The 2022 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays

[Art Deco]

The teams:

American League:

SP Harold Cortijo (NYY) - 1-0, 1.68 ERA, 53.2 IP, 0.89 WHIP, 13.6 K/9, 2.0 WAR
SP Ignacio Gonzales (NYY)* - 10-3, 2.25 ERA, 128.0 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 5.0 WAR
SP Jaheim Lennon (TB) - 8-6, 2.20 ERA, 110.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 3.2 WAR
SP Hugo Najera (TB) - 9-4, 2.82 ERA, 99.0 IP, 1.32 WHIP, 10.5 K/9, 3.4 WAR
SP Angel Vargas (TB)* - 6-3, 1.86 ERA, 87.0 IP, 0.92 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Landon Victorian (LAA) - 4-9, 3.96 ERA, 97.2 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 0.6 WAR
SP Justin Ware (DET) - 6-1, 1.95 ERA, 64.2 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.3 WAR
SP Case Williams (TOR) - 7-3, 2.85 ERA, 98.0 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 2.7 WAR
RP Matthew Champion (OAK) - 6-3, 2.09 ERA, 51.2 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 0.7 WAR
RP Mike Goff (MIN) - 4-0, 1.55 ERA, 46.1 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, 0.7 WAR
RP Max Meyer (NYY) - 1-4, 4 SV, 3.66 ERA, 32.0 IP, 0.84 WHIP, 11.8 K/9, 0.5 WAR
CL Carlos Campos (SEA) - 1-3, 25 SV, 1.66 ERA, 48.2 IP, 0.70 WHIP, 13.3 K/9, 2.4 WAR
CL Will Klein (TEX) - 0-5, 21 SV, 2.04 ERA, 35.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 11.7 K/9, 0.7 WAR
C Ike Irish (DET) - .251/.341/.394, 203 AB, 6 HR, 103 wRC+, 0.8 WAR
C Gabriel Moreno (TOR)* - .324/.380/.578, 275 AB, 17 HR, 1 SB, 161 wRC+, 3.2 WAR (Injured)
C Mario Rosales (BOS) - .252/.312/.426, 242 AB, 10 HR, 100 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
C Adley Rutschman (TB) - .273/.368/.477, 216 AB, 12 HR, 135 wRC+, 2.4 WAR (Injured)
C Tyler Stephenson (CWS) - .263/.352/.356, 247 AB, 4 HR, 1 SB, 98 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
1B Robby Castillo (MIN)* - .287/.366/.559, 338 AB, 22 HR, 151 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Jesus Jimenez (BOS) - .308/.346/.558, 351 AB, 17 HR, 11 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
1B Jacob Krieg (KC) - .318/.439/.687, 233 AB, 22 HR, 201 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
1B Justin Williams (HOU)* - .277/.388/.606, 307 AB, 29 HR, 4 SB, 170 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
2B Bo Bichette (TOR) - .317/.375/.527, 338 AB, 16 HR, 2 SB, 147 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
2B Jose Pino (TB)* - .259/.377/.495, 301 AB, 18 HR, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
2B Justin Sill (CWS) - .278/.349/.547, 338 AB, 25 HR, 142 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
3B Wander Franco (BOS) - .311/.391/.521, 315 AB, 12 HR, 5 SB, 145 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
3B Wilfred Veras (CWS)* - .295/.393/.574, 305 AB, 22 HR, 162 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
SS Antonio Anderson (CWS)* - .250/.310/.437, 316 AB, 15 HR, 3 SB, 102 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
SS Joe Fisher (OAK) - .275/.340/.460, 302 AB, 10 HR, 119 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
LF Dave Aleman (DET) - .282/.362/.560, 316 AB, 19 HR, 18 SB, 149 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
LF Ismael Caballero (KC)* - .350/.429/.672, 314 AB, 28 HR, 196 wRC+, 4.5 WAR
LF Juan Gibson (MIN) - .289/.372/.615, 304 AB, 27 HR, 1 SB, 162 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
LF Marco Plone (OAK) - .336/.401/.752, 250 AB, 31 HR, 211 wRC+, 4.8 WAR
CF Willie Chaple (BOS) - .337/.417/.452, 312 AB, 9 HR, 14 SB, 142 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
CF Julio Rodriguez (SEA)* - .315/.414/.555, 238 AB, 15 HR, 15 SB, 167 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
CF Tony Solis (CLE) - .274/.365/.531, 292 AB, 17 HR, 7 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
RF Anson Balcome (BAL)* - .290/.377/.615, 317 AB, 27 HR, 2 SB, 167 wRC+, 4.3 WAR (Injured)

