The “opener” and youth movement have the Rays feeling pretty good as July nears.
If you came into the 2018 season thinking the Tampa Bay Rays were a playoff team – good for you. You had more optimism than most. If you still thought they were a playoff team after they started the year 4-13 then you’re as true blue as they come.
Fast-forward to May 19th when the Rays debuted their “opener” idea. An idea that has slowly done away with the traditional starter role, at least on this roster, and allowed relievers to get a shot at “opening” a game for an inning or two. In the case of RHP Wilmer Font, maybe even five or six. Unless your name is Blake Snell or Nathan Eovaldi, that is – the only two true starters left in a debilitated starting rotation.
On May 19th, the Rays were 22-22 and had won six straight. They were also just 3.5 games out of the final wild card spot in the AL. No one is really paying much attention to a wild card race in mid-May. However on June 27th – that’s a different story.
Elite arms
Since the debut of the “opener” on May 19th, the Rays have not just the best pitching staff in the AL, but they rank among the best in all of baseball. The 1-0 shutout of the Nationals on Tuesday was the 10th time in team history they’ve thrown back-to-back shutouts. It was also their sixth of the 2018 season – all since May 28th. The pitching staff is currently riding a 22-inning scoreless streak going back to the win over the Yankees on Sunday.
Maybe the most impressive stat of all…
Tuesday was the 15th time this season the Rays starter yielded 1 hit or fewer, most for a team in a single season (it’s not even July, yet) since 1908. Yes, that’d be well over a hundred years, in case you’re counting.
These kids can play
Y’all have been riding with us lately.
Appreciate u. pic.twitter.com/Hqhy8Yszt2
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 27, 2018
1B Jake Bauers, SS Willy Adames, RHP Diego Castillo, RHP Ryan Yarbrough, OF Johnny Field, and INF Joey Wendle are all rookies in 2018. Wendle being the only one with MLB experience before this season. Wendle and Yarbrough made the Opening Day roster. The rest were called up at different times throughout the first three months and have all made an impact almost immediately. Adames (#2) and Bauers (#5) were top prospects who have proven why there are ranked among the best in all of baseball’s minor leagues. In fact, since Adames and Bauers were called up, the Rays are 8-0 at Tropicana Field. Castillo has proven to be just as reliable in short relief as he is in longer roles. Wendle and Field have been “under the radar” rookies who have surprised a lot of people with how they’ve contributed. Yarbrough leads all MLB rookies with seven wins.
Is this a playoff team?
Looking at the standings it doesn’t look good. Looking at the team that’s gone out there every day for the last six weeks – it looks real good. From June 14-July 1 they have a stretch of 16-consecutive games against contending teams and/or division leaders. While that stretch didn’t start very well losing three of four in New York and two of three in Houston, they’ve turned it around with five straight victories. They now find themselves nine games back of the final wild card with roughly three months left in the season.
Remember back in 2011 when they were nine games back at the start of September? That was a pretty good end to the season, no?
Heading into their off-day today, the Rays sit at 39-40 and in third place in the East. The Astros come to town for four games beginning Thursday. Considering the Rays have played very well against teams under .500 (21-9) if they can manage to finish arguably the toughest stretch of the season on high note this weekend – who knows how July will play out. Beginning Monday, they start a stretch of 13 games against teams all below .500 (Marlins, Mets, Tigers, Twins) before the All Star break.
Could we actually be calling the Rays “buyers” leading up to the trade deadline?
Guys.
This. Team. Is. Fun. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/ulFbNiUDVZ
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 26, 2018
Yes, fans – I’m saying there’s a very good chance.
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