On the heels of a shortened 60 game campaign and unexpected World Series run, the Tampa Bay Rays entered 2021 with heightened expectations. Could they navigate a full 162 game slate playing in baseball’s toughest division? Would they suffer a World Series hangover? Do they have the depth to overcome significant obstacles, ones that might deter other teams? As of now, the answers look to be positive, especially considering the adjustments made to remain healthy during a worldwide pandemic.
How did the Rays manage to win back-to-back American League East championships? A multitude of factors played into their ability to reach new heights, ones that have never been seen in franchise history.
Clutch Pitching
Entering this season, the Rays pitching staff looked to be the team’s biggest question mark. Trading ace Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres and not paying to keep veteran Charlie Morton left them with one starter in Tyler Glasnow. After that came Ryan Yarbrough. From there, the team had no clear-cut starting pitcher. Despite his age, free agent Rich Hill became a solid third starter. Chris Archer and Collin McHugh each got a chance to prove their worth too, with the latter’s struggles opening the door for rookie Shane McClanahan.
The bullpen, led by All-Star Andrew Kittredge, was as advertised despite a few early season hiccups. Matt Wisler’s addition bolstered an already good relief corps. McHugh ended up being a better fit as a reliever than a starter, going a prolonged stretch without allowing a run.
Acquiring Drew Rasmussen and JP Feyereisen from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for shortstop Willy Adames also worked out well for both parties. The Rays received pitching help, something they desperately needed, while the Brewers rode a rejuvenated Adames to the NL Central division title.
With pitching staff injuries piling up, the Rays were forced to look to their farm system in Durham. Reinforcements came quickly in the form of young arms itching to make their major league debut.
Luis Patino started hot before hitting a rough patch. His 4.42 ERA leaves room for improvement but it’s not bad for a 21-year-old. Rasmussen, in his first time as a starter, is an impressive 4-0 with a 2.44 ERA while eating up four to five innings. Rookie Shane Baz has dazzled in two starts, with a 1.69 ERA in a limited capacity.
Even Michael Wacha has contributed to the team’s success despite a losing record and ERA above five.
Timely Hitting
For years, the Rays struggled to drive men in when they get on base. This season, though they struggled at times, the team came through more often than not.
Mike Zunino started the season red-hot, leading to his first All-Star game selection. His second half wasn’t as good, but he still has a career-high 32 homers with three games remaining. Many of those were solo shots, yet he still managed to drive in 61 runs.
That gave the rest of the team’s hitters time to heat up, and they did. Brandon Lowe rebounded from a slow start to launch a team-high 37 homers and added 93 RBI’s. Austin Meadows added a team-high 103 RBI’s on 117 hits.
Rookie Randy Arozarena hasn’t been as good as he was during the team’s magical 2020 postseason run, but he’s certainly helped the team win games. With 141 hits, he outhit the next closest Ray (Lowe) by 13. His RBI and homer totals were a little low, however, which could hurt his chances of winning the AL Rookie of the Year award.
After trading Adames, the Rays called up shortstop prospect Taylor Walls. He did his job before giving way to top prospect Wander Franco. Making his major league debut in late June of 2021, Franco struggled initially before making history. His 43 game on-base streak ties Frank Robinson for the longest streak by a player 20 years or younger.
It should come as no surprise then that the Rays went 13-3 in August, building a big enough lead to clinch the AL East before the final week of the season.
Final Thoughts
With so many questions heading in and the injuries they were hit with all season long, it’s a miracle that the Rays have exceeded expectations by a lot. Their 98 wins right now are the best in franchise history, surpassing the 2008 World Series team. They have already clinched home field advantage in the American League, and can hit 100 victories before the season ends.
The perseverance shown all year long by these players is why this AL East division title is one to remember fondly. One to cherish for years to come.