-run homer in the 5th was the big hit in the ill-fated comeback.

Game 3: 7-6 W (12). WP-Watters (3-1). Starter-Evans (4 5 6 5 3 4, 3 HR). HR-Y.Alvarez (17), Mesa (17), Rutschman (1/18), Haro (12). This one started out like yesterday's with another bad start from Donye (who's seen his ERA rise from 2.43 to 3.74 over his last 5 starts, all terrible) putting the Rays in a 5-1 hole. This time they answered right back with homers from Yordan, Mesa and Rutschman (his first as a Ray after getting off to a very slow start with his new club) and actually went up 6-5 before Donye gave up his 3rd homer of the day in the 5th. We stayed there all the way until the 12th when Haro walked it off with a 2-out solo shot to avoid a disaster of a series.

Team record: 63-49. The Yankees won 2 of 3 and are now 2 up on both the Rays and Toronto, who are also tied for the first two wild card berths. Next up: Kansas City comes to town for 3 games.

MLB News: A couple of former Rays made news as Alec Bohm, who played with the team during 2022, announced his retirement with Baltimore at the end of the season and P Forrest Whitley, who pitched for the club from 2023-27, added another injury to his long list of them and the Yankee will be out 10 months with a torn ACL.

Art Deco · 09-12-2024, 02:31 PM

Game 1: 9-6 W. WP-Eldridge (9-5). S-Watters (2/11). Starter-Acosta (3 5 3 3 3 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (18). A break from the typical low-scoring 2032 Rays games as Tampa Bay went up 7-1 after two innings but Acosta couldn't handle prosperity, letting the Royals back in it. Yordan had a 4-RBI day including a 3-run shot in the first that sent the Rays on their way.

Transaction: Starting SS Isaac Cedillos comes off the IL and Elijah Watts is sent back to Durham.

Game 2: 1-4 L. LP-Santillan (0-2, 5 7 3 3 1 5). HR-Cedillos (12). Rays weren't totally shut down as they had 9 hits, but could never string any of them together and went down to defeat.

Game 3: 7-0 W. WP-Stevenson (5-2, 6 2 0 0 1 6). HR-Mesa (18). This one was scoreless until the 5th when the Rays erupted for 5 runs on a 2-run Haro single and Mesa's 3-run homer, one of his 3 hits on the day. Stevenson meanwhile pitched his best game as a Ray.

Team record: 65-50. Status quo as the Yankees also took 2 of 3 to stay 2 games ahead of the Rays while they remain in the first wild card, two up on Toronto.

MLB News: Not only did San Antonio's Oneil Cruz slug his 300th homer but it came as part of a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Meanwhile Houston's Kyle Tucker, who moonlighted as a Ray with a 7.2-WAR season in 2025 in between two lengthy stints with the Astros, reached the 2000-hit plateau.

Art Deco · 09-16-2024, 02:47 PM

Transaction: Claimed P Luis Oviedo off waivers from Seattle, designated P Ivan Armstrong for assignment and placed him on waivers. (Armstrong cleared waivers and was assigned to Durham). Oviedo has 65/80/45 stuff and a 2.47 ERA with 77 Ks in 58 IP for the Mariners so he was a definite upgrade on Armstrong, who has been miserable all year with a 6.35 ERA.

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Okuda (8-6, 6.2 1 1 1 3 7). S-R.Rodriguez (29). HR-Solano (11), Haro (13). A gem from Okuda and a big day at the plate from Haro, who had an RBI single and a 2-run homer.

Game 2: 3-2 W. WP-Evans (8-5, 5 3 0 0 2 7). S-R.Rodriguez (30). It was good to see Donye dominating again after a bad stretch and the game shouldn't have been as close as it was as the Rays left 13 on base as they reached 17 times. Yordan's 2-run single was the one big hit.

Game 3: 3-8 L. LP-Buckman (11-7). Starter-Acosta (5.1 5 2 2 3 5). HR-Caminero (13). It was a 2-2 game into the 7th before Cleveland teed off on Buckman, who allowed 4 runs and has been pretty lousy since his surprise All-Star selection. He also has a whopping 18 decisions in middle relief as we have a lot of starters who can barely go 5 combined with a team that doesn't score of a ton of runs.

Team record: 67-51. Normally taking 2 of 3 on the road against a good team would be a boost, but the Yankees swept their series so the Rays now find themselves 3 out of first place. The good news is that Toronto has struggled of late and Tampa Bay is 3 ahead of them, as well as solidly in the first wild card position. Next up: A day off and then a chance to do something about the division deficit as we play 3 at Yankee Stadium.

Art Deco · 09-20-2024, 07:25 PM

Game 1: 3-2 W. WP-Watters (4-1). S-R.Rodriguez (31). Starter-Stevenson (4 5 2 2 3 3). HR-Caminero (14). A 2-run rally in the 9th gave the Rays the win with Cedillos' RBI single the decider as they shaved the Yankees' division lead to 2 games.

Game 2: 1-2 L. LP-Oviedo (0-1). Starter-Santillan (5 1 1 1 1 5). A heartbreaker as Oviedo gave up a run in the 8th to lose it, spoiling Santillan's best start as a Ray.

Game 3: 4-6 L. LP-Okuda (8-7, 5 4 5 5 2 3, 3 HR). HR-C.Williams (15). Another tough loss as Williams gave them a 3-2 lead in the 6th with a 3-run jack but Okuda but the first two on in the bottom of the inning and then gave up his third homer of the game and that was all she wrote, dropping the Rays 4 behind New York.

Team record: 68-53. KC has won 6 straight and moved into a tie with the Rays for the first wild card, and both of them are only one up on Toronto. Next up: Home for 3 against those Jays.

MLB News: Boston's Spencer Torkelson hit his 400th career homer.

Art Deco · 09-25-2024, 03:44 PM

Game 1: 3-4 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (2-2). Starter-Evans (5 6 2 2 3 5). A tough loss for Tampa Bay as Solano's 2-run single gave them a 3-2 lead after 7 but stalwart late guys Ogando and Rodriguez each gave up a run to let Toronto tie then win.

Game 2: 0-2 L. LP-Acosta (9-4, 6.1 3 2 2 2 7). The offense let them down in a big way, squandering numerous early chances to score then going completely limp in the later innings as Toronto passed the Rays into 2nd place in the AL East.

Game 3: 5-8 L. LP-Stevenson (5-3, 4 6 4 4 1 4). The Rays closed out a disastrous home series with Toronto with another loss, one that wasn't nearly as close as the final indicated as they scored all 5 runs in the 8th after trailing 8-0.

