The 2024 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

May 6: Off-Day.

May 7: vs Seattle 4-2 W. WP-Maldonado (5-2). S-Fairbanks (9). Starter-Springs (6 6 2 2 0 8). HR-J.Lowe (3). Josh Lowe, who had earlier doubled in a run, hit a game-winning 2-run homer in the 8th.

May 8: vs Seattle 5-2 W. WP-Bradley (5-1, 6.2 3 0 0 3 2). Taj lowered his ERA to 1.68 while J.Lowe stayed hot with 2 more RBI and a steal.

May 9: vs Seattle 2-3 L (11). LP-Maldonado (5-3). Starter-Rasmussen (5 0 0 0 4 4, 96P). HR-Caminero (9). They led 1-0 going into the 8th before Cleavinger gave up a 2-run homer to Cal Raleigh. A clutch Yandy RBI tied it but Raleigh got them again in the 11th with an RBI double to win it for Seattle.

Transaction: The move has been made. With the offense sluggish we've called up top prospect Xavier Isaac from Durham, where he had 11 homers in 83 AB plus 2 more in 15 at AA Montgomery. Going to the other way is Jonathan Aranda, who never really got untracked at 211/290/337 with only 2 HR while serving as the DH against RHP. Isaac will take that job and also play some LF/1B.

May 10: at Boston 2-4 L (10). LP-Pepiot (0-1). Starter-Littell (6.1 5 2 2 2 7). HR-Paredes (8). Another tough loss in extras when Pepiot coughed up a homer to Tyler O'Neill with the ghost runner on. Xavier Isaac was 0-4 in his MLB debut.

May 11: at Boston 5-11 L. LP-McClanahan (4-3, 4.1 10 6 6 0 4). HR-Kjerstad (4). Mac was toasted today as Red Sox hitters battered Rays pitching for 5 doubles, a triple and 3 homers including a 2-double, 1-homer, 4-RBI game from Trevor Story. Meanwhile Rays batters fanned 9 times in 5 innings against a guy with 40 stuff before scoring some late meaningless runs. Xavier Isaac's first MLB hit was a double and he added a sac fly.

May 12: at Boston 5-1 W. WP-Springs (4-0, 6.2 4 1 1 2 9). HR-Westburg (3). Springs was absolutely brilliant and Yandy was 4-5 with a double and 2 RBI to lead the offense. Unfortunately Junior Caminero, who was playing with a minimal rib cage strain, turned it into a moderate rib cage strain and will have to miss a couple weeks on the IL.

Team record: 26-16. Fortunately Baltimore cooled off this week and remains a game behind. Next week: An off-day to travel to Detroit for 3 followed by a return home for 3 against Minnesota.

Players of the Week:

AL: Tyler O'Neill (BOS), 11-22, 6 HR, 11 RBI (seems like every AL PotW does his damage against us)
NL: Marcell Ozuna (ATL), 11-24, 3 HR, 7 RBI

[Art Deco]

Transaction: Junior Caminero goes on the IL with a rib cage strain that will sideline him a couple of weeks so 2B/OF Richie Palacios is up from Durham and will likely platoon with Curtis Mead at the keystone in Caminero's absence.

May 13: Off-Day.

May 14: at Detroit 5-1 W. WP-Bradley (6-1, 5 2 1 1 3 5). HR-Siri (1). Taj was very good although it took him 92 pitches to get through 5 while Siri had a big game with a 2-run homer and RBI double.

May 15: at Detroit 1-5 L. LP-Rasmussen (3-2, 5 9 4 4 1 10). Ras piled up the Ks but was hit hard otherwise as the Rays lost by the same score they won the night before.

May 16: at Detroit 9-0 W. WP-Littell (3-2, 8.1 3 0 0 2 6). HR-T.Hernandez (10), Paredes (9), Yandy Diaz (1). Tried to get Littell the shutout but he had to leave at 115 pitches after putting on a couple in the 9th. Otherwise it was a fun rout that saw Paredes homer and drive in 3 while Yandy finally hit his first homer of 2025 as part of a 2-3, 2-RBI, BB game.

May 17: vs Minnesota 2-0 W. WP-McClanahan (5-3, 6.1 3 0 0 1 8). S-Fairbanks (10). HR-Isaac (1). Shane was Mac-nificent and the Rays got their insurance run in the 7th on Xavier Isaac's first MLB homer.

May 18: vs Minnesota 2-6 L. LP-Springs (4-1, 4.1 5 5 2 1 7). Springs suffered his first loss of the year although it all wasn't his fault as a couple of Jordan Westburg errors were costly.

May 19: vs Minnesota 9-8 W. WP-Fairbanks (1-3). Starter-Bradley (5.2 6 6 5 3 7, 2 HR). HR-Yandy Diaz (2), Isaac (2), T.Hernandez (11). Rays came out on top in the wildest game of the year when Teoscar walked it off in the bottom of the 9th with a tie-breaking homer after Fairbanks had blown a one-run lead in the top of the frame. Before that the lead changed hands several times with Yandy hitting a 3-run homer and Xavier Isaac having the best game of his young MLB career with a triple, homer, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI.

Team record: 30-18. Despite winning both series this week, Baltimore is even that much hotter and has taken a 1/2-game lead on the Rays in the division. Next week: A full slate with 4 at home against Texas before we hit the road for 3 in Colorado.

Players of the Week:

AL: Logan O'Hoppe (LA), 8-14, 2 HR, 7 RBI
NL: Ryan McMahon (COL), 11-20, 3 HR, 12 RBI

Also of note: The Dodgers' Mookie Betts hit career homer #300.

[Art Deco]

May 20: vs Texas 5-7 L. LP-Adam (2-2). Starter-Rasmussen (6.1 5 5 5 1 6). HR-Palacios (1), Kjerstad (5). Rays were up 5-0 and Ras took a no-hitter into the 6th. What could go wrong? It turned out everything as former Ray Nate Lowe wreaked vengeance on his former team with a 3-run homer off Ras in the 6th then another 3-run shot off Adam in the 7th to give Texas the win.

May 21: vs Texas 6-3 W. WP-Contreras (1-0). Starter-Littell (5.2 7 3 3 0 2). Turnabout is fair play as the Rays scored 5 times in the 8th to turn a 3-1 loss into a 6-3 win. Kjerstad capped a 3-4 day with a 2-run single to score the winning runs while Yandy also plated a pair.

May 22: vs Texas 4-5 L. LP-Fairbanks (1-4). Starter-McClanahan (6 5 1 1 0 8). No late lead is safe in this series as Texas took their turn with the late comeback, scoring 3 off Fairbanks in the 9th to pull off the win. A Paredes error kept the inning alive long enough for Fairbanks to allow a game-tying 2-run homer and then a solo shot to lose it. Yandy was 3-5 with 2 RBI in the losing cause.

May 23: vs Texas 4-3 W. WP-Maldonado (6-3). Starter-Springs (5 4 3 3 3 10). Yes, yet another game decided late as the Rays had a 3-0 lead on a 2-run Josh Lowe double but lost it and we were tied 3-3 in the 9th when the winning run scored on a wild pitch from Texas's Craig Kimbrel. Maldonado now has 6 wins in relief and is tied for AL lead with teammate Taj.

May 24: at Colorado 8-2 W. WP-Bradley (7-1, 5.1 4 2 2 2 5). S-J.Lopez (1). HR-Westburg 2 (5), Mead (2), Paredes (10). Rays got a well-pitched game at Coors from Taj and Jacob Lopez, who went the final 3 2/3 hitless for his first save. Meanwhile Westburg had his best game a Ray, going yard twice as part of a 4-4, 3-RBI day.

May 25: at Colorado 7-6 W. WP-Baz (1-0). S-Fairbanks (11). Starter-Rasmussen (6.1 5 4 4 1 4). HR-Paredes (11), J.Lowe (4). Yet another late comeback in a week full of them as the Rays scored 4 times in the 9th to shock the Rockies. Mead's 2-run double tied it and Campusano singled him home for the go-ahead run. They then had to survive another shaky Fairbanks outing as he gave up a 2-out homer and walked the next two before getting the final out on a fly ball to the deepest part of CF.