National League:

SP Robert Ahlstrom (NYM)* - 6-7, 3.60 ERA, 122.2 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 2.5 WAR
SP Arturo Ambriz (ATL) - 3-6, 4.24 ERA, 108.1 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 1.5 WAR
SP Andrew Baker (ATL) - 7-3, 3.01 ERA, 98.2 IP, 0.91 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 3.2 WAR
SP Jian-zhang Chew (MIA) - 7-3, 2.88 ERA, 106.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 1.9 WAR
SP Daniel Espino (LAD) - 5-5, 2.48 ERA, 80.0 IP, 1.29 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Leo Peralta (ARI) - 4-2, 1.69 ERA, 95.2 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 2.4 WAR
SP Juan Sandoval (NYM) - 7-4, 2.05 ERA, 110.0 IP, 1.01 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 1.5 WAR
RP Young-kyu Lee (NYM) - 2-1, 1.37 ERA, 46.0 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 0.8 WAR
RP Hisanori Masuda (ATL) - 3-0, 1.76 ERA, 46.0 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 12.3 K/9, 0.9 WAR
RP Nick Robertson (ATL)* - 1-4, 3.91 ERA, 25.1 IP, 1.62 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 0.1 WAR
RP Kendry Rojas (SF) - 3-1, 1.69 ERA, 53.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 10.5 K/9, 1.4 WAR
CL Jose Arce (SD) - 3-4, 16 SV, 2.70 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.35 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 0.3 WAR
CL Jason Wright (ARI) - 6-8, 12 SV, 4.89 ERA, 38.2 IP, 1.34 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, -0.4 WAR
C Francisco Alvarez (NYM) - .233/.344/.496, 240 AB, 17 HR, 133 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
C MJ Melendez (PHI) - .256/.321/.493, 219 AB, 14 HR, 2 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
C Ernesto Ruiz (SA)* - .287/.400/.526, 251 AB, 14 HR, 156 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
1B Alex Ballesteros (CIN) - .243/.324/.503, 292 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 122 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
1B Jose Herrera (PHI) - .243/.364/.513, 300 AB, 25 HR, 139 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
1B Jamel White (STL)* - .310/.352/.458, 345 AB, 12 HR, 1 SB, 124 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
2B Nolan Gorman (MIL) - .278/.341/.556, 187 AB, 15 HR, 143 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
2B Brian Greer (ARI) - .299/.347/.389, 334 AB, 4 HR, 102 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
3B Vinny Garza (WSH)* - .309/.366/.598, 333 AB, 25 HR, 157 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
3B Colson Montgomery (ATL) - .295/.362/.510, 288 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 139 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
3B Joel Owens (ATL) - .234/.299/.465, 329 AB, 23 HR, 4 SB, 101 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
3B Yunior Severino (COL)* - .318/.391/.517, 261 AB, 12 HR, 140 wRC+, 2.3 WAR (Injured)
3B Jordan Walker (STL) - .259/.359/.546, 313 AB, 26 HR, 5 SB, 149 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
3B Bobby Witt Jr. (PHI)* - .314/.393/.583, 331 AB, 21 HR, 24 SB, 167 wRC+, 5.0 WAR
SS Hector Juarez (WSH)* - .322/.358/.544, 180 AB, 9 HR, 3 SB, 143 wRC+, 1.9 WAR (Injured)
LF Julio Arriaga (PHI) - .273/.345/.639, 330 AB, 34 HR, 5 SB, 161 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
LF Mario Casado (SA) - .291/.361/.525, 326 AB, 16 HR, 139 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
LF Alexis Hernandez (CHC) - .287/.346/.573, 314 AB, 24 HR, 8 SB, 147 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
LF Luis Luna (CIN) - .271/.350/.565, 306 AB, 25 HR, 146 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
LF Alex Menjivar (LAD) - .329/.411/.535, 286 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 163 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
CF Angelo Davila (COL)* - .345/.408/.592, 333 AB, 12 HR, 14 SB, 163 wRC+, 4.7 WAR (Injured)
RF Ronald Acuna Jr. (PHI)* - .310/.421/.681, 226 AB, 26 HR, 4 SB, 197 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
RF Omar Delgado (CIN) - .283/.390/.653, 251 AB, 26 HR, 180 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
RF Dave Rivera (MIL)* - .290/.398/.644, 303 AB, 31 HR, 2 SB, 181 wRC+, 4.3 WAR

