More From the Inexplicably Weird Rays

I'm gonna start this post about the Tampa Bay Rays by talking about...the Washington Nationals. I swear this will all make sense in a moment.

The Washington Nationals have overcome a slow start and sharing a division with the Braves to get right back into the mix of the NL race, winning a ton of games in early June and going up against the Phillies for 2nd. Their pitching is strong, their lineup is pretty well-rounded and capable of power, and they're still a force to be reckoned with in the MLB right now.

...the third place Rays just shut them out over a two-game series. While scoring 12 runs on them in 2 games.

I've already talked at length about the sheer strangeness of this Rays team, the kind of team that doesn't want to pick a side and be good or bad, rebuilding or threats, but I figure I'll update the masses on the situation as the new developments arise.

First of all, since the trade of closer Alex Colome to Seattle (where the best closer in baseball currently resides, so R.I.P to his playing time), the Rays have had to work on cementing a new closer. So, who have they decided on? Former Giants closer Sergio Romo of course, who had already nailed a few 'opens' as part of Kevin Cash's new strategy. As such, Romo has saved 6 games and started 5, which...is like the 5th-weirdest part of this team at this point. He's doing alright as closer, but his backlog of blown saves from his early-April setup days are preventing his big numbers from shining through.

To this end, thanks to the injuries to Chirinos, Archer and Faria, there are only two cemented starters healthy right now: Blake Snell and Nate Eovaldi. Everyone else who has started games is either primarily a reliever, a call-up working an 'open' on Cash's orders, or...perhaps a starter who is also used in relief? It's very confusing the way Cash is working this; I really can't tell who he intends to be perceived as starters. There are people, like Ryan Yarbrough and Ryne Stanek, who have appeared in a ton of games but still have relief stats despite starting games. I don't know what to make of this pitching staff, but it seems to be working.

The lineup, carried by a bunch of veteran utility men like Johnny Field, Daniel Robertson and Joey Wendle, as well as a few rookies who seem to be doing well like Willy Adames and Jake Bauers, seems to be doing...well enough. I mean, it's as unfocused as a team who just lost their marquee star can be. Their other marquee star, Kevin Kiermaier, just got back from the DL and he's...not exactly playing like himself. Mallex Smith might be the new big star carrier, but he may have one or two more seasons playing like hell in a Rays uniform to go before he can confirm that. Or, judging by the season so far, it could be Matt Duffy, but I don't know how hell-bent he is about staying in Tampa.

There are a ton of questions, a ton of confusing aspects of the team, and...things are working to an extent, right now. Besides, the Rays are very close to having their catcher, Wilson Ramos, start the All-Star Game. Curiouser and curiouser.

Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of catchers, here's one that...if things go well, won't be wearing his current uniform for much longer.