May 26: at Colorado 6-10 L. LP-Littell (3-3, 2.2 7 5 5 1 4). HR-Paredes (12), Isaac (3), Campusano (3). Littell was hit hard and the Rays were behind 8-2 before 2-run homers from Isaac and Campusano in the 8th got them back within 8-6 but that was as close as they'd get. Paredes had an early 2-run shot to homer in each of the 3 games of the series.

Team record: 34-21. We're now 3 behind Baltimore, which has won 12 straight and 22 of their last 25 games. Next week: An off-day then we visit Houston to play 3 followed by 3 in LA against the Dodgers, who got off to a very poor start (16-23) have won 14 of 16 including their last 7.

Players of the Week:

AL: Vinnie Pasquantino (KC), 8-25, 4 HR, 11 RBI
NL: Mookie Betts (LA), 9-23, 4 HR, 11 RBI

MLB News: Superstar Mike Trout's latter-day career has been bedeviled by injuries and this year is no exception as he'll miss 4 months with a ruptured finger tendon, so that's pretty much the rest of the season. Truly done of the year is Washington's Josh Bell, who ruptured an achilles tendon.

[Art Deco]

May 27: Off-Day.

May 28: at Houston 1-0 W. WP-McClanahan (6-3, 6.2 2 0 0 2 7). S-Fairbanks (12). HR-T.Hernandez (12). It was billed as a pitching duel with Mac going up against Framber Valdez and it did not disappoint, unless you're an Astros fan. Teoscar's 6th-inning homer was the game's only run.

May 29: at Houston 8-3 W. WP-Pepiot (1-1). Starter-Springs (5 4 2 2 2 8). HR-Yainer Diaz 2 (4), C.Williams (3). This was also seen as a pitchers' duel with Springs up against Justin Verlander, and through 7 it was with Houston up 2-1. But the Rays erupted for 7 runs in the 8th as Yainer Diaz got back at his old mates with his second homer of the night, a grand slam to break a 2-2 tie.

Transaction: Junior Caminero comes off the IL and Richie Palacios goes back to Durham.

May 30: at Houston 16-5 W. WP-Bradley (8-1, 5.2 8 4 4 1 4). HR-C.Williams (4), Yanier Diaz (5), Paredes (13), Isaac (4). A very silly game that saw the Rays go up 7-1 in the 2nd and 14-1 after tacking on 7 more in the 5th, completing the sweep. They banged out a season-high 22 hits and the biggest day of all was had by rookie Xavier Isaac, 4-6 with a homer and 6 RBI. Paredes knocked in 3 with his homer and Yandy was 3-3 with a walk and 3 runs scored.

May 31: at LA Dodgers 7-2 W. WP-Rasmussen (4-2, 5.1 6 2 2 1 5). HR-Kjerstad (6), Isaac (5), Paredes (14). This was scoreless until the 5th when Kjerstad belted a 2-run shot and they piled on from there. The bullpen was 3 2/3 hitless to preserve the lead.

June 1: at LA Dodgers 11-10 W. WP-Adam (3-2). S-Fairbanks (13). Starter-Littell (2 8 7 7 0 0, 3 HR). HR-Kjerstad (7), Yanier Diaz (6), Caminero (10), Isaac (6). What a wild one. Littell was throwing meatballs and the Dodgers were up 7-3 after 2 and 8-3 after 5. But the Rays kept chipping away and went ahead in the 8th on Isaac's 2-run homer. They tacked on two more in the 9th and needed them when Fairbanks gave those runs back in yet another shaky save. Yanier Diaz, who didn't look like the bat-first catcher we thought we were trading for, made it 4 HR and 8 RBI in his last 4 games.

June 2: at LA Dodgers 5-4 W. WP-McClanahan (7-3, 6.2 5 3 3 3 7). S-Cleavinger (1). HR-J.Lowe (5). An incredible week concluded with another late comeback as the Rays followed up a sweep in Houston with a sweep at Dodger Stadium, an outstanding feat. The Rays were held to only 3 hits on the day but one of them was Josh Lowe's grand slam in the 7th to erase a 2-1 deficit. LA fought back but Cleavinger was impressive in getting the final 5 outs for the save and with Fairbanks shaky, he might just be getting more opportunities.

Team record: 40-21. So what did a 6-0 week earn us in terms of the standings? Not as much as it normally should as while Baltimore did prove human this week they still went 5-2, so we halved their division lead to 1 1/2 games. Next week: A day off then home for 3 against Detroit and 3 versus San Diego.

Players of the Week:

AL: Xavier Isaac (TB), 11-21, 4 HR, 11 RBI. Thinking his closest competition was Yanier.
NL: Luis Arraez (LA), 10-20, 2 HR, 9 RBI

Players of the Month:

AL Batter: Gunnar Henderson (BAL), .360-7-22
NL Batter: Mookie Betts (LA), .330-9-27
AL Pitcher: Trace Bright (BAL), 5-0, 4 SV, 16 K in 14 IP
NL Pitcher: Dustin May (LA), 4-0, 2.12, 34 K in 29.2 IP
AL Rookie: Bright
NL Rookie: Jacob Berry (MIA), .295-7-22

MLB News: Houston's Yordan Alvarez strained a hip muscle against us early in the week and will miss 3 weeks while the Mets' big free-agent signing Juan Soto strained his oblique and will be lost 3-4 weeks.

A look at the standings and leaders as we're a bit past the 1/3 mark of the season:

[Art Deco]

June 3: Off-Day.

June 4: vs Detroit 10-9 W (10). WP-Fairbanks (2-4). Starter-Springs (3 2 2 2 0 6). HR-Yandy Diaz (3), T.Hernandez 2 (14). Another crazy one for the Rays as an early 7-2 lead was lost as was a late 9-8 lead but they still prevailed when J.Lowe delivered a walk-off RBI single in the 10th. Teoscar had a massive game, 3-4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI and Fairbanks earned the win by striking out the side in the top of the 10th.

June 5: vs Detroit 5-4 W. WP-Bradley (9-1, 6.2 2 2 2 0 9). S-Adam (3). HR-Mead (3), J.Lowe (6), Campusano (4). Rays were up 5-0 and Taj was perfect through 6 before things got dicey and they had to hold on for the win.

June 6: vs Detroit 3-4 L (10). LP-Contreras (1-1). Starter-Rasmussen (5.1 5 2 2 2 9). HR-C.Williams (5). Cleavinger lost a 4-3 lead in the 8th and they lost the game in the 10th, missing out on a sweep.

June 7: vs San Diego 4-3 W (10). WP-Fairbanks (3-4). Starter-Littell (6.2 6 2 2 0 3). HR-Caminero (11), Yandy Diaz (4), Westburg (6). Littell bounced back nicely after a couple of bad starts and Yandy's RBI single won it in the 10th. They have developed a bad habit of late of blowing leads and a 3-1 lead disappeared in the 7th and 8th, but have managed to overcome them so far.

June 8: vs San Diego 0-1 L. LP-McClanahan (7-4, 6 5 1 1 1 5). A tough one as they were shut down by San Diego's Robbie Snelling and managed only 4 hits on the night. Mac deserved a better fate.

June 9: vs San Diego 2-7 L. LP-Springs (4-2, 5 6 4 4 1 11). Springs had trouble with Manny Machado, who knocked in 3 of the 4 runs against him and former Ray Zach Eflin largely shut down the offense as the Rays lost two in a row for the first time since May 10-11 at Boston, which was also the last time they lost a series.

Team record: 43-24. We've now dropped 3 1/2 behind seemingly unstoppable Baltimore, which has gone 32-6 since starting the season 14-14. Next week: Road trip time as we start with 4 in Cleveland before finally getting a crack at those Orioles with 3 in Camden Yards.

Players of the Week:

AL: Jackson Holliday (BAL), 11-21, 1 HR, 2 RBI
NL: Adael Amador (COL), 12-25, 1 HR, 5 RBI

On the Farm: Just a note that Durham has the best record in the International League at 37-19, which stands to reason given most of the lineup played for us in the bigs last season. Jose Caballeros, Jonny DeLuca, Richie Palacios, Rene Pinto, Jonathan Aranda, Parker Meadows, Nick Loftin, Randy Vasquez, Reese Olson, Kevin Kelly, Manuel Rodriguez and Nic Enright all could be playing in MLB right now for other teams and give us tremendous depth as we saw when Palacios came up and played well while Caminero was out.