Former Rays in Italics.

We're decently represented for a team that isn't exactly dominating things with 3 of our starters named including Vargas as the ASG starter and Pino starting at 2B. It's Vargas' 2nd selection after being picked as a reliever last year and the first for Najera and Lennon. Rutschman won't play due to injury but he was selected for the 12th straight year (every full season of his in the majors) and Pino gets the call for the fourth consecutive season.

The Derby:

No Rays were invited.



The game:



As for the Rays, Vargas was slated to start but had pitched Friday so he was on short rest. Lennon and Najera looked great, each pitching a scoreless inning with a pair of whiffs, and Pino was 0-2 starting at 2B.

We also had the Amateur Draft today, so that will be the subject of the next post.

[Art Deco]

Not the greatest draft class overall and by extension for us.



Thompson: Texas prep SP with 70/60/65 potential. Typically odds are tiny guys like him get there, wake me in a couple of years.

Peters: From Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Florida, which has produced some good MLBers and of course was also the site of one of our worst school shootings. Anyway Peters has 75/60 potential at the plate but looks like a mediocre defensive SS.

Espinosa: A lefty college reliever (from Columbia of all places) with 65/60/70 potential and is currently at 50/45/30 so maybe he can be on the fast track.

Rosales: A high school SP from Puerto Rico, the righty has 55/65/50 potential.

Holloway: Prep SS from New York with 60 defense potential at SS/3B but the bat isn't as promising (50/35 at best)

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 4-1 W. WP-Stevenson (2-1). S-R.Rodriguez (16). Starter-Vargas (5 8 1 1 1 2). HR-Hardy (16). Rays trailed 1-0 and were held to one hit through 6 before exploding for 3 in the 7th with Cedillos' 2-run single the big hit.

Game 2: 7-2 W (10). WP-Ogando (3-4). Starter-Acosta (6 4 0 0 2 8). Just like yesterday the Rays could only manage one hit through 6 innings but finally took the lead 1-0 in the 8th on a Pino double. Gonzalez then gave up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the inning but Cedillos tied it in the 9th with an RBI single and then the floodgates opened with 5 runs in the 10th with Hardy's sac fly the winner.

Game 3: 4-7 L. LP-Little (2-2). Starter-Buckman (5 5 3 2 0 6). HR-K.White 2 (25), Haro (12). Rays took a 3-1 lead in the 6th on White's second solo homer but Buckman gave up a pair of solo shots himself in the bottom of the inning then the Yankees went to town on the bullpen for 4 runs in 2 innings to hand the Rays a loss. It was only the second no-decision for Buckman in 17 starts this year.

Game 4: 7-4 W. WP-Fragoso (3-1). Starter-Najera (5 8 2 2 0 7). HR-K.White (26), Haro (13). For the third time in four games the Rays were held scoreless through 6 and for the third time they won thanks to 3-run homers from White in the 7th and Haro in the 8th, erasing an early 2-0 Yankee lead.

Team record: 52-42. We've pulled to within 2 of Toronto and are tied with Boston for WC1. Next up: 3 games in Milwaukee.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 4-7 L. LP-Lennon (8-7, 5.2 6 6 5 2 5). Rays took a 4-0 lead in the top of the 4th and with Lennon and his league-leading 2.20 ERA on the mound it looked like a sure bet but the righty couldn't hold the lead and Milwaukee came back for the victory.

