The Tampa Bay Rays secured their first postseason appearance in six years Friday, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays and seeing the Cleveland Indians fall in Washington. Josh Tolentino of The Athletic joins Steve from Toronto to discuss the celebration and how the players want to make sure they have this celebration a couple of times this October.
The Rays begin their final series of the 2019 regular season in Toronto, which mirrors exactly what happened the last time Tampa Bay made the postseason in 2013. The only player who was on the Rays for that playoffrun, outfielder Kevin Kiermaier reminisces about waiting nearly a month between the end of the minor league season and his call-up in Game 163.
The Rays wrap up the home portion of the 2019 regular season with five wins in six games, including sweeping the New York Yankees.
The Rays continue to make a strong push for the postseason, beating the New York Yankees in a 12-inning pitcher's duel. Hear from outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, whose home run tied the game up. And with the Athletics losing and the Indians winning, all three teams are within a game of each other, so we look at the possibility that all three clubs end up tied for the two wild card spots.
The Rays looked to be asleep for the first three innings before turning on the juice and beating up the Red Sox in Monday's finale. Also, Albert Pujols' 2000th RBI has found a home.
After three straight games where Tampa Bay gutted out 11-inning victories, the bats and the arms needed to recharge Sunday, dropping the third of four games to the Red Sox and dropping back to tied for the final wild card. And with seven days remaining before the start of the playoffs, we start looking at how the front office may start to cut the roster back down to 25 for the postseason.
The Rays win a third straight 11-inning contest and walk off for a second consecutive night against the Boston Red Sox. Steve says there's something that feels oddly familiar with this team that hearkens back to the years where the franchise competed to be the best in the American League. It should lead to an exciting final week of the regular season.
Tampa Bay walks off on the Boston Red Sox, allowing them to remain tied for the final wild card spot with Cleveland. Plus, a warning why you should never throw stones in a glass house.
Tampa Bay goes into the final homestand of the 2019 regular season tied for the second wild card spot with the Cleveland Indians. Steve explains why Cleveland has been able to keep pace for the postseason. Plus, a former Ray could be out as a manager of another club, and it's crazy which one it might be.
The Rays rally to split their two-game series with the Dodgers and return home still in possession of a wild card spot. Steve discusses all the pieces that went into the win and how they overcame a ton of obstacles to pull out an 11 inning victory.
The Rays begin the most difficult portion of their remaining schedule by falling to the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Steve discusses how this stretch will not only determine whether Tampa Bay gets into the postseason but what kind of success they could have in the playoffs.
The Rays begin a two-game series at Dodger Stadium tonight, and Steve discusses expectations from Blake Snell, who makes his first start after elbow surgery, and the rest of the staff. We also talk about Luis Severino making his 2019 debut for the Yankees tonight and former Rays farmhand Felipe Vazquez is in hot water with the law.
The Rays can't finish off a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, as Ryan Yarbrough loses both of his starts to them this season. Steve also details how another American League East team destined for the postseason is also getting healthier
The Rays earn a second straight win in Anaheim to keep pace in the American League Wild Card race, plus we start to look at individual awards for players and manager Kevin Cash.
The Rays end their two game skid with a win in Anaheim to remain in the second wild card, and could be getting as many as three of their biggest contributors back before the end of the regular season.
The Rays fall out of the top wild card spot after dropping the final two games in Arlington, but Steve wants to focus on the fun that should be had by Rays fans as the team looks for its first playoff berth in six years.
The Rays see their winning streak end while both the Athletics and Indians gain a game on Tampa Bay in the race for the postseason. Steve discusses how even though Kevin Cash's players have the most difficult schedule by winning percentage, they should still finish with one of the wild card spots in the American League
While we are excited that Tampa Bay opened their road trip with their sixth consecutive win and maintained their lead over both Oakland and Cleveland, Steve also has a story about being in the military on September 11, 2001, and how his life changed forever on that day.
The Rays begin their last multi-city road trip tonight in Arlington, and Steve begins to answer questions about things incidental to making the playoffs with a little trepidation
Steve discusses Sunday's finish of a four-game sweep against Toronto that finishes a ten-game homestand with nine victories (hence the new play on the old Sam Wyche adage), and details why the turnaround of the pitching staff could be a reason this Rays team not only makes the playoffs but can make a mark in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay grinds out a third straight win over Toronto and four consecutive overall to maintain their lead atop the wild card standings. Daniel Robertson drove in both the tying run and the insurance run late Saturday, and he discusses how he's feeling at the plate. And Tyler Glasnow talks about making his first start since May 11 today.
The Rays throw a combined two-hit shutout Friday against Toronto, and Steve talks about the importance of seeing Brendan McKay get back to pitching the way he did before the shoulder ailment, plus getting Tyler Glasnow back Sunday. And Mike Zunino on getting a Gator chomp from Kevin Kiermaier and how good it felt to break the game open with a home run.
The Rays earn a win in the opener of a four-game series against the Blue Jays. Steve discusses how Austin Meadows has feasted on Toronto pitching, plus Tommy Pham becomes the second 20-20 player in franchise history, but he tells us how he is not resting on his laurels and already preparing to be even better in 2020.
The Rays begin a weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, but Steve answers an email asking about the possibility of Brandon Lowe and Yandy Diaz playing, and Tyler Glasnow possibly starting, in the postseason. Plus, the reason why today's game is the only contest not on Fox Sports Sun this season.
Steve discusses the split of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles, and how pitching plays such an important factor in success playing twin-bills, and we hear from manager Kevin cash about the long day of baseball.
The Tampa Bay Rays will wrap up their series with the Baltimore Orioles with two games at Tropicana Field, an unusual occurrence. We also look at the positives and negatives of Monday's 5-4 10-inning win over the Orioles, and the possibility of Tyler Glasnow pitching at the Trop this weekend,
What seemed to be a difficult task gets accomplished as Tampa Bay take all three games from the Indians, and hear from both infielders Nate Lowe and Daniel Robetson about returning to the big leagues for this playoff push.
We've reached September, which means the roster expands from 25 to as many as 40 players. The Rays will start by expanding to 30 after calling up five to begin the month. Hear from infielders Nate Lowe and Daniel Robertson, both back with the big club for the final month. Steve also explains why Ricardo Pinto was used for a second inning Saturday in Tampa Bay's win over Cleveland and what to expect for Sunday's finale as the Rays look to finish off a three-game sweep.
After a rough end to the road trip for the pitching staff, things got back tonormal in Friday's win over the Indians. Hear from manager Kevin Cash about the victory, and Steve discusses contingencies that could be made if Hurricane Dorian were to make its way to the Tampa Bay region.
The Rays manage to salvage the finale of their series in Houston, and now open up a ten-game homestand with the first of three against the Cleveland Indians. Also, Blake Bivens makes his first public statement since the murder of his wife and son.