Team record: 68-56. They're now a full 6 1/2 behind the first-place Yankees and are in third two games behind Toronto. They're clinging on to the 3rd wild card, 2 1/2 ahead of Minnesota. Next up: An off-day to lick our wounds then 3 games in Oakland against a bad (46-78) A's team.

Art Deco · 10-01-2024, 08:23 PM

Game 1: 7-2 W. WP-Santillan (1-2, 5 5 2 2 2 6). HR-Y.Alvarez (19), Haro 2 (15). Haro had himself a game - needing a triple to complete the cycle late, he did one better by hitting his 2nd homer of the game to finish 4-5 with a double, two homers and 3 RBI while Yordan's 2-run shot in the 1st was big, backing Santillan for his first Rays win.

Game 2: 3-7 L. LP-Okuda (8-8, 3.1 8 5 5 2 3). HR-C.Williams (16). Okuda was awful and the Rays were never really in this one.

Game 3: 1-4 L. LP-Evans (8-6, 3 6 4 4 4 4). HR-C.Williams (17). The offense was AWOL again today with only five hits, two of which came in the 9th. Williams at least can hold his head high with another 2-hit game featuring a homer.

Team record: 69-58. Losing 2 of 3 to a bad Oakland team was far from optimal and they're now 8 out in the division so that's pretty much a lost cause. Of more import is that they're hanging on to a 2-game lead over Minnesota for the third wild card. Next up: A return to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field for 3 against those very Twins in the year's most important series to date.

Art Deco · 10-05-2024, 09:17 AM

Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Eldridge (10-5). Starter-Acosta (4.1 1 1 1 4 5). HR-Mesa (19). The Rays scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to win this critical wild card battle over Minnesota, first with Mesa's game-tying 2-run homer and then Adley Rutschman finally lived up to his "Clutchman" nickname after a miserable first month in Tampa Bay (156/229/229) with a walk-off RBI single.

Game 2: 3-4 L. LP-Stevenson (5-4, 3.1 5 4 4 1 3). HR-Haro (16). The Rays' offensive isn't good enough to overcome a 4-0 like Stevenson put them in, although they came close with the tying run in scoring position in the 9th.

Game 3: 3-2 W (10). WP-R.Rodriguez (3-2). Starter-Santillan (5 1 1 1 2 9). Another walk-off win as the Rays take the rubber game and made it a 3-game lead over the Twins for the final AL wild card. Santillan was dominant but Solano was the hero with his 3rd hit and 2nd RBI single of the day the winner.

Team record: 71-59. Next up: Back on the road, which has been unkind to the Rays this season, for 3 in Toronto, a game ahead of us in 2nd place in both the AL East and the Wild Card standings.

Art Deco · 10-13-2024, 10:49 AM

Game 1: 4-3 W (10). WP-Watters (5-1). S-R.Rodriguez (32). Starter-Okuda (5 4 2 2 2 6). HR-Rutschman (2/19), Haro (17), Solano (12). Solano had to win the game twice for the Rays, first with a solo homer in the 8th to make it 3-2 and then after they blew the lead in the 9th he delivered an RBI double in the 10th to cap a 3-hit day.

Game 2: 5-8 L. LP-Oviedo (0-2). Starter-Evans (4.1 3 3 3 1 8). HR-Cedillos (13), Caminero (15). Caminero's 3-run homer in the top of the 8th gave the Rays a 5-3 lead but Oviedo was horrible and so was Ogando, and 5 runs later Toronto had a win.

Transaction: Activated 2B Ozzie Albies from the IL and recalled P Jaheim Lennon from AAA Durham. Albies has missed the entire season to date thanks to a torn labrum suffered in spring training and will finally make his 2032 debut, although he'll serve as a backup to Victor Mesa who's had a solid year in his stead. Lennon is the #19 prospect in baseball and had pitched effectively (2.70 ERA in 20 IP) earlier this year for the big club.

Game 3: 9-4 W. WP-Acosta (10-4, 5 4 2 2 2 5). HR-Rivera (7), Caminero (16), C.Williams (18). Rivera's 2-run homer in the 6th put Tampa Bay ahead to stay while Caminero and Cedillos each had 3 hits.

Game 4: 5-6 L. LP-Armenta (2-3). Starter-Stevenson (4.2 7 3 3 2 4). HR-Caminero (17), Hardy (14). In a similar game to two nights ago, Hardy's homer put them up 4-3 but the bullpen failed them again with Armenta putting two men on only for Ogando to give up a double to score them both. They had the bases loaded in the 9th with nobody out down two, but could only score once on a sac fly.

Team record: 73-61. With the split they remained one behind Toronto in the third wild card spot but 4 games ahead of Minnesota. Next up: Back home for 3 against the Angels.

Art Deco · 10-16-2024, 06:12 PM

Game 1: 2-1 W. WP-Watters (6-1). S-R.Rodriguez (33). Starter-Santillan (5 5 1 1 0 5). HR-Hardy (15), Luciano (5). Luciano's solo homer in the 8th broke a 1-1 tie in the Rays' favor as they eked by the Angels.

Game 2: 2-3 L (11). LP-Oviedo (0-3). Starter-Okuda (6 5 2 2 1 7). HR-Solano (13). This time two runs weren't enough as Oviedo's struggles since joining the Rays continued as he allowed the winning run in the 11th.

Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Buckman (12-7). Starter-Evans (4.1 2 0 0 4 7). Finally some offense. 2-run doubles from Hardy and Caminero were the big hits today as the Rays enjoyed a rare laugher. Buckman has a starter's W/L record and is approaching 100 innings as a latter-day Mike Marshall, usually coming in during the 5th or 6th for one of our many stamina-challenged starters.

Team record: 75-62. The division is long gone but we have a healthy 5-game lead on Minnesota for the third wild card. Given this team's drastic home/road splits, it might behoove them to catch Kansas City for the first wild card spot and a series at the Trop; they're only 2 back of the Royals.