Game 2: 5-7 L. LP-Vargas (6-4, 3.2 9 6 6 0 5). HR-W.Perez (2). This one wasn't as close as the final indicated as the Brewers jumped all over Vargas and took a 6-1 lead before some late scoring got the Rays somewhat close. Pino was 3-5 with 2 RBI and W.Perez 2-4 with his 2-run homer.

Transaction: Adley Rutschman is back off his second IL stint and hopefully can stay off this time. Sung-Ho Kim was sent back to Durham after not doing much in his first MLB stint.

Game 3: 6-3 W. WP-Acosta (7-4, 6 1 0 0 2 7). S-R.Rodriguez (17). HR-Hardy (17). Like yesterday the final score was a bit misleading as the Rays led 6-0 going into the bottom of the 9th before Salazar put the first two on and gave up a 3-run homer, necessitating R-Rod to come in. Acosta was brilliant, not allowing a hit until the 5th, and Gurrola was 4-5 with two doubles and a triple.

Team record: 53-44. Still tied with Boston but now 3 back in the division and still sharing WC1. Next up: A day off then we have a chance to cut in the division deficit as Toronto comes to the Trop for 3.

MLB News: Former Ray and current Red Sock Wander Franco hit career HR #300.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 5-3 W. WP-Buckman (10-6, 6 3 2 2 3 7). S-R.Rodriguez (18). HR-Soto (2/12), Pino (19). Rays took the opener of their huge series with the Jays and Soto finally contributed with a sac fly and 2-run homer to lead the offense while Buckman was solid.

Game 2: 3-1 W. WP-Najera (10-4, 7 4 1 0 1 9). S-Ogando (4). HR-Rutschman (13), Cedillos (6). Najera was brilliant and all three runs came on homers with Cedillos' 2-run blast in the 5th the difference.

Game 3: 7-3 W. WP-Lennon (9-7, 7.2 2 0 0 1 9). HR-Pino 3 (22). It was the Jose Pino show as the star 2B belted homers in his first three at-bats driving in four, before walking in the 8th with a chance to make history. His heroics overshadowed a dominant Lennon performance as the Rays swept the series and moved into a first-place tie with Toronto.

Team record: 56-44. They're actually in a 3-way tie for first because Boston swept the Yankees as well. Next up: The Angels come to town for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 10-0 W. WP-Vargas (7-4, 7 4 0 0 0 5). HR-Soto (3/13), Lowe (2). Rays stayed hot with a rout of LA, although it was a 3-0 game going into the bottom of the 7th before they broke it open late. Backup catcher Lowe was 3-5 with a homer and 3 RBI while Perez knocked in a pair.

Game 2: 8-7 W (10). WP-R.Rodriguez (1-6). Starter-Acosta (4 7 5 5 0 7). HR-Pino (23), W.Perez (3). Quite the comeback win for the Rays as they trailed 4-0 and 6-3, fighting their way back to tie with runs in the 6th and 7th and winning it when Gurrola's double scored Cedillos, who walked with two out in the bottom of the 10th. Seven different players drove in a run with Pino the only to plate a pair.

Game 3: 11-2 W. WP-Buckman (11-6, 6 4 0 0 3 5). HR-Haro 2 (15), W.Perez (4), K.White (27). The Rays completed the sweep and made it 7 straight wins with another impressive offensive display, scoring 29 runs in the 3-game series against an admittedly bad Angels team. Haro and Perez led the way with the former going 3-5 with a double and two solo homers while the latter doubled twice, homered and drove in four.

Team record: 59-44. They of course stayed in first but Toronto swept its series with Boston losing one so they're tied atop the division with the Jays and one up on the Red Sox. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Arlington against the Rangers, another struggling team.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 2-5 L. LP-Najera (10-5, 5 3 2 2 2 4). HR-Pino (24). The bullpen let a close one get away as the Rays fell to the Rangers 5-2 at Globe Life Field. Tampa Bay trailed 2-1 before Little put a couple on in the 7th and gave up a 3-run homer. Pino got a consolation solo homer in the 8th.

We made a trade, and it was with the team we're playing:



We needed another outfielder and Texas had didn't Juan-t him any more (he was on the trade block). Juan is an excellent defensive OF, has good power and a good eye, but is a bit contact-deficient. Still he was on pace for nearly 3 WAR this season and enables us to move Hector Gurrola to LF as Gurrola was struggling in CF (-7.3 WAR). Will Perez will still get at-bats as well. Contreras will make a nice fourth outfielder for Texas or someone else in the future but wasn't any great shakes.

