As luck would have it, the schedule has gone the Rays' way this week. While the Orioles, who are two games ahead of them for the division, are struggling to withstand the Astros, the Rays have games against the Cardinals and Guardians, two teams they are undoubtedly better than, up at bat. It is a neck-and-neck battle for first place honestly very similar to the Rangers-Astros battle going on right now. The difference here is that the Rangers are doing what they can to extend their streak and stay on top, while the Orioles are reaching their peak and beginning to slip.
Meaning the Rays, who have gone 6-2 since June 30th, might be heading back to first place.
The problems they had that caused the slip to 2nd still persist: they are still without McClanahan, Rasmussen and Springs, and they lack the bullpen depth that made them a force to begin with. The pride night group are all struggling this year, ironically, and while they at least have relievers like Pete Fairbanks, Colin Poche, Shawn Armstrong and Jake Diekman [surprise, surprise, the Rays pitching coaches fixed him], they are once again working with only three starters and going for bullpen days aside from that. And when you only have three healthy starting pitchers, and one of them is Aaron Civale, who's already struggling after landing in Tampa...that's not a good look.
Tyler Glasnow being not only healthy but at peak levels is a good perk, though. Glasnow's 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 96 Ks in 12 starts. It would have been ideal to have him AND McClanahan, but one ace is better than two. If they didn't have Glasnow, they'd be a lot worse off, because getting innings from him, and Eflin honestly, does help, even if a lot of the charm of this team just comes from how they're outhitting everybody. But this diminished starting strategy is probably why they're not the overwhelming threat they were in May. They can do bullpen tricks and try to cobble together games from small innings, but this isn't the kind of bullpen these Rays teams would lead with before. There's no Alvarado or Castillo, no Nick Anderson, no Ryne Stanek, and Andrew Kittredge is hurt. Some of these guys are good, but it's not across the board like it was.
And look, this is still a team where Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz and Isaac Paredes can all out-hit you, and I don't see them struggling with St. Louis or Cleveland. I just know that the Rays can't be expected to go to the end with just 2 and a half working starters. This low-budget, zany concept for success works, but only when it works all the way. Or else we're back in 2018 with the openers and no playoff success.
I do think the Rays have a good chance of re-taking the AL East. I am not sure if they'll still be holding onto first place by the end of the month. This may go back and forth between them and Baltimore for a while, and I fully expect them both to advance to October. They just need to build their playoff case and fill a ton of holes in the roster.
Coming Tomorrow- Was watching this guy work on television a few nights ago, and man is it nice to see him playing for the home team rather than against us.
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