Are the Rays Primed for a Second Half Playoff Push?
We are just about halfway through the MLB season and to the surprise of many, the Rays currently hold a half game lead for the AL’s second wild card spot with a record of 43-40 heading into July 2nd.
If you know anything about baseball season, you know the races don’t heat up until August and there are a lot of things that can happen before then. However, with the way the Rays have played all season can we dare to ask if this team is primed for a second half playoff push?
With a lineup that thrives off the long ball, this is a team that is never out of a game. Actually, with their offense in general they are never out of a game. At the moment the Rays are 4th in the AL in runs scored with 405, and 2nd in home runs with 127. The 127 total home runs trails only the Houston Astros, who also happen to be the best team in baseball.
In my opinion, what is going to be the biggest factor for the Rays staying in the thick of the playoff race will be their pitching. With a team ERA of 4.15, the Rays currently rank 6th in the AL. Jacob Faria has been fantastic in his five starts sporting a 2.23 ERA, an incredible 0.90 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched.
He could be the lynchpin for this team if he can keep up his consistency. Will he go undefeated? No, but he looks like he has given the Rays another starting pitcher they can rely on behind Chris Archer. Consistency out of a guy like Jake Odorizzi will be another key to the Rays second half. But maybe not as important as the next pitcher we’re going to mention.
If Alex Cobb keeps up what he has done over his last four starts, the Rays will be in great shape in the second half. Over his last four starts Cobb has thrown 27.2 innings giving up only five runs which comes out to a 1.65 ERA. If Cobb continues to throw well, this is a team that will keep opposing managers awake at night with their combination of offense and starting pitching.
The Rays look like a team who will remain in the playoff picture all season. Not only when it comes to the AL Wild Card, but the AL east as well. It doesn’t appear as if any one team is ready to run away with the division and the Rays have three starting pitchers who can compete with anyone in the Junior Circuit. Buckle up, the second half is going to be a fun one and the Rays are primed to make run for October.