The All-Star Game break is on the horizon and the Tampa Bay Rays wrap up the first half with series against the defending World Series champions and the current American League East frontrunners.
Barring rainouts in Chicago or freak blackouts in Tropicana Field, the Rays will be 90 deep into their 162-game schedule. At this point last year, it was already time for players to begin thinking about offseason plans. Tampa Bay went into the break 20 games under .500 (34-54) and 17.5 games out of first place.
One year later, the Rays are playoff contenders.
Sunday’s road loss against the Baltimore Orioles denied Tampa Bay the opportunity to match its high-water mark of four games over .500, but did not affect the Rays’ position as the second and final American League wild card team.
Not a bad place to be for a club not expected to do much of anything this year, let alone be in the postseason hunt.
The Rays don’t exactly need to head into the break on a tear with plenty of second-half baseball left to play. Getting worked over by the Chicago Cubs and division-rival Boston Red Sox, though, would put a damper on the first half’s hard work and positive results.
Considering how the Rays have played this year, there’s no reason to suspect anything wild coming this week.
Tampa Bay’s been nothing if not consistent.
The most the Rays have been over .500 is four games and the furthest they’ve fallen under that mark is three games.
Longest winning streak? Four games.
Longest losing streak? Four games.
Just staying above .500 will be something to feel good about as the Rays cheer on All-Star designated hitter Corey Dickerson. Doing so while being back to four games over the breakeven point would feel even better. The Rays can do that by splitting their two-game road set against former manager Joe Maddon and the Cubs and then winning three of four at home against the Red Sox.
Eric Horchy is a staff writer with OutsidePitchMLB.com. You can follow and interact with him on Twitter: @EricHorchy
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