Game 2: 2-3 L. LP-Lennon (9-8, 5 5 3 3 3 4). HR-Pino (25), Haro (16). Another tough loss in Texas as another big hit did the Rays in. Lennon lost the 2-0 lead off the Pino and Haro solo homers in the 5th on a bases-clearing triple and the offense did nothing after that. Juan was 0-2 with a walk in his Rays debut.

Game 3: 7-6 W. WP-Fragoso (4-1). S-R.Rodriguez (19). Starter-Vargas (3 8 4 4 3 3). HR-Haro (17), Gurrola (13), K.White (28). This was a win which felt like a loss as the Rays jumped ahead 7-1 in the 3rd only to see Vargas crap the bed with the big lead and then the bullpen gave up 2 more to let Texas within a run. The offense blew chance after chance to expand the lead (Gurrola himself left the bases loaded twice) and in the 9th R-Rod did his usual high-wire act, walking 2 and hitting a man but getting out of it.

Team record: 60-46. The three-way tie atop the AL East is no more as the Jays swept while the Rays and Red Sox each lost 2 of 3 to fall 2 games back into a WC1 tie. Next up: A day off then we get a crack at Toronto with 3 games at Rogers Centre.

The trade deadline passed without any further dealing. Seattle put FA-to-be Julio Rodriguez on the block but he exercised his 10/5 rights to block a deal to us. Meanwhile some awards:

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 4-5 L. LP-Acosta (7-5, 4.1 5 4 4 2 4). HR-K.White (29), Haro (18). Rays got off to a poor start in their big series with Toronto, falling 3 back after a loss in which they came up short.

Game 2: 9-6 W (10). WP-R.Rodriguez (2-6). S-L.Gonzalez (1). Starter-Najera (5.1 4 2 1 2 4). HR-Rutschman 2 (15), K.White 2 (31), Haro (19), W.Perez (5). Rays kept taking the lead and the bullpen kept blowing it including R-Rod giving up a 2-run homer in the 9th but White's 2nd homer of the game followed by Perez's 2-run shot in the 10th finally won it as they belted six longballs on the day.

Game 3: 7-3 W. WP-Buckman (12-6, 5.2 5 0 0 2 5). The struggling Soto drove in 3 runs on a pair of singles and Pino was 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI to lead the Rays to a series win getting them right back into the thick of the division race.

Team record: 62-47. Boston also won 2 of 3 so they and the Rays have both pulled within 1 game of Toronto. Next up: A return home for 3 against Atlanta.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 4-2 W. WP-Oviedo (1-1). S-R.Rodriguez (20). Starter-Lennon (4 7 2 2 3 8). HR-Rutschman (16), K.White (32), Haro (20). All the scoring took place in the first three innings and the Rays did it all with the longball including Haro's 2-run blast which served as the difference.

Game 2: 10-1 W. WP-Vargas (8-4, 6 6 0 0 1 10). S-Salazar (2). HR-K.White 3 (35), Pino 2 (27), Haro 2 (22). The Rays played Home Run Derby, blasting 7 in total including 3 from White. In fact with Pino and Haro also going deep twice I'm not sure a team has ever gotten as many as 7 homers from as few as 3 players. The trio accounted for 9 runs scored and 9 RBI in a memorable night and not to be overlooked was a dominant performance from Vargas.

Game 3: 4-2 W. WP-Acosta (8-5, 6 7 1 1 1 9). S-R.Rodriguez (21). HR-Gurrola (14), Pino 2 (29). Tampa Bay completed a sweep in which they hit 13 homers yet only scored 18 runs as once again all the offense came via the longball with Gurrola's 2-run blast getting them going and Pino's 2nd straight 2-homer game providing insurance. Acosta was solid and R-Rod had a rare 1-2-3 save.

Team record: 65-47. The sweep brought the Rays back into a tie for the division lead with Toronto while Boston fell one game behind. Next up: The homestand continues with Detroit visiting for 3 games.

