Currently on a four-game winning streak, the Rays have been overlooked for most of the first half. But they shouldn’t be.
The offense ranks in the top 10 in runs (sixth), batting average (ninth) and on base percentage (fifth). And they’ve been getting some pitching from an unlikely source. While last years Cy Young winner David Price is 3-4 with a 4.18 ERA, it’s been Matt Moore (12-3, 3.42) who has been the staff ace thus far.
Add to that the fact that Evan Longoria has stayed healthy only missing three games (17 home runs, 49 RBIs) and the surprising contribution from James Loney, who has more home runs (nine) and RBIs (43) than he did all of last season (six home runs, 41 RBIs), not to mention his team-leading .317 batting average. It all adds up to the Rays again competing for a playoff spot after missing out last season.
They are 4 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East, but that can be attributed to a 3-9 record against them this season. Tampa will have seven games against Boston in the second half to try and turn that around.
1) Pirates (53-34) (1)
Even a 2-4 week couldn’t knock the Pirates out of the top slot. They’re still the best team in the league, although now they’re tied with the Cardinals for first in the NL Central.
2) Cardinals (53-34) (5)
Five Cardinals made the All-Star team, but not Lance Lynn, who picked up his 11th win of the season Sunday in a 3-2 win over the Marlins.
3) Athletics (52-37) (6)
Josh Donaldson already has 15 home runs and 57 RBIs this season, easily eclipsing last season’s totals.
4) Rangers (51-37) (3)
The Rangers are keeping pace with the A’s in what should be an exciting AL West race down the stretch.
5) Red Sox (54-36) (2)
Give them credit for hanging onto the AL East lead as long as they have.
6) Reds (50-38) (8)
The week was highlighted by Homer Bailey’s second no-hitter in ten months, but the Reds, despite having the third-best record in the majors still find themselves in third place in the competitive NL Central.
7) Tigers (48-39) (9)
Miguel Cabrera could have 100 RBIs by the All Star break. He has 90 with seven games to go.
8) Braves (50-38) (7)
Losers of four of five, and the division lead has shrunk to four games over the Nationals.
9) Yankees (48-40) (12)
A day after being named to the All-Star Game in his final season, Mariano Rivera blew his second save of the season in a 2-1 loss to the Orioles. The Yankees had won their previous six games.
10) Orioles (49-40) (4)
Chris Davis has 85 RBIs which would lead the NL by a mile, but in the AL, that’s only good for second place, behind Detroit’s Cabrera.
11) Rays (49-40) (11)
All-Star Ben Zobrist may not have pop this season with five homers, but his 45 RBIs rank second on the team behind Evan Longoria.
12) Indians (46-32) (10)
Took a step back losing two of three to both the Royals and Tigers last week.
13) Nationals (46-42) (15)
Bryce Harper has returned from the DL in a big way with five RBIs, leading the Nationals to a 5-2 record last week.
14) Diamondbacks (47-41) (13)
Arizona used a three-game sweep over the Rockies this weekend to extend their NL West lead to 4 1/2 games over the Dodgers.
15) Angels (43-45) (23)
Hard to believe they are just two games under .500 after an awful start to the season.
16) Blue Jays (43-45) (14)
Are 5-9 since an 11-game winning streak and are going to be tough to climb up the AL East Standings now.
17) Dodgers (42-45) (19)
Yasiel Puig went three straight games without a home run or an RBI. Fraud!
18) Phillies (43-46) (20)
Sneaking up on the Braves, the Phillies are 7 1/2 games out and hoping to make some noise in the second half.
19) Royals (41-44) (18)
James Shields and Wade Davis — the two pitchers Kansas City acquired from Tampa in blockbuster deal — are a combined 7-13 so far this season.
20) Rockies (42-47) (16)
A team that ranks in the top 10 in all offensive categories, but yet, the Rockies are five games under .500 in a weak division.
21) Twins (37-48) (22)
They are 4-12 in their last 16 games, which is to be expected when you can’t score runs and give up way too many as well.
22) Padres (40-49) (17)
Finished a 10-game road trip with a 1-9 record and have lost nine in a row. Only good news is they play the struggling Rockies and Giants this week.
23) Giants (40-47) (21)
The Giants are 2-11 in their last 13 games and are only a game out of the NL West basement.
24) Cubs (38-48) (24)
Picked up another walk-off win on Sunday, 4-3 over the Pirates in 11 innings. The Cubs are now 6-3 in extra frames this season.
25) Mets (37-48) (27)
Jeremy Hefner is 3-0 in his past four starts, allowing five earned runs in that span. To put that in perspective, ace Matt Harvey allowed five runs in his last start.
26) Brewers (35-52) (28)
At least Jean Segura and Carlos Gomez – both first time All Stars – are worth watching.
27) Marlins (32-55) (25)
Suffered their first three-game losing streak this weekend for the first time in a month. But the Marlins season has been over for a while now.
28) Mariners (39-49) (26)
They get to head into the All-Star break with series’ against the first-place Red Sox and red-hot Angels. This might not be pretty.
29) White Sox (34-51) (29)
Were swept by the Rays this weekend, the seventh time they’re been swept this season.
30) Astros (32-57) (30)
Haven’t put together consecutive wins in over three weeks.