[Art Deco]

June 10: at Cleveland 0-2 L. LP-Bradley (9-2, 6.2 7 2 2 1 5). Rays only managed 4 hits against Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland bullpen as they were shut out for the second time in three games and have lost three straight for only the second time all season.

June 11: at Cleveland 3-8 L. LP-Cleavinger (1-1). Starter-Rasmussen (6 5 3 3 0 9). You wouldn't know it by the final score but the Rays battled back from a 3-0 deficit to tie it up in the 8th, only for Cleavinger to implode with he and Baz combining to allow 5 in the bottom of the 8th to send them to their 4th straight defeat.

June 12: at Cleveland 0-8 L. LP-Littell (3-4, 4 5 5 5 3 4). Littell was shelled for the third time in four games, the team was shut out for the third time in five and the losing streak reached 5 as the Rays are really in a bad run. Littell's rotation days may be numbered with Baz and Pepiot ready to step in.

June 13: at Cleveland 0-2 L. LP-McClanahan (7-5, 6.2 6 2 2 2 4). This is getting ridiculous now as Shane Bieber went 8 1 0 0 0 11 against them with Isaac's single in the 6th their only hit. 6 straight losses and 4 shutouts in that stretch, not the way they wanted to be heading into Baltimore.

June 14: at Baltimore 4-6 L (10). LP-Adam (3-3). Starter-Springs (7 6 2 2 1 7). HR-Caminero (12). This one really hurt. Aside from being their 7th straight defeat they took a 4-2 lead into the 8th only for Cleavinger to melt down again, allowing a 2-run homer to the immortal Tyrone Taylor. And then in the 10th Adam lost it on a 2-run homer by...Taylor again.

June 15: at Baltimore 0-3 L. LP-Bradley (9-3, 5.2 7 3 3 2 7). Here we go again, shut out for the fifth time in eight games and 8 straight defeats as the Rays suffer a June swoon of epic proportions. Only 4 hits today.

June 16: at Baltimore 9-21 L. LP-Rasmussen (4-3, 3.2 8 7 7 2 6). HR-Mead (4), Yandy Diaz (5), Siri (2). The good news - we scored 9 runs! That's as many as they scored in the previous 8 games combined. The bad news - well duh, 21 runs against and a 9th straight loss. Everyone who took the mound today was torched and we had to have Jordan Westburg pitch the 8th against his old team, giving up a 2-run homer to put the O's over 20. Don't think I've had a Rays team in all of my many saves lose 9 straight, but here we are all the more shocking as they were 43-21 before this streak started. By the way former Ray Brandon Lowe got his revenge in this series, going 7-12 with 3 HR and 7 RBI.

Team record: 43-30. We're now a whopping 9 1/2 behind the Orioles, who continue to run roughshod on MLB on a 38-7 run. Next week: Mercifully we get a day off before a chance to finally get right with 3 games against the 25-47 Blue Jays, beginning a homestand that sees Washington follow for 3.

Players of the Week:

AL: Taylor Ward (LA) 12-25, 2 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Manny Machado (SD) 9-20, 3 HR, 10 RBI. He started heating up the previous weekend against us.

[Art Deco]

June 17: Off-Day.

June 18: vs Toronto 2-3 L (10). LP-Fairbanks (3-5). Starter-Littell (5.1 4 1 1 1 3). Returning home to play a bad Blue Jays team wasn't enough to end the Rays' losing streak which now stretches to double digits as they dropped a tough one. Carson Williams had a double and a triple in a losing cause.

June 19: vs Toronto 6-0 W. WP-McClanahan (8-5, 9 4 0 0 1 10). HR-Paredes (15), T.Hernandez (15), Caminero (13). Hallelujah, a win! Mac hurled the game of the season, a 109-pitch gem, and back-to-back-to-back homers from the three guys listed above broke open a 1-0 game in the 6th.

June 20: vs Toronto 4-2 W. WP-Springs (5-2, 6 4 2 2 2 4). S-Fairbanks (14). HR-Campusano (5). After 10 straight losses the Rays now have a mini-win streak as Springs was solid, Fairbanks struck out the side in the 9th and Campusano supplied the offense with a 2-run homer and RBI single.

June 21: vs Washington 4-3 W. WP-Cleavinger (2-1). S-Maldonado (4). Starter-Bradley (5.2 8 1 1 1 6). HR-Paredes 2 (17). Paredes' pair of dingers put them up 3-1 but they couldn't hold onto the lead and the Nats tied it up. Enter Jordan Westburg, whose 2-out pinch-single in the 8th brought home the winner. Maldonado put men on 1st and 3rd with nobody out in the 9th but got two whiffs and a popup to end the game.

June 22: vs Washington 1-8 L. LP-Rasmussen (4-4, 4 11 8 7 1 2). HR-T.Hernandez (16). Ras was rocked for the second straight start, has allowed 14 ER in his last 7 2/3 and seen his ERA leap from 3.86 to 4.97. Teoscar's 9th-innng homer averted another shutout.

June 23: vs Washington 5-4 W. WP-Adam (4-3). Starter-Littell (4.2 4 4 4 4 3). HR-Paredes (18), Yandy Diaz (6). It looked bleak for Tampa Bay, trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th with two out and nobody on but once again Westburg came off the bench with a big pinch-hit and Yandy followed with a 2-run walk-off homer to give the Rays their second straight series win.

Team record: 47-33. Still 8 1/2 behind the Orioles, who did lose a few games this week including a 17-2 hammering at Wrigley, so they are still human. More importantly and realistically, they're still the #1 wild card in the AL, 4 1/2 up on 2nd-place Minnesota and 6 1/2 up on 4th place. Next week: An off-day then 2 in Philly followed by 4 at Yankee Stadium.

Players of the Week:

AL: Oswald Peraza (NY), 18-26(!), 3 HR, 10 RBI. All 3 of those homers came in one game against the White Sox.
NL: Cody Bellinger (CHI), 11-29, 5 HR, 11 RBI

Also Jonathan Aranda, who has done nothing but rake since being sent down earlier this season, was the IL Player of the Week after going 14-25 with 2 HR and 10 RBI. He's now hitting 349/437/557 with the Bulls and spoiler alert, you may be seeing him soon as Xavier Isaac is in a 3-36 slump with 0 HR and 0 RBI.

MLB News: One player we won't see in Philly is frontline starter Zack Wheeler, who is done for the season with a ruptured bicep tendon.

As we've essentially reached the halfway point of the season, the next post will be a stat-filled midseason recap.

[Art Deco]

Transaction: As hinted at in the previous post, we did send down the slumping Xavier Isaac and promoted Jonathan Aranda.

June 24: Off-Day.

June 25: at Philadelphia 1-0 W. WP-McClanahan (9-5, 8 2 0 0 1 11). S-Fairbanks (15). Coming off a shutout in his previous start Mac was it again with 8 more zeroes. Teoscar's RBI single in the 3rd plated the only run.

June 26: at Philadelphia 0-5 L. LP-Springs (5-3, 5 7 3 3 1 3). Another brutal day at the plate for Rays hitters, who only managed 5 hits.

June 27: at NY Yankees 1-4 L. LP-Bradley (9-4, 5.2 6 4 4 5 4). HR-Caminero (14). The offensive drought continued in another dispiriting loss.

June 28: at NY Yankees 2-1 W. WP-Rasmussen (5-4, 6 2 0 0 2 9). S-Fairbanks (16). HR-Yanier Diaz (7). Diaz was the only bat to show up, going 3-4 with a homer and both RBI, but it was enough thanks to a brilliant start from Ras who bounced back from a couple of bad outings.

