The Tampa Bay Rays have shown this year what makes them one of the most underrated franchises in baseball.
Each year people overlook the Rays as serious contenders but they always seem to find their way into the playoffs.
This season will be no different.
The Rays have been the best team in baseball since the beginning of the year and seem like a lock to play in October.
As shared by Buster Olney, the Rays have a 99.4% chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs.
AL playoff chances, per Fangraphs:
Rays 99.4%
Rangers 82.5%
Astros 65.6%
Yankees 63.7%
Orioles 61.3%
Twins 59.4%
Jays 57.2%
Guardians 36.2%
Angels 33.2%
Red Sox 18.4%
Mariners 16.0%
CWS 4.7%
Tigers 2.7%
KC, Oak 0.0%— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 3, 2023
Tampa Bay has been strong in all facets of the game this season.
A few of their players are enjoying breakout seasons, including Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena.
Also, they have one of the AL Cy Young favorites in Shane McClanahan.
Tampa is hoping to secure the top record in baseball, which would grant them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
They have a 5.5-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for the number-one seed in the AL.
But they have a worse win percentage than the Atlanta Braves as they have three more losses.
It will be interesting to see if the Rays make any big moves at the trade deadline.
They could try to add another difference-making bat or another starting pitcher behind McClanahan.
Even though the Rays have suffered some tough injuries this year, that has not affected their season outlook.
This is one of the best teams in baseball and they are looking to win their first World Series in franchise history.
NEXT: Yandy Diaz Is Making Rays ASG History