The offense may come in fits and starts but one guy had a big week:

08-04-2024, 11:14 AM	#841
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 2-4, 2032: vs Cincinnati (3) Game 1: 6-0 W. WP-Acosta (7-2, 5.2 2 0 0 1 9). HR-Hardy (8). Acosta was dominant and Victor Mesa was 2-3 with 2 RBI to lead the offense as the Rays extended their winning streak to 7. Game 2: 2-1 W. WP-Stevenson (2-2, 5 3 1 1 1 3). S-R.Rodriguez (23). HR-Mesa (12). All the action in this one came in the first inning as Cincy got its run and 3 hits off Stevenson in the top of the inning and after the leadoff man reached for the Rays, Mesa homered in the bottom of the frame and it stood up for the duration. Game 3: 13-2 W. WP-Eldridge (7-4, 5 4 2 2 4 5). HR-Caminero (11), Mesa (13), C.Williams (11). The Rays routed the Reds to complete their third straight series sweep and make it 9 wins in a row. Williams was 3-3 with a walk, homer and 5 RBI while Mesa hit a second-inning grand slam to give him an 8-RBI series. Team record: 48-36. The sweep enabled us to move into first place in the AL East, a half-game ahead of the Yankees. Next up: Boston visits for 4 games.

08-09-2024, 12:02 PM	#842
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 5-8, 2032: vs Boston (4) Transaction: Reliever Brandon Marklund goes on the IL with elbow inflammation and he'll be out three weeks. Christian Rodriguez, up briefly last season, is recalled to take on a long relief role. Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-R.Rodriguez (2-0). Starter-Evans (4.1 3 1 1 3 8). HR-Haro (6), Rivera (6), Hardy (9). Rays lost leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in this one before walking it off in the 9th on a pinch-single from Javy Jasso to extend the win streak to 10 games. Game 2: 4-1 W. WP-Okuda (6-5, 7 5 0 0 1 5). HR-Kurokawa (5), Luciano (4). Okuda was brilliant and Kurokawa's 3-run homer in the 2nd was all the offense they needed as a result, making it 11 straight wins. Game 3: 4-7 L. LP-Buckman (9-4). Starter-Acosta (5 4 2 2 3 2). HR-Kurokawa (6). The Rays took a 4-2 lead into the 6th but the bullpen let them down, resulting in the end of the team's 11-game win streak. Kurokawa hit another 3-run homer to give them that lead but Armenta blew the lead in the 6th allowing a 2-run homer, Buckman allowed the winner to score in the 7th and Armstrong allowed 2 more in the 8th. Game 4: 5-4 W. WP-Khattak (2-7). Starter-Stevenson (3 7 4 4 2 2). The Rays bounced back from seeing their win streak snapped by prevailing in the most dramatic fashion, scoring 3 times with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th after trailing 4-2 to walk off a thriller. Hardy's RBI single made it 4-3 and then Yordan Alvarez came through with a 2-run double giving him 3 RBI on the day to send the Tropicana Field crown into delirium. Team record: 51-37. The good run has enabled them to open up a 1 1/2-game lead on the Yankees and 2 1/2 on Toronto. Next up: We're off to Detroit for 3 games before we hit the All-Star break.

08-11-2024, 11:39 PM	#843
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 9-11, 2032: at Detroit (3) Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Eldridge (8-4, 7 4 1 1 1 7). S-R.Rodriguez (24). Eldridge pitched perhaps his best game of the year and Angel Rivera's 2-run double in the 7th broke a 1-1 tie as the Rays made it 13 out of their last 14. Game 2: 9-2 W. WP-Evans (7-2, 6 4 1 1 1 6). S-Khattak (1). HR-C.Williams (12), Mesa (14). Carson Williams' 2-run homer in the 2nd got them going and after Detroit got within 2-1 in the 6th they broke it open a 7-run 7th which included a 2-run Solano double and an RBI single from Williams. Khattak fanned 6 over the final 3 innings for his first career save. Game 3: 6-3 W. WP-Okuda (7-5, 5 3 2 2 1 8). S-R.Rodriguez (25). HR-Mesa 2 (16). The Rays are probably the team most disappointed to see the All-Star break come as they completed the sweep of Detroit and made it 15 wins in their last 16 games. Victor Mesa had a career game, going 4-4 with 2 homers and 3 RBI to lead the way while Okuda and four relievers held Detroit to 2 runs. Team record: 54-37, now 3 1/2 up on both the Yankees and Jays. Next up: the All-Star break before we return to action with 3 games in Kansas City. Also we just had the Amateur Draft, so a post on that is next followed by All-Star coverage. MLB News: Veteran KC OF Alex Verdugo collected his 2000th big-league hit.

08-14-2024, 11:20 AM	#844
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	The 2032 Amateur Draft All of our top picks are high schoolers. Greene - A bat-first dude with potential for 75 contact, 65 power and 80 gap. The optimistic take on his glove is a 50 at 2B so that bat will have to carry him. Gallashaw - Being a HS 1B he will to need to hit as well and the 75/65 potential needs to be mostly realized. Miller - He seems to have a broad-based set of skills on offense Also projects as a decent defensive corner OF, though CF might be pushing it. Mendoza - He certainly fits the type in this draft for us as the bat is his calling card as well, although he could be a 50 behind the plate, which will play if he lives up to 65 contact and 60 power. Botello - Finally a pitcher and one with 65/60/55 potential. A lefty from Illinois who throws in the low 90s with projection. Guajardo - A righty from the IMG Academy in Bradenton who has an interesting profile. Only projected for 45 stuff but 70 movement and 80 control, he is a groundballer with a lot of dip on his pitches.