June 29: at NY Yankees 3-5 L. LP-Baz (1-1). Starter-Littell (5.1 4 2 2 0 6). HR-Westburg (7), Caminero (15). 3 runs was a veritable offensive orgy for the Rays these days and it should have been enough to win as they took a 3-2 lead into the 8th before Baz gave up the tying homer, put a man on, and Maldonado gave up a 2-run game-winning shot to Aaron Judge.

June 30: at NY Yankees 0-2 L. LP-McClanahan (9-6, 7 4 2 2 3 9). Mac merely great instead of otherworldly today and with an offensive that scored 7 runs in 6 games over the entire week that was enough to get him beat. The fact they won twice in that stretch is a surprise.

Team record: 49-37. The division's out of reach for now but they're still in the first wild card slot, 4 up on 2nd-place Minnesota and 5 1/2 up on 4th-place Seattle. Next week: A day off then we start a homestand with 3 against the 49-36 Cubs and 3 against the 58-25 Orioles.

Players of the Week:

AL: Bo Naylor (CLE), 10-21, 2 HR, 10 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 15-28, 4 HR, 10 RBI

Players of the Month (June):

AL Hitter: Corey Seager (TEX), .414-7-20
NL Hitter: Ronald Acuna Jr (ATL), .361-8-20
AL Pitcher: Max Kranick (LA), 4-0, 1.69
NL Pitcher: Jameson Taillon (CHI), 4-0, 1.93
AL Rookie: Coby Mayo (BAL), .253-5-18
NL Rookie: Jacob Berry (MIA), .314-6-24

Had promised a midseason review last post but forgot so it's coming up next, a week into the second half.

[Art Deco]

*Slightly past the midseason mark





It was a brutal June, with the 10-game losing streak and all, and I'd hate to see what the team offensive numbers were for the month. As of now, they're respectable for the season thanks to our hot April & May but the team in a serious slump. The pitching remains outstanding and is propping us up now, although the defense seems to have slipped a bit.



Nothing to write home about from this bunch. The rookie Williams is leading the team in WAR thanks to Gold Glove-caliber defense, ditto for Siri in 3rd, who's been a part-timer but getting more play lately as J.Lowe has been a brutal defender when he plays CF. And our DHs (Mead, Isaac, Aranda) have combined for 0.1 WAR. Oof.



On the other hand we have a starting rotation that's the envy of most of baseball, led by McClanahan who's having a Cy Young season and has shown no ill effects of his 2nd Tommy John surgery in late 2022. The bullpen has been extremely homer-prone though, with our back-end guys (Adam, Maldonado, Fairbanks) combining to allow 20 HR in 88 IP.



Isaac has raked in the week since he was sent back down and I'm hopeful he'll be back up sooner than later. Elsewhere we don't need a starter right now with the five we've got plus Pepiot and Baz in the pen but if we did last year's first-rounder Hagen Smith is just about ready, dominating AA.

[Art Deco]

July 1: Off-Day.

July 2: vs Chicago Cubs 7-3 W. WP-Springs (6-3, 6 6 3 3 1 6). HR-Campusano (6). Finally some offense! Rays scored as many as they did all of last week tonight, and doing against one of the top hurlers in MLB, Justin Steele. Campusano led the way with 3 RBI, including a 2-run homer and Caminero was 3-4 with a double and an RBI.

Transaction: Carson Williams suffered an intercostal strain and will be out a couple of weeks. Nick Loftin, hitting 375/411/552 in 48 games at Durham, is up and will play SS along with Jordan Westburg.

July 3: vs Chicago Cubs 2-1 W. WP-Bradley (10-4, 7 4 1 1 2 6). S-Fairbanks (17). HR-Paredes (19), Mead (5). Taj was terrific and Mead's 6th-inning solo shot broke a 1-1 tie.

July 4: vs Chicago Cubs 2-5 L. LP-Rasmussen (4-5, 4.2 6 3 3 1 4). HR-Yandy Diaz (7). The pitching wasn't great and the offense left 11 men on base in a sloppy loss. Yandy was 3-5 with the homer and 2 RBI.

July 5: vs Baltimore 4-5 L. LP-Cleavinger (2-2). Starter-Littell (5 5 3 3 1 4). HR-Siri (3). A tough one to take as the Rays took a 4-3 lead into the 8th only for Cleavinger to put men on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out with Adam coming in and giving up a 2-run double to Coby Mayo to lose it.

Transaction: Didn't waste any team bringing Xavier Isaac back up as he seemingly snapped out of his slump with a big week at Durham while Jonathan Aranda (going back down) was 1-10 after getting 2 hits in the first game after his recall.

July 6: vs Baltimore 4-2 W. WP-McClanahan (10-6, 5.1 5 2 2 2 6). S-Fairbanks (18). Finally a win over the Orioles! It took five tries but thanks to Mac and a big 2-run double from a slumping Teoscar the Rays did it.

July 7: vs Baltimore 5-6 L. LP-Fairbanks (3-6). Starter-Springs (4.1 8 4 4 2 6). HR-Isaac (7). A touted pitching matchup didn't materialize as Springs and Kyle Bradish were both roughed up so it came down to the bullpens and as has been often this year, Tampa Bay's came up lacking. Westburg's RBI knock against his old team put them up 5-4 after 6, but Adam gave up a run in the 7th and then a Yandy error led to an unearned run off Fairbanks in the 9th to lose it.

Team record: 52-40. Still 4 up in the first wild card slot. Next week: An off-day then 3 in Boston followed by 3 in Toronto before we hit the All-Star break. We'll also have the draft.

Players of the Week:

AL: Marcus Semien (TEX), 11-20, 1 HR, 4 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 12-24, 4 HR, 11 RBI. Second straight week for Harris and if you combine the two weeks you get a 27-52, 8 HR, 21 RBI stretch which is pretty incredible.

MLB News: San Francisco's Kyle Schwarber hit career homer #300.

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July 8: Off-Day.

July 9: at Boston 7-8 L (11). LP-Adam (4-4). Starter-Bradley (4.2 9 5 5 1 6). HR-Paredes (20), T.Hernandez (17), Mead (6). Rays came back from 6-3 down to go ahead 7-6 in the 10th but couldn't hold it and Adam gave up the ghost runner in the 11th to lose it. Paredes drove in 3 including a 2-run homer.

July 10: at Boston 4-2 W. WP-Rasmussen (6-5, 6.2 5 2 2 1 6). S-Fairbanks (19). HR-J.Lowe (7). Lowe's 2-run homer in the first gave them the lead for good, Westburg drove in the other two and they got quality pitching.

July 11: at Boston 4-0 W. WP-McClanahan (11-6, 8.1 3 0 0 3 4). HR-Paredes (21). Mac's incredible roll continues as he now has gone 11 starts allowing only a total of 12 runs (with our lousy offense he's actually lost 3 of them despite allowing 2 runs or fewer), lowering his ERA to 2.85 and leading MLB in pitcher WAR at 4.0.

July 12: at Toronto 5-4 W. WP-Adam (5-4). S-Fairbanks (20). Starter-Littell (5 4 2 2 1 3). HR-Yandy Diaz (8). They lost leads of 3-2 and 4-3 in this one before finally pulling it on Campusano's RBI single in the 8th. Yandy was 3-5 with the homer and two ribbies.

July 13: at Toronto 3-2 W. WP-Cleavinger (3-2). S-Fairbanks (21). Starter-Springs (5.1 9 2 2 1 7). HR-Yandy Diaz (9), Paredes (22). Yanier Diaz's sac fly in the 9th brought home the winning run as the Rays pulled out another one late.

July 14: at Toronto 7-5 W (10). WP-Adam (6-4). S-Maldonado (5). Starter-Bradley (4.2 9 5 5 2 6). HR-T.Hernandez (18), Siri (4), Paredes (23). Campusano came through big late again with a 2-run triple in the 10th as the Rays swept the struggling Jays and went into the All-Star break on a 5-game win streak.

Team record: 57-41. We're 5 up in the first wild card and 6 ahead of fourth. Next week: The break then we return home for 3 with Boston (actually 4 as it's a wraparound series).

Players of the Week:

AL: Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN), 9-24, 5 HR, 10 RBI
NL: Sean Murphy (ATL), 8-18, 3 HR, 7 RBI (Michael Harris II came back to earth at 4-26)

MLB News: This actually happened a couple of weeks ago but I kept forgetting to mention it as two major stars went down. 2-way Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani ruptured a finger tendon and is done for the season. He finishes the year 250/353/615 with 30 HR in only 288 AB and was 4-8, 4.85 on the mound although he fanned 112 in only 85 IP and had earned 2.1 WAR on the mound to go with 2.7 as a hitter. Meanwhile, Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz is also finished for 2025 with a fractured knee. He was hitting 259/371/529 with 19 HR and 3.0 WAR.

Next post: The Amateur Draft.

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The Rays picked 12th overall after last year's lousy season and grabbed freak-of-nature (and wonderfully-named) Oregon 18-year-old Kruz Schoolcraft, a 6'8" lefty who has some Ohtani-like potential. Now he's being primarily drafted as a pitcher thanks to his 80/60/50 potential with four potential plus pitches but also can play 1B where he has 75 power potential, albeit with 45 contact at best.

As for the rest:

Blair: An 18-year-old Californian CF with 70 potential power who should be able to stick at the position.

Fulbright: A Texas high-school righty starter who has 75/60/50 potential.

Smith: A high-school SS from our backyard (Fort Myers) with potential 50 contact, 65 power, and 55 defense.

Burleson: Our high school-heavy draft continued with Tennessean and Vandy commit Burleson, who has potential off-the-charts 80 stuff but only 40 potential control and could end up a reliever.

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The rosters:

American League:

SP Eduard Bazardo (SEA) - 2-3, 2.35 ERA, 69.0 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 0.7 WAR
SP Taj Bradley (TB) - 10-4, 3.15 ERA, 111.1 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 2.3 WAR
SP Gerrit Cole (NYY) - 9-5, 2.39 ERA, 135.1 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Jacob deGrom (TEX)* - 10-2, 2.39 ERA, 109.1 IP, 0.85 WHIP, 13.0 K/9, 3.8 WAR
SP Wilmer Flores (DET) - 1-3, 3.07 ERA, 58.2 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 1.1 WAR
SP Shane McClanahan (TB) - 11-6, 2.85 ERA, 126.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 4.1 WAR
SP Jose Urquidy (HOU) - 10-4, 3.12 ERA, 115.1 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.3 WAR
SP Gavin Williams (CLE) - 9-5, 3.07 ERA, 120.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, 2.7 WAR
RP Shane Baz (TB) - 1-1, 2.91 ERA, 58.2 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 0.5 WAR
RP Sam Hentges (CLE) - 2-1, 2.01 ERA, 40.1 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 1.3 WAR
RP Corey Knebel (OAK) - 1-1, 2.77 ERA, 52.0 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 0.5 WAR
RP Cionel Perez (BAL) - 3-2, 3.29 ERA, 63.0 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 1.3 WAR
CL Jhoan Duran (MIN)* - 5-6, 25 SV, 2.08 ERA, 39.0 IP, 0.92 WHIP, 14.1 K/9, 2.1 WAR
C Logan O'Hoppe (LAA) - .255/.338/.551, 274 AB, 23 HR, 5 SB, 138 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
C Salvador Perez (KC) - .285/.310/.472, 288 AB, 14 HR, 106 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
C Adley Rutschman (BAL)* - .280/.354/.492, 307 AB, 16 HR, 129 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)* - .250/.334/.435, 368 AB, 14 HR, 15 SB, 109 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
1B Vinnie Pasquantino (KC)* - .273/.345/.502, 271 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 126 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
2B Jackson Holliday (BAL)* - .337/.453/.567, 323 AB, 15 HR, 27 SB, 178 wRC+, 6.2 WAR
2B Anthony Volpe (NYY) - .263/.373/.438, 338 AB, 11 HR, 14 SB, 126 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
3B Rafael Devers (BOS)* - .258/.325/.482, 353 AB, 14 HR, 3 SB, 112 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
3B Brett Harris (OAK) - .278/.353/.388, 309 AB, 5 HR, 6 SB, 108 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
3B Coby Mayo (BAL) - .276/.381/.536, 319 AB, 22 HR, 1 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
SS Willy Adames (SEA) - .249/.332/.436, 346 AB, 13 HR, 9 SB, 113 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
SS Carlos Correa (MIN) - .281/.323/.477, 352 AB, 16 HR, 115 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
SS Gunnar Henderson (BAL)* - .300/.408/.539, 330 AB, 19 HR, 24 SB, 156 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
SS Corey Seager (TEX) - .334/.382/.576, 311 AB, 18 HR, 158 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
SS Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) - .280/.331/.467, 304 AB, 11 HR, 14 SB, 113 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
LF Tyler O'Neill (BOS)* - .286/.357/.567, 353 AB, 29 HR, 2 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
LF Taylor Ward (LAA) - .297/.347/.512, 381 AB, 19 HR, 3 SB, 130 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
CF Luis Robert Jr. (CWS)* - .272/.317/.520, 356 AB, 24 HR, 4 SB, 124 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
RF Aaron Judge (NYY)* - .252/.385/.539, 310 AB, 26 HR, 4 SB, 151 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
RF Henry Ramos (KC) - .280/.358/.549, 264 AB, 18 HR, 142 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
RF Kyle Tucker (HOU) - .275/.370/.491, 334 AB, 16 HR, 10 SB, 135 wRC+, 2.8 WAR

National League:

SP Ian Anderson (ATL) - 7-4, 3.21 ERA, 106.2 IP, 1.29 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP Tristan Beck (SF) - 6-7, 3.13 ERA, 120.2 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.6 WAR
SP Cade Cavalli (WSH) - 6-5, 2.91 ERA, 111.1 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 2.3 WAR
SP Max Fried (ATL) - 8-6, 3.12 ERA, 109.2 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Eduardo Rodriguez (AZ) - 9-5, 3.33 ERA, 132.1 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 3.9 WAR
SP Justin Steele (CHC)* - 10-4, 2.79 ERA, 132.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 3.9 WAR
SP Spencer Strider (ATL) - 7-7, 3.80 ERA, 116.0 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, 1.3 WAR
RP Woo-suk Go (SD) - 0-4, 8 SV, 2.72 ERA, 43.0 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 1.4 WAR
RP Carmen Mlodzinski (LAD) - 4-3, 3.69 ERA, 39.0 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP Paul Sewald (LAD)* - 6-4, 8 SV, 4.54 ERA, 37.2 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, 0.0 WAR
RP Gabe Speier (COL) - 0-4, 3.04 ERA, 53.1 IP, 0.96 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 1.0 WAR
RP Nick Zwack (SF) - 4-3, 2.80 ERA, 45.0 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 0.6 WAR
CL Devin Williams (MIL) - 1-6, 20 SV, 4.29 ERA, 35.2 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 14.6 K/9, 1.7 WAR
C Willson Contreras (STL) - .248/.361/.462, 262 AB, 14 HR, 3 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
C Jeferson Quero (MIL) - .259/.350/.453, 274 AB, 13 HR, 8 SB, 119 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
C Will Smith (LAD)* - .283/.352/.504, 272 AB, 11 HR, 130 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
1B Jacob Berry (MIA) - .291/.341/.550, 371 AB, 22 HR, 13 SB, 139 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Bryce Harper (PHI) - .275/.374/.529, 331 AB, 18 HR, 9 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
1B Matt Olson (ATL)* - .284/.376/.506, 324 AB, 17 HR, 138 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
1B Graham Pauley (SD) - .302/.371/.514, 358 AB, 14 HR, 14 SB, 141 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
2B Ozzie Albies (ATL)* - .265/.322/.446, 377 AB, 16 HR, 12 SB, 107 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
2B Adael Amador (COL) - .277/.372/.424, 347 AB, 9 HR, 14 SB, 115 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
2B Nico Hoerner (CHC) - .301/.360/.428, 346 AB, 8 HR, 24 SB, 116 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
2B Trea Turner (PHI) - .294/.341/.424, 354 AB, 7 HR, 20 SB, 106 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
3B Elly De La Cruz (CIN)* - .259/.371/.529, 263 AB, 19 HR, 14 SB, 137 wRC+, 3.0 WAR (Injured)
3B Patrick Wisdom (CHC) - .241/.321/.534, 311 AB, 27 HR, 3 SB, 127 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
SS Mookie Betts (LAD)* - .292/.402/.593, 312 AB, 25 HR, 11 SB, 164 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
SS Francisco Lindor (NYM) - .240/.291/.447, 329 AB, 19 HR, 15 SB, 98 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
LF Juan Soto (NYM)* - .279/.408/.482, 251 AB, 12 HR, 6 SB, 148 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
LF Christian Yelich (MIL) - .299/.385/.541, 314 AB, 18 HR, 3 SB, 148 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
CF Michael Harris II (ATL)* - .345/.388/.627, 359 AB, 24 HR, 16 SB, 167 wRC+, 5.1 WAR
CF Jackson Merrill (SD) - .295/.350/.497, 370 AB, 16 HR, 25 SB, 132 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
CF Jack Suwinski (PIT) - .231/.348/.503, 320 AB, 22 HR, 3 SB, 130 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
RF Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) - .290/.409/.534, 341 AB, 20 HR, 30 SB, 157 wRC+, 4.6 WAR
RF Seiya Suzuki (CHC)* - .335/.415/.590, 334 AB, 18 HR, 3 SB, 172 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
DH Shohei Ohtani (LAD)* - .250/.353/.615, 288 AB, 30 HR, 5 SB, 153 wRC+, 2.7 WAR (Injured)

