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The Tampa Bay Rays can't catch consistency.
The team is coming off a solid series sweep at home against the Boston Red Sox and then falls in a series to the Los Angeles Angels on the road, one of the worst teams in the American League.
Tampa Bay is 5-5 in its last ten games, and no longer holds a lead inside the division. At 41-27, they now trail the New York Yankees by 1 game entering Monday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What seemed to be one of the best teams in baseball just a month ago has quickly fallen into the mediocrity of the American League.
On Monday, Bleacher Report dropped its latest power rankings, and the Rays find themselves not making any ground. They appeared for the second week in a row as the seventh-best team in the rankings, and B/R writer Joel Reuter focused on how the team's "dominance" has begun to fade.
"The Rays have not been as dominant the last few weeks after looking like one of the best teams in baseball, but they are still one of only five clubs with 40 wins, and their 24-9 record at home is the best in baseball. Drew Rasmussen (13 GS, 2.71 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 73.0 IP) is a strong contender for most underrated pitcher in baseball, and he has allowed just three hits with 22 strikeouts over 14 scoreless innings in his last two starts."
The best news the Rays can take away from this slump they have been in over the past month is that most of the rest of the American League is doing the same thing. As mentioned above, the Yankees only lead the Rays by a single game inside the AL East. That could be much worse if they weren't dealing with massive injuries to star players like Aaron Judge.
As frustrating as the Rays are right now, they are still well in the thick of being the top seeded American League team once the postseason comes around this fall, especially if they make the right moves at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Will Leitch of MLB.com had a little more optimism for the Rays this week as the team actually moved up one spot to 5th in his rankings. However, he is concerned of the pitching staff, and rightfully so.
In fact, Leitch states, "Since May 24 — the stretch during which the lead evaporated — the Rays are tied for the third-worst record in baseball, because they have somehow put up a 5.06 ERA, ahead of only the Royals, A's and Twins in the American League."
Some of the Rays starting staff are starting to bounce back after a shaky middle of May, but the middle of the bullpen is a serious concern for the long haul. This is easily the most needed spot that needs improvement by Eric Neander and the Rays front office before August 3's deadline. Relievers over the last few seasons have certainly been dealt at a premium during the deadline. Acting quicker and earlier could possibly work in your favor.
Continue reading...
The team is coming off a solid series sweep at home against the Boston Red Sox and then falls in a series to the Los Angeles Angels on the road, one of the worst teams in the American League.
Tampa Bay is 5-5 in its last ten games, and no longer holds a lead inside the division. At 41-27, they now trail the New York Yankees by 1 game entering Monday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What seemed to be one of the best teams in baseball just a month ago has quickly fallen into the mediocrity of the American League.
On Monday, Bleacher Report dropped its latest power rankings, and the Rays find themselves not making any ground. They appeared for the second week in a row as the seventh-best team in the rankings, and B/R writer Joel Reuter focused on how the team's "dominance" has begun to fade.
"The Rays have not been as dominant the last few weeks after looking like one of the best teams in baseball, but they are still one of only five clubs with 40 wins, and their 24-9 record at home is the best in baseball. Drew Rasmussen (13 GS, 2.71 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 73.0 IP) is a strong contender for most underrated pitcher in baseball, and he has allowed just three hits with 22 strikeouts over 14 scoreless innings in his last two starts."
The best news the Rays can take away from this slump they have been in over the past month is that most of the rest of the American League is doing the same thing. As mentioned above, the Yankees only lead the Rays by a single game inside the AL East. That could be much worse if they weren't dealing with massive injuries to star players like Aaron Judge.
As frustrating as the Rays are right now, they are still well in the thick of being the top seeded American League team once the postseason comes around this fall, especially if they make the right moves at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Will Leitch of MLB.com had a little more optimism for the Rays this week as the team actually moved up one spot to 5th in his rankings. However, he is concerned of the pitching staff, and rightfully so.
In fact, Leitch states, "Since May 24 — the stretch during which the lead evaporated — the Rays are tied for the third-worst record in baseball, because they have somehow put up a 5.06 ERA, ahead of only the Royals, A's and Twins in the American League."
Some of the Rays starting staff are starting to bounce back after a shaky middle of May, but the middle of the bullpen is a serious concern for the long haul. This is easily the most needed spot that needs improvement by Eric Neander and the Rays front office before August 3's deadline. Relievers over the last few seasons have certainly been dealt at a premium during the deadline. Acting quicker and earlier could possibly work in your favor.
Continue reading...