08-14-2024, 11:49 AM	#845
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	All-Star Break 2032 The rosters: This year's American League standouts are: SP Robert Ahlstrom (NYY)* - 8-5, 3.03 ERA, 113.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 3.5 WAR SP Frank Balandra (SEA) - 9-3, 2.07 ERA, 108.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 2.4 WAR SP Donye Evans (TB) - 7-2, 2.43 ERA, 96.1 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 3.4 WAR SP Ignacio Gonzales (NYY) - 8-7, 3.24 ERA, 119.1 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 2.9 WAR SP Marcus Haynes (DET) - 6-3, 2.81 ERA, 105.2 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, 2.5 WAR SP Dakota Stone (BOS) - 7-5, 3.01 ERA, 110.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 2.6 WAR SP Melvin Trevino (BAL) - 4-9, 11 SV, 3.06 ERA, 88.1 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 12.2 K/9, 2.3 WAR RP Luarbert Arias (SEA) - 5-1, 6 SV, 0.91 ERA, 39.2 IP, 0.78 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 1.7 WAR RP Erubiel Armenta (TB) - 1-2, 2.08 ERA, 39.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR RP Benjamin Buckman (TB) - 9-4, 2.20 ERA, 57.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 1.1 WAR RP Nate Pearson (NYY) - 3-1, 2.82 ERA, 60.2 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.2 WAR *RP Randy Rodriguez (TB) - 2-0, 24 SV, 0.78 ERA, 34.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 16.6 K/9, 1.9 WAR** CL Jason Thompson (LAA) - 2-1, 17 SV, 1.56 ERA, 52.0 IP, 0.85 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 2.2 WAR C Blake Hunt (TEX) - .285/.360/.430, 200 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.0 WAR C MJ Melendez (KC) - .256/.325/.500, 246 AB, 16 HR, 7 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.7 WAR (Injured) C Adley Rutschman (CLE)* - .258/.319/.500, 264 AB, 16 HR, 121 wRC+, 2.5 WAR C Tyler Stephenson (CWS) - .311/.392/.437, 167 AB, 3 HR, 135 wRC+, 2.0 WAR 1B Robby Castillo (MIN) - .298/.371/.531, 292 AB, 16 HR, 148 wRC+, 2.1 WAR 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)* - .305/.391/.595, 328 AB, 26 HR, 3 SB, 171 wRC+, 3.7 WAR 2B Bo Bichette (TOR) - .322/.396/.535, 314 AB, 13 HR, 4 SB, 158 wRC+, 3.4 WAR 2B Juan Corona (MIN)* - .366/.453/.616, 320 AB, 17 HR, 6 SB, 195 wRC+, 5.4 WAR 2B Noelvi Marte (SEA) - .309/.393/.621, 317 AB, 29 HR, 12 SB, 181 wRC+, 5.9 WAR 2B Jose Pino (TEX) - .259/.361/.522, 316 AB, 23 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 3.1 WAR 3B Wander Franco (BOS)* - .297/.367/.501, 337 AB, 15 HR, 4 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.4 WAR 3B Justin Sill (CWS)* - .282/.373/.613, 344 AB, 32 HR, 2 SB, 166 wRC+, 3.1 WAR (Injured) SS Carlos Correa (NYY)* - .271/.376/.403, 295 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 121 wRC+, 2.9 WAR SS Joe Fisher (OAK) - .275/.321/.412, 284 AB, 6 HR, 104 wRC+, 1.7 WAR LF Dave Aleman (DET) - .274/.344/.480, 325 AB, 15 HR, 23 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.8 WAR LF Xavier Crosby (LAA) - .326/.364/.484, 273 AB, 6 HR, 36 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.7 WAR LF Natanael Santana (TOR) - .248/.322/.570, 298 AB, 26 HR, 4 SB, 140 wRC+, 2.5 WAR LF Juan Soto (CLE)* - .288/.444/.640, 278 AB, 30 HR, 3 SB, 198 wRC+, 4.9 WAR (Injured) LF James Wood (NYY) - .268/.349/.603, 257 AB, 22 HR, 2 SB, 157 wRC+, 2.9 WAR CF Mitsuyoshi Arakawa (SEA) - .247/.340/.558, 231 AB, 19 HR, 12 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.9 WAR CF Julio Rodriguez (SEA)* - .278/.368/.542, 288 AB, 18 HR, 9 SB, 150 wRC+, 3.5 WAR CF Daulton Varsho (MIN) - .249/.331/.533, 285 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 134 wRC+, 2.6 WAR RF Kyle Tucker (HOU)* - .254/.331/.429, 331 AB, 14 HR, 5 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.2 WAR RF Trea Turner (MIN) - .305/.355/.536, 347 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR The National League stars will be represented by: SP Corbin Burnes (SD)* - 6-3, 2.92 ERA, 64.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, 2.1 WAR (Injured) SP Matt Canterino (SD) - 10-4, 2.53 ERA, 103.0 IP, 0.94 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.7 WAR SP Parker Detmers (WSH) - 6-2, 2.41 ERA, 101.0 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 13.2 K/9, 3.5 WAR SP Emerson Hancock (PHI) - 8-4, 2.27 ERA, 99.0 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 2.6 WAR SP Victor Mederos (MIA) - 10-3, 2.12 ERA, 102.0 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 3.6 WAR SP Michael Mercado (WSH) - 8-6, 4.89 ERA, 114.0 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 1.3 WAR SP Ryan Pepiot (MIA) - 7-4, 4.50 ERA, 102.0 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 1.7 WAR SP Eduardo Zapata (SA) - 7-6, 2.78 ERA, 110.0 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 2.7 WAR RP Javier Fuenmayor (MIA) - 4-2, 7 SV, 2.22 ERA, 65.0 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.9 WAR RP Drew Strotman (SF) - 2-0, 1.53 ERA, 47.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.0 WAR RP Brandon Williamson (MIL) - 5-0, 1.44 ERA, 62.1 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 1.0 WAR CL Joe Boyle (NYM) - 1-0, 18 SV, 2.35 ERA, 30.2 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 14.7 K/9, 0.7 WAR CL Max Green (LAD) - 2-4, 13 SV, 3.24 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 0.9 WAR CL Billy Sullivan (STL)* - 5-3, 17 SV, 2.78 ERA, 35.2 IP, 0.73 WHIP, 16.4 K/9, 1.5 WAR C Francisco Alvarez (NYM) - .231/.285/.408, 260 AB, 12 HR, 92 wRC+, 0.7 WAR C Diego Cartaya (LAD)* - .253/.323/.468, 237 AB, 14 HR, 118 wRC+, 2.2 WAR C Jesus Galiz (MIA) - .278/.363/.417, 216 AB, 5 HR, 120 wRC+, 1.3 WAR 1B Nate McCollum (MIA)* - .293/.375/.583, 314 AB, 26 HR, 164 wRC+, 3.3 WAR (Injured) 1B Matt Olson (ATL) - .284/.407/.478, 268 AB, 13 HR, 149 wRC+, 2.4 WAR 1B Marco Sosa (PHI) - .358/.421/.637, 190 AB, 12 HR, 187 wRC+, 2.4 WAR 2B Jacob Gonzalez (ARI)* - .296/.342/.573, 321 AB, 23 HR, 4 SB, 146 wRC+, 2.8 WAR 2B Jose Herrera (PHI) - .288/.384/.620, 274 AB, 26 HR, 2 SB, 170 wRC+, 3.4 WAR 2B Hector Juarez (WSH)* - .351/.392/.609, 350 AB, 21 HR, 7 SB, 171 wRC+, 4.9 WAR 2B Jorge Polanco (NYM) - .280/.340/.531, 318 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.0 WAR 3B Colson Montgomery (COL) - .266/.354/.438, 297 AB, 7 HR, 3 SB, 111 wRC+, 1.8 WAR 3B Dean Moss (CHC) - .231/.332/.527, 338 AB, 31 HR, 134 wRC+, 2.1 WAR 3B Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)* - .291/.371/.582, 251 AB, 21 HR, 7 SB, 163 wRC+, 3.5 WAR (Injured) 3B Bobby Witt Jr. (PHI) - .287/.347/.520, 327 AB, 20 HR, 16 SB, 136 wRC+, 4.0 WAR SS Eric Bitonti (PHI) - .301/.340/.537, 339 AB, 22 HR, 5 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.4 WAR SS Adalberto Mondesi (LAD) - .276/.353/.523, 304 AB, 20 HR, 37 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.5 WAR LF Manny Becerra (COL) - .348/.424/.520, 296 AB, 2 HR, 43 SB, 153 wRC+, 3.2 WAR LF Zach DeLoach (SA)* - .293/.377/.491, 273 AB, 12 HR, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR LF Angel Reinas (LAD) - .280/.362/.557, 314 AB, 24 HR, 3 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.1 WAR CF Dylan Carlson (STL)* - .310/.392/.581, 155 AB, 12 HR, 5 SB, 171 wRC+, 1.6 WAR (Injured) RF Justin Bates (PHI)* - .322/.371/.551, 370 AB, 18 HR, 42 SB, 151 wRC+, 4.0 WAR RF Omar Delgado (CIN) - .252/.341/.534, 305 AB, 25 HR, 136 wRC+, 1.8 WAR RF Tony Ortiz (SD)* - .339/.398/.528, 339 AB, 10 HR, 21 SB, 160 wRC+, 4.4 WAR RF Andy Pages (NYM) - .248/.333/.576, 250 AB, 27 HR, 3 SB, 151 wRC+, 2.7 WAR Very on-brand for us to send 4 pitchers to the game and no hitters. The second selection for Donye and Armenta and the first for Buckman and Randy Rodriguez. The Derby: The game: Armenta and Buckman combined to allow all 3 NL runs over their two innings but at least Randy tossed a scoreless frame. Former Ray Arakawa (whom we traded for Armenta) ended as the MVP.