Bradley and Mac were expected but Baz as a reliever was a surprise. It's the first selection for Bradley and Baz and Mac's third including a start in the 2022 game. Unsurprisingly none of our hitters were chosen.

The Derby:



The game:



So it turned out McClanahan started after all, making it two starts in three years for the AL. He did much better this time with a 1-2-3 inning and Baz did likewise in the 8th, fanning a pair. Taj had pitched Sunday so he wasn't going to be used.

[Art Deco]

July 15-18: All-Star Break.

Transaction: Carson Williams was activated off the IL and Nick Loftin optioned back to Durham. Also we signed veteran 1B Paul Goldschmidt to a minor league contract and we'll see what he has left in the tank as we've gotten meager production from the DH spot this season.

July 19: vs Boston 5-4 W. WP-Fairbanks (4-6). Starter-Springs (6.1 6 2 2 0 10). HR-Paredes (24), J.Lowe (8). Rays led 3-2, trailed 4-3, tied in the 8th on a Yandy RBI single and walked it off in the 9th on J.Lowe's homer.

July 20: vs Boston 4-3 W. WP-Cleavinger (4-2). S-Fairbanks (22). Starter-Bradley (5.1 4 2 2 3 7). HR-J.Lowe (9), Westburg (8), Paredes (25). Solo homers in the 8th from Westburg (pinch-hit) and Paredes (for the 4th straight game and 5th in his last 6) turned around a 3-2 deficit as the Rays pulled it out late again.

July 21: vs Boston 5-3 W. WP-Baz (2-1). Starter-Rasmussen (6.1 5 3 3 2 2). HR-Yandy Diaz (10). They did it again - down 3-2 with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the 9th pinch-hitter Isaac walked, pinch-hitter Mead doubled him home to tie it, then Yandy stepped up and belted a 2-run walk-off homer. It was the second time in three nights that they won with a walk-off shot off Boston closer Liam Hendriks. The win extended their streak to 8 games.

Team record: 60-41. How much ground have they made up in the division with the 8-game win streak? How about one game, as Baltimore finally lost their last game as they matched the Rays' streak through the first 7. Still 8 1/2 back, but more importantly they're a whopping 6 games up in the first wild card and 9 ahead of fourth place. Next week: One more game with Boston then Philly visits for a pair before a day off followed by another crack at the Orioles with 3 in Baltimore.

Players of the (abbreviated) Week:

AL: Brandon Belt (HOU), 4-12, 4 HR, 9 RBI
NL: Bryce Harper (PHI), 7-14, 2 HR, 6 RBI

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July 22: vs Boston 1-4 L. LP-McClanahan (11-7, 6 6 3 3 1 5). Lucas Giolito and the Boston pen held the Rays to two hits in the loss.

July 23: vs Philadelphia 2-3 L (10). LP-Adam (6-5). Starter-Littell (5.2 2 2 2 2 3). HR-Campusano (7). A couple of former Rays had a hand in their defeat - Rule 5 draftee Logan Workman held them to 2 runs in 6 innings and Jose Alvarado threw a perfect 9th and 10th against them after Adam allowed the Manfred Man to score in the top of the 10th.

July 24: vs Philadelphia 7-2 W. WP-Baz (3-1). Starter-Springs (5.1 6 2 2 0 6). HR-Caminero (16), C.Williams (6). Junior's 3-run homer in the 6th erased a 2-0 Philly lead and they added on from there to win going away.

July 25: Off-Day.

July 26: at Baltimore 7-3 W. WP-Bradley (11-4, 6 4 3 3 1 10). HR-T.Hernandez (19), Paredes (26). After famously taking 18 of 19 from Baltimore a few years back, the Rays have found wins against the Orioles hard to come by in recent seasons but tonight they got the job done at Camden Yards. Taj gave up a 3-run homer in the first and it was "here we go again" but the bats battled back with Paredes' 3-run shot in the 5th off former Rays farmhand Seth Johnson putting them ahead to stay. Yandy was also 3-5 with a double and 2 RBI.

July 27: at Baltimore 1-2 L. LP-Baz (3-2). Starter-Rasmussen (5 4 1 1 1 10). HR-Kjerstad (8). A tough one as runs were hard to come by, no more so than in the 9th when the Rays loaded the bases with nobody out, only to have the next two guys fan and the third fly out to end the game. Ras's most dominant start of the year was for naught.

July 28: at Baltimore 8-5 W. WP-McClanahan (12-7, 7 4 1 1 1 10). HR-Caminero (17), T.Hernandez (20). Mac was unbelievable again versus one of the game's top lineups and they coasted with a 7-1 lead after the third thanks in part to big games from Caminero and Campusano, each with 3 hits and 2 RBI. O's pulled within 7-4 after Mac left but they managed to hold on.

Team record: 63-44. At 7 1/2 were as close as we've been to Baltimore since the 10-game losing streak, but the division remains an extreme long shot. The good news is that we're 5 up in the first wild card and 8 up over fourth. And with the series win in Baltimore we at least showed we can beat these guys as they'd be our likely ALDS opponent if we win our wild card series.

Trade time! (Deals were made just before the week's final game)



Our seemingly never-ending quest for consistency at DH against righties (Curtis Mead has done quite well against LHP) has hopefully come to an end as we've reunited the Lowe brothers as Nathaniel joins Josh on the Rays after 5 years out of the system. N.Lowe isn't going to be a huge home run slugger but he's a consistent on-base guy (291/360/464 this year with 13 HR) with enough pop and a track record to improve the offense after the struggles of Jonathan Aranda (211/293/330) and Xavier Isaac (204/258/374) at a position where you need to hit. Ironically going the other way is Heriberto Hernandez, one of three guys we acquired from the Rangers back in 2020 when we dealt them Lowe. As you can see my AGM did not like this deal, perhaps because of Lowe's nearly $10M salary. He's progged to get $12.4M next year but we're not going to pay that as we'll look to deal him in the offseason or worst case non-tender him, so this is really a rental deal for us.

Isaac was optioned to Durham to make room, and speaking of Aranda we had to make room on the 40-man so off to the nation's capital he goes:



We got a decent return for him in Hunter, a bat-first catcher with 20-25 HR power who drilled 46 of 'em between two minor-league stops last year and 19 more so far this year. He's a 45 catcher and also plays some 1B/3B (not that well) so he could be a backup who DHs some of the time, maybe a mini-Mitch Garver type.

Players of the Week:

AL: Daulton Varsho (TOR), 10-25, 4 HR, 6 RBI
NL: Michael Harris II (ATL), 12-24, 1 HR, 7 RBI. That's the third time in four weeks Harris has received this award, so I fully expect him to be the July PotM in the NL.