MLB News: Yordan Alvarez, who spent the previous 4 seasons with the Rays and won a pair of rings, hit career homer #400 for Detroit.

Also this:



Well-deserved and I have to imagine teammates White and Haro were 2nd and 3rd.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 6-1 W. WP-Najera (11-5, 5.1 5 1 1 2 6). HR-K.White (36). The Rays made it 6 straight behind another strong Najera outing and offense via Cedillos' 2-run double in the 2nd and White's 3-run homer in the 5th which put it away.

Game 2: 7-5 W. WP-L.Gonzalez (2-2). S-R.Rodriguez (22). Starter-Buckman (4.1 5 5 5 2 4). HR-Juan (1/13), K.White 2 (38), Rutschman 2 (18). Tampa Bay's 7th straight win was a comeback as they trailed 5-2 in the 6th as White and Rutschman went back-to-back, and with the game tied in the 8th at 5 they went back-to-back for a second time, one of only about 20 times in MLB history two teammates went back-to-back in the same game. White meanwhile has carried this team of late and has hit a whopping 11 homers in his last 9 games and has taken over the AL lead in the category.

Transaction: We lost RP Chase Lee, who's been great for us since being claimed on waivers back in May (a 1.35 ERA with a line of 33.1 14 5 5 9 33 with 0 homers allowed) to a sore elbow which should shelve him for a couple of weeks. And taking his place in bullpen is a blast from our recent past: Walt Khattak, signed as a free agent after being released by the Mets despite being a decent 5-5, 3.01 in 95.2 IP over 21 games including 11 starts. Khattak of course had spent the previous six years on our staff and was 49-35, 4.11 in 142 games (114 starts) with us.

Game 3: 4-3 W. WP-Fragoso (5-1). S-R.Rodriguez (23). Starter-Lennon (5 3 3 3 2 7). HR-Soto (4/14). Lennon gave up a 2-run homer to former Ray Yordan Alvarez in the 4th, the second homer in as many nights he's hit, but the comeback kids did it again with 3 in the 6th on a homer from Soto, perhaps his biggest hit so far in his miserable second stint with the Rays. Soto also walked and scored the first run for Tampa Bay, and even after the big homer today is "hitting" 197/278/287 in 41 games since being acquired. Nobody cares right now though as the Rays have now won 8 straight and are in sole possession of first place in the AL East.

Team record: 68-47. The division lead is 2 on both Boston and Toronto now. Next up: An off-day then Cleveland visits for 3 games.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 5-1 W. WP-Vargas (9-4, 5.1 5 1 1 1 3). HR-Cedillos 2 (8). Excellent pitching and a big game from Cedillos (3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI) was the recipe for the club's 9th straight win.

Game 2: 7-6 W (12). WP-R.Rodriguez (3-6). Starter-Acosta (5 8 2 2 1 5). HR-W.Perez 2 (7). Rays should have won this one in regulation but Khattak and Gonzalez combined to give up 4 runs in the 9th. That dragged things out but the result was the same when Soto's walk-off single in the 12th made it 10 wins on the trot for Tampa Bay. Tonight's unlikely 2-homer hero after Cedillos last night was Perez, who also drove in 3 with them.

Game 3: 5-6 L. LP-Little (2-3). Starter-Najera (5.2 4 3 3 1 6). HR-Haro (23), Cedillos (9), Hardy (18). The Rays saw their 10-game win streak snapped thanks to some poor bullpen work with Oviedo giving up a 3-run homer with two of Najera's men aboard in the 6th and after the Rays tied it back up at 4 on White's 2-run double Little gave up a 2-run homer of his own in the 8th. Hardy went deep in the 9th to get them back within one and they got a man to 2nd but couldn't bring him home.

Team record: 70-48. Unfortunately the Jays swept their series to move back within one game. Next up: A day off then the Rays will look to improve on their eye-popping 47-17 record at home when Baltimore visits for 3.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 3-4 L (10). LP-L.Gonzalez (2-3). Starter-Lennon (6 5 2 2 1 7). HR-Pino (30). A tough loss to swallow as Haro's RBI double in the 8th gave them a 3-2 lead only for R-Rod to blow the save in the 9th and Gonzalez to give up the winner in the 10th.

Game 2: 1-2 L (10). LP-Stevenson (2-2). Starter-Buckman (6 2 0 0 3 7). Unbelievable. For the second straight day the Rays took a one-run lead into the 9th, R-Rod lost it, and then they were scored on in the 10th to lose. A little more offense would help but these games were right there to be taken.

Game 3: 1-3 L. LP-Vargas (9-5, 5.2 9 2 2 1 6). HR-Pino (31). The good news is that they didn't blow another game in the 9th. The bad news is that they only scored on run again and were swept at home by a mediocre Baltimore team.

Team record: 70-51. Fortunately Toronto was also swept and stayed a game behind. Unfortunately it was Boston who swept them and moved into a first-place tie with the Rays as we have a true three-team race going. Next up: The road-heavy remainder of the schedule commences with 3 games in Yankee Stadium. The Rays have been a poor 23-31 away from the Trop this year and will play 27 of their remaining 41 games on the road which doesn't augur well for their division chances and makes losing their last four at home all the more problematic.

[Art Deco]

Game 1: 10-3 W. WP-Acosta (9-5, 7 5 1 1 0 6). HR-Pino (32), Juan (2/14), Soto (5/15), Hardy (19). Juan's 4th-inning 3-run homer made it 4-0 and that was enough before Hardy punctuated the game with a slam in the 7th as they cruised behind Acosta.

Game 2: 0-6 L. LP-Najera (11-6, 4.1 6 6 5 2 6). Rays took one on the chin with the bats only managing five hits while striking out 16 times.

Game 3: 2-1 W. WP-Lennon (10-8, 7 3 1 1 3 5). S-R.Rodriguez (24). HR-Pino (33). This was a matchup of the two top pitchers in the AL per ERA and WAR with Lennon up against the clear #1 guy in New York's Ignacio Gonzales. Lennon prevailed thanks to Pino's 2-run homer in the first inning, which he and the bullpen made stand up as the Rays took the rubber game.

Team record: 72-52. Boston was swept and Toronto only won one so the Rays now hold a 2-game lead on both. Next up: A quick return home for 3 games against Minnesota.

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Game 1: 3-4 L. LP-Fragoso (5-2). Starter-Buckman (3.1 6 3 3 3 4). A Minnesota homer in the 7th broke a 3-3 tie and the Rays dropped their four straight home game. The bats only managed three hits.

Game 2: 3-1 W. WP-Ogando (4-4). S-R.Rodriguez (25). Starter-Vargas (4.1 5 1 1 3 4). HR-C.Williams (10). Not a lot of offense tonight either but 3 runs was enough as tonight it was the Rays with the winning hit in the 7th when Gurrola singled in a pair to snap a 1-1 deadlock.

Game 3: 4-10 L. LP-Acosta (9-6, 2.2 5 1 1 2 3). HR-Haro (24). Acosta's season is over as he left in the 3rd with bone chips in his elbow and will undergo surgery. The bullpen was brutal in this one as the Twins kept adding to their lead.

Team record: 73-54. The Jays have moved within one game and Boston remains two back. Next up: A day off to fly cross-country where we'll play 3 in Anaheim against the Angels.

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Transaction: Aldry Acosta goes on the 60-day IL with surgery for bone chips in his elbow and Chase Lee is activated off the IL.

Game 1: 8-4 W. WP-Stevenson (3-2). Starter-Najera (4.1 10 4 4 1 3). HR-Gurrola (15), W.Perez (8), Rutschman (19), Pino (34). Rays overcame a second straight poor start from Najera with four homers, with Perez's the only one with a man aboard.

Transaction: More injuries as Nelson Haro goes on the IL with a strained back. He'll return when his 10 days are up and Evan Bell returns for the first time since early this season to play 1B. Also reliever Luis Oviedo has back tightness which will keep him a couple of weeks so swingman Christian Rodriguez returns for the first time this season.

Game 2: 10-1 W. WP-Lennon (11-8, 7 6 0 0 0 5). HR-Gurrola (16), Rutschman 2 (21), K.White (39), Pino (35). Another homer-fest as Gurrola led off the game with a homer for the second straight day, and Rutschman (twice) and Pino also went yard after doing so yesterday. Meanwhile Lennon cruised with the ample run support and lowered his ERA to 2.45.

Game 3: 2-1 W. WP-Fragoso (6-2, 6 4 1 1 0 4). S-R.Rodriguez (26). HR-Juan (3/15), Gurrola (17). Rays swept a road series (albeit against the now 47-84 Angels) as Fragoso made a triumphant return to the rotation replacing Acosta, retiring the first 13 Angels he faced. And Gurrola homered for the third straight day (albeit not leading off the game today), the difference in the win.

Team record: 76-54. With the sweep they gained a game on Toronto to double their division lead to two games, and Boston was swept dropping them 5 games out. Next up: A return home for 2 against Washington.

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Game 1: 2-4 L (11). LP-Stevenson (3-3). Starter-Buckman (5.1 5 2 2 1 8). HR-J.Jones (3), C.Williams (11). Pino and Rutschman needed rest and with Haro on the IL it was a makeshift lineup that didn't provide enough offense and they succumbed in the 11th when Stevenson gave up a 2-run homer.

Game 2: 10-3 W. WP-Vargas (10-5, 6 7 3 3 1 4). HR-Pino (36). Things looked rough early when Washington got 3 off Vargas in the 3rd to make it 3-0 but a 5-run rally in the 4th turned it around and Pino's 2-run homer in the 7th broke it open. Hardy had a big 2-run single in that 4th-inning rally.

Team record: 77-55. Still 2 up on Toronto. Next up: We return the favor by going to Washington to play a pair.

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Game 1: 4-3 W (13). WP-Lee (1-1). S-Salazar (3). Starter-Najera (6.2 4 2 2 3 6). HR-Gurrola (18), Hardy (20). Rays had to win this one twice in extras, first scoring in the 11th before losing that lead and then finally in the 13th on Hardy's solo homer. After a couple of bad starts it was good to see Najera bounce back.

Game 2: 8-9 L. LP-Lennon (11-9, 4 5 6 6 5 2). HR-Pino (37), Lowe (3). Rays had early 3-0 and 4-1 leads with Lennon and his 2.45 ERA on the mound so it looked real good early but as you can see from his line he was terrible, couldn't hold it, and Tampa Bay had to settle for a split.

Team record: 78-56, still 2 up on Toronto. Next up: An off-day then we play 3 against a 53-81 Astros team in Houston.

Some news:

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Transactions: Time to expand the roster and up from Durham are OF Kyle Deckard, who gives us a decent glove and a RH bat of marginal utility along with swingman Christian Rodriguez.

Game 1: 6-12 L. LP-Fragoso (6-3, 3.2 6 7 7 5 1). HR-Lowe (4), E.Bell (3), Gurrola (19). After a fine start in his return to the rotation Fragoso was downright horrible today and Houston took an 11-0 lead before we started bashing some homers late.

Game 2: 14-8 W. WP-Khattak (1-0). Starter-Buckman (3 10 7 7 0 4). HR-Pino 3 (40), Rutschman 2 (23), K.White (40). A wild one as you can tell by the football score final. Rays went up 5-1 only for Buckman to give up 5 in the 2nd but they turned it around with a 5-run 6th to take the lead for good. Pino was the obvious star, going 4-5 with 3 HR and 6 RBI, Rutschman went yard twice and knocked in 4, and Gurrola was 3-6 with a 2-run double. Rutschman, Pino and White went back-to-back-to-back in the 8th and while I'm sure teammates have each hit their 40th homer in the same game I wonder if any ever did it back-to-back like these two.

Game 3: 12-1 W. WP-Vargas (11-5, 7 4 1 0 1 6). HR-K.White 2 (42), E.Bell (4), Pino (41). Another homer fest (they hit 13 in the 3-game series) with White and Pino leading the way again (White was 2-3 with 2 walks, 2 homers and 5 RBI) while Bell had his second 3-hit game of the series which included a longball. And for a change they got some good starting pitching with Vargas spinning a gem and lowering his ERA to 2.31.

Team record: 80-57. The lead over Toronto has been extended to 3 games. Next up: Home for 3 against the White Sox.

And hot on the heels of winning AL Batter of the Month for August, Pino is looking to repeat in September: