The Rays path to the postseason

So you’re telling me there is a chance

The Tampa Bay Rays have not officially been eliminated from the playoff picture, which means they are still in the hunt for postseason glory. However, with the calendar flipping to September, time is quickly evaporating as the Rays look to make a final push.

The Rays have consistently played .500 ball this year. The furthest they have fallen under .500 is five games and the high water mark is three games over. Heading into play on Wednesday, the Rays are 68-70. However, despite this, the Rays still have an outside shot at the postseason as the teams they are chasing are dealing various struggles.

With the expanded playoffs, the top 3 wild card teams will make into the postseason, which is what is allowing the Rays to still have breath in their 2024 campaign.

Here is the current Wild Card picture:

• Yankees: 80-59 | 5.5 game lead
• Twins: 75-63 | 1.0 game lead
• Royals: 75-65 | -
• Red Sox: 70-69 | 4.5 games back
• Tigers: 70-69 | 4.5 games back
• Mariners: 69-70 | 5.5 games back
• Rays: 68-70 | 6.0 games back

The Kansas City Royals have lost seven consecutive games; the Red Sox have lost their last four in a row as have the Mariners.

Most likely, it’ll take at least 88 wins to secure the 3rd WC spot. The Rays have 24 games remaining in the regular season.

Which means they will need win at least 20 of their remaining 24 games, as well as hoping that the teams they are chasing fail to finish with a better record; it’s not likely.

In franchise history, the Rays have gone on similar runs during the 2023, 2021, 2020,2013, and 2004 seasons; they reached the postseason in each year, with the exception of the 2004 Devil Rays campaign.

For what it’s worth, here is the best results each team would need to produce down the stretch for the Rays to reach the postseason (88-74):

• Rays: 20-4
• Twins: 12-12
• Royals: 12-9
• Red Sox: 17-5
• Tigers: 17-5
• Mariners: 19-4