[Art Deco]

July 29: at Miami. 8-12 L. LP-Littell (3-5, 3 9 7 7 2 1). HR-J.Lowe 2 (11). Usually if this team scores 8 runs, they're romping but not today as Littell and the bullpen simply didn't have it. Josh Lowe though was apparently inspired by the acquisition of his brother and homered twice, driving in 3 while Nate (I know he goes by Nathaniel but that's too much to type) had an RBI double.

July 30: at Miami 4-2 W. WP-Springs (7-3, 6 6 2 2 1 5). S-Fairbanks (23). HR-J.Lowe (12). Springs was his usual solid self and J.Lowe continues to get fraternal inspiration as he was 3-5 with the game's big hit, a 2-run homer.

July 31: at Miami 4-6 L (10). LP-Baz (3-3). Starter-Bradley (5.1 5 3 3 0 9). A tough one as they battled back to tie it in the 8th and went ahead in the top of the 10th only to see Baz give up a 3-run homer in the bottom of the inning to lose it.

August 1: Off-Day.

August 2: vs NY Yankees 5-2 W. WP-Rasmussen (6-5, 6 4 1 1 1 8). S-Fairbanks (24). HR-Caminero (18). Caminero was 2-4 including a 2-run homer in a 4-run 2nd that propelled the Rays to victory, along with another dominant outing from Ras. Campusano also was 2-4 with 2 RBI.

August 3: vs NY Yankees 10-9 W. WP-Cleavinger (5-2). Starter-McClanahan (3.1 9 6 6 2 4). HR-Paredes 2 (28), Yanier Diaz (8). Holy mother of comebacks, Batman! A rare bad start from Mac contributed to the Rays falling behind 9-2 in this one, and although they got 3 runs in the 7th to pull within 9-5, they still trailed by this score entering the bottom of the 9th. Yanier led the inning off with a solo homer to make it 9-6 but there were two out and a man on first before the Rays went to town. Paredes hit his second homer of the game to make it 9-8 then three straight doubles from Caminero, Mead and Teoscar tied it and then won it in walk-off fashion. A look at the win probability chart:



August 4: vs NY Yankees 3-6 L. LP-Maldonado (6-4). Starter-Littell (6 3 2 2 2 5). HR-Caminero (19). The Yankees returned the favor of yesterday's comeback by scoring 4 times off Maldonado in the 8th to erase a 3-2 Tampa Bay lead. In blowing his 7th save of the season Maldonado gave up a 3-run homer to Max Kepler and a solo shot to Ben Rice, the latter's second of the game.

Team record: 66-47. Baltimore has been ordinary of late and their division lead is down to 7, but still a tall order. On the other hand we're 6 up on Minnesota for the first wild card and 8 up on 4th-place Boston. Next week: A day off before 3 games at home against both Houston and Oakland.

Players of the Week:

AL: Brandon Belt (HOU), 11-24, 2 HR, 6 RBI
NL: Ozzie Albies (ATL), 13-30, 3 HR, 10 RBI

Players of the Month (July):

AL Batter: Willy Adames (SEA), .385-9-25
NL Batter: Michael Harris II (ATL) .402-6-25 (could it have been anyone else?)
AL Pitcher: Gerrit Cole (NY), 5-0, 1.25, 50Ks in 43 IP
NL Pitcher: Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI), 4-0, 1.57, 32K in 34 IP
AL Rookie: Emmanuel Rodriguez (MIN), .283-9-18
NL Rookie: Marco Luciano (SF), .321-4-16

We made no deals at the deadline after the Lowe trade the week before, although we did claim lefty reliever Richard Lovelady on waivers from the Cubs. Waiting to put him on the active roster to see if someone goes down first, otherwise we may jettison Cleavinger, who's rated much more poorly than Lovelady with 40 control.

It was a largely uneventful deadline across MLB with the biggest names on the move being Robbie Ray (dealt from SF to SD) and Walker Buehler (from WAS to STL)

MLB News: Seattle's Bryan Woo pitched a no-hitter against the A's, fanning 10 and walking 1 in a 112-pitch outing. The Mariners won 1-0, so it was a pressure-packed game for Woo in more ways than one. Also the Phillies lost Bryce Harper to a broken thumb after being hit by a pitch, he'll be out 3-4 weeks.

[Art Deco]

August 5: Off-Day.

August 6: vs Houston 1-4 L. LP-Springs (7-4, 6 8 4 4 1 9). HR-T.Hernandez (21). Springs gave up all 4 in the first 3 and the offense could never get back in it.

August 7: vs Houston 4-6 L (10). LP-Fairbanks (4-7). Starter-Bradley (4.1 5 3 3 2 4). Rays looked poised for another miracle comeback, scoring 3 times in the bottom of the 9th on Caminero's 2-run single, but Fairbanks had a brutal 10th, giving up a 2-run Brandon Belt double to lose it.

August 8: vs Houston 3-0 W. WP-Rasmussen (8-5, 5.2 4 0 0 1 6). S-Fairbanks (25). HR-Paredes (29), T.Hernandez (22). Ras is on quite a roll, now having gone 16.2 12 2 2 3 24 over his last three starts and has gone his last seven allowing three or fewer runs.

Transaction: As expected, we swapped out lefty relievers with Richard Lovelady activated and Garrett Cleavinger put on waivers.

August 9: vs Oakland 1-2 L. LP-McClanahan (12-8, 5.2 6 2 2 1 10). Another night of limited offense cost the Rays.

August 10: vs Oakland 3-2 W. WP-Lovelady (1-0). S-Maldonado (6). HR-Yainer Diaz (9). Josh Lowe's 3rd hit of the night was an RBI double to tie it in the 8th and Caminero singled him home for the winner. Lovelady picked up the win in his Rays debut despite giving up the go-ahead hit in the top of the 8th.

August 11: vs Oakland 2-0 W. WP-Springs (8-4, 5.2 2 0 0 6 5). S-Fairbanks (26). HR-N.Lowe (1/14). Nate Lowe's first homer since rejoining the Rays was a big one as it brought home both of the game's runs in the 4th. Springs meanwhile fought off a bout of wildness to earn the win.

Team record: 69-50. Baltimore continues to struggle and we're now only 5 1/2 back so who knows? 5 up on Minnesota for wild card 1 and 6 on fourth place. Next week: we hit the road for 3 in Minnesota and 3 in Kansas City.

Players of the week:

AL: Brooks Lee (MIN), 9-18, 3 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Ronald Acuna Jr (ATL), 13-24, 2 HR, 7 RBI (it's always someone from Atlanta, 5 of the last 6 weeks)

[Art Deco]

August 12: at Minnesota 5-2 W. WP-Bradley (12-4, 5 2 1 1 3 6). S-Fairbanks (27). HR-Westburg 2 (10). Westburg homered twice and drove in 3 while Taj was effective but inefficient (99 pitches to get through 5).

August 13: at Minnesota 12-7 W. WP-Baz (4-3). Starter-Rasmussen (4 11 5 5 0 4). HR-Westburg (11), T.Hernandez 2 (24), N.Lowe (2/15), C.Williams (7). A wild one that saw the Rays go up 7-1 early and Ras almost give the lead back ending his string of great starts before they kept tacking on more runs to stay ahead. Westburg and Teoscar knocked in 4 apiece, and Yandy was 4-5 with a ribbie and 3 runs scored.

August 14: at Minnesota 11-2 W. WP-McClanahan (13-8, 5 6 2 2 4 8). S-Littell (1). HR-C.Williams (8), N.Lowe (3/16), Mead (7). The Rays really brought the lumber to Minnesota, scoring 28 runs in a 3-game sweep. Mac needed 107 pitches to get through 5 and qualify for the win, and Littell went 4 scoreless 2-hit innings to get the save in his first relief outing since moving to the pen. N.Lowe was 4-5 with the homer (his third in four games) and 2 RBI, and Williams broke out of a long slump that saw him dip below the Mendoza Line with a 3-4, 4-RBI game including a homer and a triple.

August 15: Off-Day.

August 16: at Kansas City 6-2 W. WP-Springs (9-4, 6 7 2 2 1 8). HR-N.Lowe (4/17). Nate is on a roll with his 3-run homer the game's biggest hit and his fourth in five games as the Rays continue to roll on this road trip.

August 17: at Kansas City 2-5 L. LP-Lovelady (1-1). Starter-Pepiot (6 3 2 2 0 9). Pepiot was brilliant for the second time in as many starts since rejoining the rotation but the bats were quiet for a change and after they tied it in the 7th Lovelady made a mess in the 8th, putting two on. Fairbanks was called in early, but an error behind him and a 2-run Sal Perez homer won it for KC.

August 18: at Kansas City 7-4 W. WP-Baz (5-3). S-Fairbanks (28). Starter-Bradley (5.2 8 4 4 3 5). HR-C.Williams (9). Carson closed out a nice week for him by going 2-3 with a homer and 3 RBI and J.Lowe doubled twice and drove in a pair as the Rays scored single runs in the 6th through 9th to come back and win to take 5 of 6 on the road trip.

Team record: 74-51. We've crept to within 4 1/2 of Baltimore and hold a commanding 5 1/2-game lead in the first wild card over now-second place Boston and a 10 1/2-game lead on 4th place. Next week: Back home after an off-day for 3 against both the White Sox and Arizona.

Players of the Week:

AL: None other than Nathaniel Lowe (TB), 10-22, 4 HR, 8 RBI. Now hitting 352/407/611 since joining us, so I'd say it was a good trade.
NL: Fomer Ray Zach Eflin (SD), 2-0, 0.63 with 13 whiffs in 14.1 IP, a rare non-batter and non-Atlanta winner.

[Art Deco]

August 19: Off-Day.

August 20: vs Chicago White Sox 4-11 L. LP-McClanahan (13-9, 3.2 6 6 6 4 2). Mac had his worst game of the year, allowing a pair of homers as well, and after a 2-run Caminero double made it 3-3 in the 3rd they were never competitive.

August 21: vs Chicago White Sox 7-6 W (13). WP-Bickford (1-0). Starter-Rasmussen (5.2 4 1 1 2 3). HR-Paredes (30), Campusano (8), T.Hernandez (25). Truly the wildest game of the year - just to get an idea here's the win probability chart which looks like an EKG:



A 2-run Mead single put the Rays ahead 3-2 in the 8th but Fairbanks gave up a 2-run homer in the 9th to put Chicago ahead. In the bottom of the 9th Tampa Bay was down to its last out when Campusano homered to send it to extras, and the Pale Hose got 2 in the 11th to go ahead only for Teoscar to tie it with a clutch 2-run homer. Finally in the 13th they got a man to third and Paredes brought him home with a sac fly to walk it off.

August 22: vs Chicago White Sox 1-0 W. WP-J.Lopez (1-0). Starter-Springs (5.1 6 0 0 1 4). The polar opposite of yesterday's game. Rays were outhit 9-3 but Siri's groundout in the 8th scored the game's only run and gave Jorge Lopez his first decision of the year despite spending the entire season on the staff.

August 23: vs Arizona 4-3 W (11). WP-Fairbanks (5-7). Starter-Pepiot (6 6 2 2 1 6). HR-Paredes (31), J.Lowe (13). Another heart attack-inducing game like the one two nights prior, albeit with fewer twists and turns. Arizona took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th but Paredes led off the inning with a game-tying homer. The Snakes then pushed across a run in the top of 11th to go ahead but J.Lowe had other ideas, crushing a 2-run homer in the bottom of the inning to walk off another one.

August 24: vs Arizona 3-5 L. LP-Bradley (12-5, 5.1 10 4 4 0 2). HR-Westburg (12). Taj didn't have his best stuff today and wily veteran Eduardo Rodriguez gave up a leadoff homer to Westburg (who was 3-4 with 2 RBI) and little else the rest of the way.

August 25: vs Arizona 0-6 L. LP-McClanahan (13-10, 4.2 7 2 2 2 8). A feeble showing from the offense which was up against a 29-year-old rookie with 40 stuff making his first MLB start.

Team record: 77-54. Those two losses to Arizona dropped them 6 behind Baltimore so the division is back to being pretty much a pipe dream, but they remain 4 1/2 up on Boston for the first wild card. Next week: Interleague play with three games in New York against the Mets then an off-day to return to play 3 vs Milwaukee.

Players of the Week:

AL: Vlad Guerrero Jr (TOR), 12-29, 3 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Jorge Soler (SF), 8-21, 4 HR, 6 RBI

MLB News: Oft-injured Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez is out again, 6-7 weeks with a strained MCL so his playoff status is iffy. Luckily for Houston they hold a commanding 7 1/2-game division lead. Also San Diego's Manny Machado picked up career hit #2000.

[Art Deco]

August 26: at NY Mets 4-2 W. WP-Rasmussen (9-5, 5.1 4 1 1 2 5). S-Fairbanks (29). HR-Yandy Diaz (11). Another solid outing from Ras and Caminero's 2-run single in the 6th broke a 1-1 tie.

August 27: at NY Mets 1-7 L. LP-Springs (9-5, 5 9 4 4 2 5). Springs was hit hard and the offense was a no-show.

August 28: at NY Mets 5-2 W. WP-Pepiot (2-1, 6 5 2 2 1 6). S-Fairbanks (30). Pepiot has been outstanding since rejoining the rotation, going exactly 6 innings in his four starts and allowing 2 or fewer runs in each of them while walking 2 and fanning 27. Campusano had a pair of RBI singles to lead the offense.

August 29: Off-Day.

August 30: vs Milwaukee 6-2 W. WP-Bradley (13-5, 5 6 2 2 2 2). HR-Caminero (20), J.Lowe (14). Kjerstad's 2-run double and J.Lowe's 2-run homer in the 4th broke a 2-2 deadlock and the Rays went on to win thanks to fine pitching.including a 3 1 0 0 0 5 outing from Baz.

August 31: vs Milwaukee 5-6 L (10). LP-Fairbanks (5-8). Starter-McClanahan (7 8 4 4 1 4). HR-Caminero (21), Siri (5), T.Hernandez (26). Teoscar's dramatic 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th completed a comeback from 5-1 down but Milwaukee got the ghost runner home while three straight Rays batters struck out in the bottom of the 10th and they suffered the loss.

Transaction: September roster expansion time and on the hitting side we brought up Jonny DeLuca, who was up most of the last season but had spent all of this year at Durham. DeLuca didn't go down there and pout though, hitting 289/378/616 with 38 homers and earned his way back up. I had considered Xavier Isaac but with 1B and DH spoken for I wasn't about to stick him in LF where he's terrible. DeLuca will get some PT as Kjerstad has really struggled at 222/308/343. On the pitching side reliever Luis Contreras got the call after having been up earlier this year.

September 1: vs Milwaukee 10-1 W. WP-Rasmussen (10-5, 5.2 4 1 1 2 8). Ras outdueled Milwaukee ace Brandon Woodruff and the bats went to town with 11 hits and 7 walks. C.Williams was 3-3 with a double, triple and RBI and DeLuca in his 2025 debut delivered a big 2-run double to break the game open and scored 3 times after stealing a pair of bases.

Team record: 81-56. Despite a 4-2 week we made minimal progress with respect to Baltimore (gaining a game but still 5 back) and actually lost ground in our bid for the #1 wild card as Boston has gone insane and won 9 straight games to pull within 2 1/2 of us. Next week: Road trip time with 3 in Oakland, a day off, and then 3 in St. Louis.

Players of the Week:

AL: Rafael Devers (BOS), 11-26, 5 HR, 15 RBI (one of the reasons why Boston is so hot)
NL: Cody Bellinger (CHI), 8-18, 2 HR, 8 RBI

Players of the Month (August):

AL Batter: Nolan Schanuel (LA), .354-8-30
NL Batter: Mookie Betts (LA), .310-6-18
AL Pitcher: Bryan Woo (SEA), 5-0, 1.51, 45K in 41.2IP
NL Pitcher: Brady Feigl (CIN), 0.66, 13 SV
AL Rookie: Brooks Lee (MIN), .387-5-19
NL Rookie: Chris Williams (CIN), .319-8-18

A look at where things stand as we enter the final month: