ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Rays closed out one of the best regular seasons in franchise history Sunday, finishing 98-64 after a 7-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, and now hold the American League’s top seed heading into the postseason.
The Rays won 30 series and swept 16, led the AL East for 133 days - including 93 consecutive days since June 27 - and owned the AL’s best record for a club-record 132 days. Since July 20, they posted the AL’s best record at 42-22. The 98 wins rank third in franchise history, behind the 2021 club’s 100 wins and the 2023 team’s 99.
“The season’s not over yet, right? We have our most important games ahead of us,” said starter Nick Martinez, who gave up four runs on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings in Sunday’s finale. “Our goal is not just to make it to the playoffs. I think every player’s goal is to win a World Series, and that’s certainly our goal.”
Game 1 of the AL Division Series is scheduled for next Saturday at Tropicana Field, where Tampa Bay will host the winner of the best-of-three Wild Card Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Rays’ 55-26 home record this season makes that advantage significant. They need seven more wins to capture the club’s third AL pennant, or 11 to win the World Series.
Outfielder Jonny DeLuca, who homered twice in his first career multihomer game Sunday, said the team is already shifting its focus. “I feel like it’s almost another season coming up, and [we’re] just getting ready for that and mentally preparing for those games,” DeLuca said.
To stay sharp during the bye, the Rays will hold intrasquad scrimmages Tuesday and Thursday at Tropicana Field. The sessions will also allow the club to evaluate the health of rehabbing relievers Tyler Wells and Garrett Cleavinger. “You do what you can to stay locked in, right?” Martinez said. “We’ll have some sort of intrasquads and workouts to stay both sharp physically and mentally. Just got to take it upon ourselves to stay sharp on the mental side.”
Manager Kevin Cash said roster decisions remain unresolved, including rotation construction behind presumptive Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen. “None of that has been decided,” Cash said. Sunday’s game offered one hint: left-hander Ian Seymour, who had started or pitched bulk innings for months, entered in relief - a possible preview of a hybrid role in October. “I know he’s done it before, but get him back familiar with it,” Cash said of the move.
The Rays will learn their ALDS opponent Wednesday if the Yankees-Red Sox series ends in a sweep, or as late as Thursday night if it goes three games.