There is now just one undefeated team in baseball. That team would be the Tampa Bay Rays. They currently sit at the top of the AL East standings at 6-0 following a home-field sweep of the Detroit Tigers and a road sweep in the nation’s capital against the Nationals.
Plenty of Bats have Started Hot for Tampa Bay
There are many players that have helped the Rays offensively get off to this incredible start. Wander Franco leads the team in average (.417) in 24 at-bats and also total hits with ten. Luke Raley already has three home runs and a 1.375 OPS.
Jose Siri has also been surprisingly good in the batter’s box for Tampa Bay thus far. He has an average of .333, 6 RBIs, and a 1.128 OPS. He had just a .660 OPS with the Rays last season since getting traded there from Houston.
Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena have started with .333 and .364 batting averages respectively, too.
The team as a whole has combined for 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. They outscored the Nationals and Tigers in the first two series’ of the season 44-13.
Pitching has Looked Solid for Everyone
Through the first four games of the season, the Rays’ pitching staff threw a combined ERA of 0.39.
Their four healthy starters (Shane McClanahan, Zach Eflin, Drew Rasmussen, and Jeffrey Springs) have thrown a combined o.85 ERA with all of them having below a 2.00 ERA. Springs and Rasmussen have not given up a run this season in a combined 12 innings pitched.
McClanahan himself seems to be back in Cy Young potential form with 12 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA thus far. He also has given up a .214 combined batting average to opposing lineups this season.
Springs also has 12 strikeouts this season as him and McClanahan lead the team.
Many relievers have looked good, too, with Ryan Thompson giving up no runs in his appearances so far. Calvin Faucher, Garrett Cleavinger, and Pete Fairbanks have given up just four combined hits in 7.2 innings. They also have a combined ERA of 1.00.
Up Next
The Rays are undefeated to date as they head into Easter weekend. Their next and third series of the season has them back in Tropicana Field against the Oakland Athletics. First pitch for Friday night’s matchup is at 6:40 p.m. E.T.