08-14-2024, 11:02 PM	#846
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 16-18, 2032: at Kansas City (3) Game 1: 9-7 W (11). WP-Buckman (10-4). Starter-Evans (3.1 5 5 5 4 7). Rays lost leads of 2-1 and 7-5 in this one but still prevailed with a pair in the 11th when Hardy singled home the winner and Yordan followed with an RBI knock of his own to give him 4 on the day. Solano was 3-6 with 2 RBI as well as the Rays overcame a non-all-star caliber start from their all-star Evans to win their 16th game in their last 17. Game 2: 2-4 L (11). LP-Holcombe (0-2). Starter-Acosta (5 5 1 1 0 7). This should have been in the win column as the Rays took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th but all-star closer Randy Rodriguez allowed the Royals to tie it up and then Cody Holcombe surrendered a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th and defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory. Game 3: 2-4 L. LP-Buckman (10-5). Starter-Stevenson (5 4 2 2 1 3). The offense was anemic again and suddenly the red-hot Rays are cold, losing their second straight. Team record: 55-39. The Yankees swept Baltimore cut the division lead in half to only 2 games. Next up: 3 games at Coors Field against the Rockies, which should be fun I think.

08-18-2024, 12:51 PM	#847
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 19-21, 2032: at Colorado (3) Game 1: 3-4 L (10). LP-Khattak (2-8). Starter-Eldridge (6 5 0 0 0 6). HR-Hardy (10), Haro (7). A tough pill to swallow for the Rays as they took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th thanks to Eldridge's best start of the season in the unlikeliest location. But Ivan Armstrong, who has struggled mightily this year but was pressed into action with other pen arms tired, gave up 3 to tie it and another struggler Khattak lost it on a walk-off homer in the 10th. Game 2: 6-5 W. WP-Buckman (11-5). S-Ogado (3). Starter-Okuda (3.1 7 5 5 2 5). HR-C.Williams (13), Haro (8). While the bullpen was at fault in last night's loss they were great today, going 5 2/3 scoreless and preserving a thin-one run lead in the thin air of Coors Field. Williams was the offensive star with a 2-run homer and RBI groundout in the 6th which proved the difference while Haro had a 3-run homer for the other Rays runs. Game 3: 2-10 L. LP-Evans (7-3, 4.2 4 4 4 0 10). A quick 2-0 lead with ace Evans on the mound started things optimistically but that was short-lived as Colorado put 5 on the board in the 5th and never looked back. Team record: 56-41. The division lead is down to 1 1/2 on the Jays and 2 on the Yankees. Next up: An off-day then home for 3 against cross-state rivals Miami.

08-22-2024, 01:43 PM	#848
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 23-25, 2032: vs Miami (3) Game 1: More LOB frustration for the Rays as they stranded 10 runners in a 3-1 loss to Miami at the Trop. Aldry Acosta (7-3) pitched well at 5 6 1 1 1 7 but was saddled with an undeserved loss while the bullpen came in and let the Marlins expand the lead. Game 2: Jaden Stevenson had his best start since joining the rotation and offense wasn't a problem today as Tampa Bay beat Miami 6-1. Stevenson (3-2) was a tidy 6 2 0 0 1 4 and six different players knocked in a run apiece while five had two hits in the most balanced of attacks. With the deadline approaching we swung a big trade to try and boost the middling offense: Yes, the guy I end up trading for in just about every one of my Rays saves (I believe 23 is the exception) is playing for Tampa Bay again. We add perhaps the top all-around catcher in baseball for the stretch run with the division up for grabs and the cost for this rental is our 2028 and 2029 first-round picks. Both come with caveats though. In the case of Lake, he's never lived up to his pedigree and projects as a borderline fifth starter. As for Dreher, he's considered the #62 prospect in MLB and still has upper half of the rotation potential of 60/60/65. But he's still quite a ways from reaching it at 40/35/35 currently with some ugly minor league numbers - at AA Montgomery he's allowed 56 baserunners in 25 innings with a terrible 17/11 BB/K ratio. Rutschman meanwhile is a rental but is having a typically very good season at 2.6 WAR and on pace for 4.4 with 17 HR and an 804 OPS combined with very good defense. He's a big upgrade over Angel Rivera, a faithful servant of the club for the last several years but having an -0.1 WAR season at the moment. To make room for Rutschman on the active roster we DFA'd C Patrick Bailey, whose WAR was also underwater. Game 3: A typical tight Rays game this season given our great pitching and mediocre offense has been a 2-1 or 3-2 game so it was quite a culture shock for Tampa Bay fans to witness a slugfest with Miami in the finale, one in which the Rays ended up prevailing 11-10 in 12 innings after trailing at one point 7-2. The deciding run scored on a walk-off wild pitch after they had loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th and made a winner of Erubiel Armenta (2-2). Before that the Rays had to suffer through a bad start from Brad Eldridge (4 8 5 5 0 2) and an unusual bad relief outing from Benjamin Buckman, who allowed 4 runs himself. The last two of those came after Rays scored 5 times to tie the game at 7, but they rallied again in the bottom of the 6th to go ahead 10-9. We stayed there until the 9th when Randy Rodriguez had a rare blown save and onto extras we went. The leading lights on offense were Nelson Haro and Carson Williams, both 4-6 with 2 RBI while Yordan Alvarez contributed a 2-run homer (#14). Adley Rutschman joined the club after the game started and came on in the 10th to hit a pinch-double in his first Rays at-bat. Team record: 58-42. The Jays and Yankees played each other at the same time and New York swept them to pull within a game of us. Next up: The homestand concludes with 3 against the team tied for the best record in baseball, the 67-33 Mariners. (Just realized I wrote this up in my wordier 20/21-save recap format so enjoy the extra text).

08-25-2024, 09:17 PM	#849
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 26-28, 2032: vs Seattle (3) Game 1: 0-3 L. LP-Okuda (7-6, 4.1 3 1 1 4 4). Rays hitters only managed 6 hits as Seattle's Wyatt Hudepohl went to 14-2 with a complete-game shutout. Rutschman was 0-4 in his first Tampa Bay start. Game 2: 2-4 L. LP-Evans (7-4, 5 5 3 3 1 10). They were fortunate not to be shut out again as Haro's 2-run double in the 8th halved the Seattle lead but was all they'd end up getting as the Mariners continued to show why they have the best record in the AL. Game 3: 3-0 W. WP-Acosta (8-3, 6 3 0 0 1 7). S-R.Rodriguez (26). HR-Y.Alvarez (15). Rays only managed 4 hits but one of them was a 2-run blast by Yordan in the 3rd and they rode some splendid pitching to salvage the finale. Team record: 59-44. The Yankees also dropped 2 of 3 to stay a game behind but Toronto swept its series to pull within one game themselves as the division has become a jumble again. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Houston which normally seems a daunting task but this year's Astros are a woeful 41-62.

08-29-2024, 02:07 PM	#850
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	July 30-August 1, 2032: at Houston (3) Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Stevenson (4-2, 5.1 7 2 2 2 4). S-R.Rodriguez (27). A solid outing from Stevenson with Cedillos' 2-run single the game's big hit. Unfortunately Cedillos later tweaked his groin and will have to go on the IL. Transaction: Cedillos to the IL and SS Elijah Watts called up from Durham. Watts is a defensive specialist (rated 65) and he and Luciano will fill at short until Cedillos returns, which should be at the end of his 10-day stint. Game 2: 4-6 L. LP-Eldridge (8-5, 4 6 6 6 2 3). HR-Solano (9), Haro (9). Eldridge was awful and put them in a 6-1 hole. The offense valiantly fought back and had some opportunities late to maybe tie or go ahead, but came up short. Game 3: 9-8 W. WP-Khattak (3-8). S-R.Rodriguez (28). Starter-Okuda (4.1 6 4 4 1 4). HR-Solano (10), Haro (10), Hardy (11). Rays turned this one around from down 4-1 to up 9-4 then had to hold on for dear life as the normally-reliable Ogando and R.Rodriguez made a huge mess in the 8th and 9th nearly losing the lead. Haro's 3-run shot to cap a 5-run 6th put them up for good at 6-4 and Hardy's 3-run blast to make it 9-4 in the 8th proved to be huge given the troubles at the end. Team record: 61-45. The Yankees swept their series to move into a first-place tie with us while the Jays held serve at a game behind. Next up: We conclude a fairly short road trip with 3 games in Minnesota against the 54-52 Twins.

09-01-2024, 07:42 PM	#851
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 2-4, 2032: at Minnesota (3) Game 1: 4-11 L. LP-Evans (7-5, 4.2 6 6 6 0 6). HR-Caminero (12). It was a 1-1 game in the 5th before Minnesota unloaded on Evans for 5 runs and it only got worse from there. Caminero had a 2-run homer and Haro banged out 3 hits. Transaction: Claimed P Tony Santillan on waivers from the Yankees, optioned P Walt Khattak to Durham. Always good to take someone off the team you're battling for the division title with as Santillan became excess baggage after some deadline deals by New York but he had a 2.55 ERA with a 9/69 BB/K ratio in 55 innings so I have no idea what they were thinking but I'm not complaining. Santillan can start as well as we're going to stick him in the rotation in place of the struggling Bryce Eldridge. And we send another fallen starter in Khattak to the minors where he'll get a regular turn and maybe iron things out. Game 2: 8-3 W. WP-Acosta (9-3, 5 7 2 2 0 9). HR-Y.Alvarez (16), Hardy (12). This started similar to yesterday's game (1-1 into the 6th) but went in a different direction as the Rays scored 5 in the inning on a Mesa RBI single to break the tie, a 3-run Yordan homer to break it open, and a back-to-back jack from Hardy. It was also another 3-hit game for the red-hot Haro. Game 3: 6-14 L. LP-Santillan (0-1, 1.2 6 5 5 2 4). HR-Haro (11). Well maybe Santillan was a Yankee sleeper agent looking to sabotage us as he couldn't have done better (or worse) if that were the case, losing 1-0 and 3-1 leads in the first two innings before being yanked. And in case Eldridge was looking to show we made a mistake by pulling him from the rotation, he and was almost as bad as Santillan when he relieved him. Haro remained scorching hot with two more hits and 3 RBI, including a homer to lead off the game. Team record: 62-47. The Yankees and Jays went head-to-head with New York taking 2 of 3, so they lead the division by a game over us while we're a game ahead of Toronto. Next up: A day off then we're back home for 3 against Boston.

09-06-2024, 06:31 PM	#852
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 6-8, 2032: vs Boston (3) Transaction: Christian Rodriguez came down with a tired arm and will miss a couple of weeks so Walt Khattak got a reprieve on his option to Durham and will continue to work out of the pen. Game 1: 1-2 L. LP-Buckman (11-6). Starter-Stevenson (5 2 1 1 0 6). HR-C.Williams (14). The offense came up lame and Boston scored twice in the 6th off Buckman, who's struggled some since being named to the All-Star team. Game 2: 5-6 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (2-1). Starter-Okuda (4 4 4 4 3 6). HR-Hardy (13). Another tough loss for the Rays as they battled back from 4-0 and 5-4 deficits only to lose when Randy gave up a rare run in the 9th. Hardy's 3-run homer in the 5th was the big hit in the ill-fated comeback. Game 3: 7-6 W (12). WP-Watters (3-1). Starter-Evans (4 5 6 5 3 4, 3 HR). HR-Y.Alvarez (17), Mesa (17), Rutschman (1/18), Haro (12). This one started out like yesterday's with another bad start from Donye (who's seen his ERA rise from 2.43 to 3.74 over his last 5 starts, all terrible) putting the Rays in a 5-1 hole. This time they answered right back with homers from Yordan, Mesa and Rutschman (his first as a Ray after getting off to a very slow start with his new club) and actually went up 6-5 before Donye gave up his 3rd homer of the day in the 5th. We stayed there all the way until the 12th when Haro walked it off with a 2-out solo shot to avoid a disaster of a series. Team record: 63-49. The Yankees won 2 of 3 and are now 2 up on both the Rays and Toronto, who are also tied for the first two wild card berths. Next up: Kansas City comes to town for 3 games. MLB News: A couple of former Rays made news as Alec Bohm, who played with the team during 2022, announced his retirement with Baltimore at the end of the season and P Forrest Whitley, who pitched for the club from 2023-27, added another injury to his long list of them and the Yankee will be out 10 months with a torn ACL.

09-12-2024, 02:31 PM	#853
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 9-11, 2032: vs Kansas City (3) Game 1: 9-6 W. WP-Eldridge (9-5). S-Watters (2/11). Starter-Acosta (3 5 3 3 3 4). HR-Y.Alvarez (18). A break from the typical low-scoring 2032 Rays games as Tampa Bay went up 7-1 after two innings but Acosta couldn't handle prosperity, letting the Royals back in it. Yordan had a 4-RBI day including a 3-run shot in the first that sent the Rays on their way. Transaction: Starting SS Isaac Cedillos comes off the IL and Elijah Watts is sent back to Durham. Game 2: 1-4 L. LP-Santillan (0-2, 5 7 3 3 1 5). HR-Cedillos (12). Rays weren't totally shut down as they had 9 hits, but could never string any of them together and went down to defeat. Game 3: 7-0 W. WP-Stevenson (5-2, 6 2 0 0 1 6). HR-Mesa (18). This one was scoreless until the 5th when the Rays erupted for 5 runs on a 2-run Haro single and Mesa's 3-run homer, one of his 3 hits on the day. Stevenson meanwhile pitched his best game as a Ray. Team record: 65-50. Status quo as the Yankees also took 2 of 3 to stay 2 games ahead of the Rays while they remain in the first wild card, two up on Toronto. MLB News: Not only did San Antonio's Oneil Cruz slug his 300th homer but it came as part of a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Meanwhile Houston's Kyle Tucker, who moonlighted as a Ray with a 7.2-WAR season in 2025 in between two lengthy stints with the Astros, reached the 2000-hit plateau.

09-16-2024, 02:47 PM	#854
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 13-15, 2032: at Cleveland (3) Transaction: Claimed P Luis Oviedo off waivers from Seattle, designated P Ivan Armstrong for assignment and placed him on waivers. (Armstrong cleared waivers and was assigned to Durham). Oviedo has 65/80/45 stuff and a 2.47 ERA with 77 Ks in 58 IP for the Mariners so he was a definite upgrade on Armstrong, who has been miserable all year with a 6.35 ERA. Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Okuda (8-6, 6.2 1 1 1 3 7). S-R.Rodriguez (29). HR-Solano (11), Haro (13). A gem from Okuda and a big day at the plate from Haro, who had an RBI single and a 2-run homer. Game 2: 3-2 W. WP-Evans (8-5, 5 3 0 0 2 7). S-R.Rodriguez (30). It was good to see Donye dominating again after a bad stretch and the game shouldn't have been as close as it was as the Rays left 13 on base as they reached 17 times. Yordan's 2-run single was the one big hit. Game 3: 3-8 L. LP-Buckman (11-7). Starter-Acosta (5.1 5 2 2 3 5). HR-Caminero (13). It was a 2-2 game into the 7th before Cleveland teed off on Buckman, who allowed 4 runs and has been pretty lousy since his surprise All-Star selection. He also has a whopping 18 decisions in middle relief as we have a lot of starters who can barely go 5 combined with a team that doesn't score of a ton of runs. Team record: 67-51. Normally taking 2 of 3 on the road against a good team would be a boost, but the Yankees swept their series so the Rays now find themselves 3 out of first place. The good news is that Toronto has struggled of late and Tampa Bay is 3 ahead of them, as well as solidly in the first wild card position. Next up: A day off and then a chance to do something about the division deficit as we play 3 at Yankee Stadium. Last edited by Art Deco; 09-16-2024 at 02:48 PM.

09-20-2024, 07:25 PM	#855
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 17-19, 2032: at NY Yankees (3) Game 1: 3-2 W. WP-Watters (4-1). S-R.Rodriguez (31). Starter-Stevenson (4 5 2 2 3 3). HR-Caminero (14). A 2-run rally in the 9th gave the Rays the win with Cedillos' RBI single the decider as they shaved the Yankees' division lead to 2 games. Game 2: 1-2 L. LP-Oviedo (0-1). Starter-Santillan (5 1 1 1 1 5). A heartbreaker as Oviedo gave up a run in the 8th to lose it, spoiling Santillan's best start as a Ray. Game 3: 4-6 L. LP-Okuda (8-7, 5 4 5 5 2 3, 3 HR). HR-C.Williams (15). Another tough loss as Williams gave them a 3-2 lead in the 6th with a 3-run jack but Okuda but the first two on in the bottom of the inning and then gave up his third homer of the game and that was all she wrote, dropping the Rays 4 behind New York. Team record: 68-53. KC has won 6 straight and moved into a tie with the Rays for the first wild card, and both of them are only one up on Toronto. Next up: Home for 3 against those Jays. MLB News: Boston's Spencer Torkelson hit his 400th career homer.

09-25-2024, 03:44 PM	#856
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 20-22, 2032: vs Toronto (3) Game 1: 3-4 L. LP-R.Rodriguez (2-2). Starter-Evans (5 6 2 2 3 5). A tough loss for Tampa Bay as Solano's 2-run single gave them a 3-2 lead after 7 but stalwart late guys Ogando and Rodriguez each gave up a run to let Toronto tie then win. Game 2: 0-2 L. LP-Acosta (9-4, 6.1 3 2 2 2 7). The offense let them down in a big way, squandering numerous early chances to score then going completely limp in the later innings as Toronto passed the Rays into 2nd place in the AL East. Game 3: 5-8 L. LP-Stevenson (5-3, 4 6 4 4 1 4). The Rays closed out a disastrous home series with Toronto with another loss, one that wasn't nearly as close as the final indicated as they scored all 5 runs in the 8th after trailing 8-0. Team record: 68-56. They're now a full 6 1/2 behind the first-place Yankees and are in third two games behind Toronto. They're clinging on to the 3rd wild card, 2 1/2 ahead of Minnesota. Next up: An off-day to lick our wounds then 3 games in Oakland against a bad (46-78) A's team.

10-01-2024, 08:23 PM	#857
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 24-26, 2032: at Oakland (3) Game 1: 7-2 W. WP-Santillan (1-2, 5 5 2 2 2 6). HR-Y.Alvarez (19), Haro 2 (15). Haro had himself a game - needing a triple to complete the cycle late, he did one better by hitting his 2nd homer of the game to finish 4-5 with a double, two homers and 3 RBI while Yordan's 2-run shot in the 1st was big, backing Santillan for his first Rays win. Game 2: 3-7 L. LP-Okuda (8-8, 3.1 8 5 5 2 3). HR-C.Williams (16). Okuda was awful and the Rays were never really in this one. Game 3: 1-4 L. LP-Evans (8-6, 3 6 4 4 4 4). HR-C.Williams (17). The offense was AWOL again today with only five hits, two of which came in the 9th. Williams at least can hold his head high with another 2-hit game featuring a homer. Team record: 69-58. Losing 2 of 3 to a bad Oakland team was far from optimal and they're now 8 out in the division so that's pretty much a lost cause. Of more import is that they're hanging on to a 2-game lead over Minnesota for the third wild card. Next up: A return to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field for 3 against those very Twins in the year's most important series to date.

10-05-2024, 09:17 AM	#858
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 27-29, 2032: vs Minnesota (3) Game 1: 4-3 W. WP-Eldridge (10-5). Starter-Acosta (4.1 1 1 1 4 5). HR-Mesa (19). The Rays scored 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to win this critical wild card battle over Minnesota, first with Mesa's game-tying 2-run homer and then Adley Rutschman finally lived up to his "Clutchman" nickname after a miserable first month in Tampa Bay (156/229/229) with a walk-off RBI single. Game 2: 3-4 L. LP-Stevenson (5-4, 3.1 5 4 4 1 3). HR-Haro (16). The Rays' offensive isn't good enough to overcome a 4-0 like Stevenson put them in, although they came close with the tying run in scoring position in the 9th. Game 3: 3-2 W (10). WP-R.Rodriguez (3-2). Starter-Santillan (5 1 1 1 2 9). Another walk-off win as the Rays take the rubber game and made it a 3-game lead over the Twins for the final AL wild card. Santillan was dominant but Solano was the hero with his 3rd hit and 2nd RBI single of the day the winner. Team record: 71-59. Next up: Back on the road, which has been unkind to the Rays this season, for 3 in Toronto, a game ahead of us in 2nd place in both the AL East and the Wild Card standings.

10-13-2024, 10:49 AM	#859
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	August 30-September 2, 2032: at Toronto (4) Game 1: 4-3 W (10). WP-Watters (5-1). S-R.Rodriguez (32). Starter-Okuda (5 4 2 2 2 6). HR-Rutschman (2/19), Haro (17), Solano (12). Solano had to win the game twice for the Rays, first with a solo homer in the 8th to make it 3-2 and then after they blew the lead in the 9th he delivered an RBI double in the 10th to cap a 3-hit day. Game 2: 5-8 L. LP-Oviedo (0-2). Starter-Evans (4.1 3 3 3 1 8). HR-Cedillos (13), Caminero (15). Caminero's 3-run homer in the top of the 8th gave the Rays a 5-3 lead but Oviedo was horrible and so was Ogando, and 5 runs later Toronto had a win. Transaction: Activated 2B Ozzie Albies from the IL and recalled P Jaheim Lennon from AAA Durham. Albies has missed the entire season to date thanks to a torn labrum suffered in spring training and will finally make his 2032 debut, although he'll serve as a backup to Victor Mesa who's had a solid year in his stead. Lennon is the #19 prospect in baseball and had pitched effectively (2.70 ERA in 20 IP) earlier this year for the big club. Game 3: 9-4 W. WP-Acosta (10-4, 5 4 2 2 2 5). HR-Rivera (7), Caminero (16), C.Williams (18). Rivera's 2-run homer in the 6th put Tampa Bay ahead to stay while Caminero and Cedillos each had 3 hits. Game 4: 5-6 L. LP-Armenta (2-3). Starter-Stevenson (4.2 7 3 3 2 4). HR-Caminero (17), Hardy (14). In a similar game to two nights ago, Hardy's homer put them up 4-3 but the bullpen failed them again with Armenta putting two men on only for Ogando to give up a double to score them both. They had the bases loaded in the 9th with nobody out down two, but could only score once on a sac fly. Team record: 73-61. With the split they remained one behind Toronto in the third wild card spot but 4 games ahead of Minnesota. Next up: Back home for 3 against the Angels.

10-16-2024, 06:12 PM	#860
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,648	September 3-5, 2032: vs LA Angels (3) Game 1: 2-1 W. WP-Watters (6-1). S-R.Rodriguez (33). Starter-Santillan (5 5 1 1 0 5). HR-Hardy (15), Luciano (5). Luciano's solo homer in the 8th broke a 1-1 tie in the Rays' favor as they eked by the Angels. Game 2: 2-3 L (11). LP-Oviedo (0-3). Starter-Okuda (6 5 2 2 1 7). HR-Solano (13). This time two runs weren't enough as Oviedo's struggles since joining the Rays continued as he allowed the winning run in the 11th. Game 3: 8-0 W. WP-Buckman (12-7). Starter-Evans (4.1 2 0 0 4 7). Finally some offense. 2-run doubles from Hardy and Caminero were the big hits today as the Rays enjoyed a rare laugher. Buckman has a starter's W/L record and is approaching 100 innings as a latter-day Mike Marshall, usually coming in during the 5th or 6th for one of our many stamina-challenged starters. Team record: 75-62. The division is long gone but we have a healthy 5-game lead on Minnesota for the third wild card. Given this team's drastic home/road splits, it might behoove them to catch Kansas City for the first wild card spot and a series at the Trop; they're only 2 back of the Royals. The offense may come in fits and starts but one guy had a big week: