The Tampa Bay Rays saw their magic number to clinch a spot in the postseason for the fourth straight year fall with the Baltimore Orioles’ 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Tampa Bay fell to the Cleveland Guardians by a final of 2-1 last night, but with Baltimore’s loss, they put themselves in position to potentially clinch a Wild Card spot today.
Tampa Bay won 100 games last year and earned the top seed in the American League before falling to the Red Sox in the ALDS.
A win against the Guardians and an Orioles loss would put them in the postseason.
The Orioles could still tie them, but the Rays would have the playoff spot by virtue of winning the season series.
hi hello.
The Rays can clinch a playoff berth today — with a win AND an Orioles' loss
!!! pic.twitter.com/ehSr3Sfpiv
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 29, 2022
Rays Could Clinch Tonight
Things are getting exciting for the Rays.
They currently sit in the second AL Wild Card spot right now at 85-70, a half-game ahead of the Seattle Mariners, who occupy the third spot.
An Orioles loss today would also clinch a playoff spot for the Toronto Blue Jays, who are currently leading the Wild Card race.
The Rays will send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the mound tonight in hopes of securing their spot in the postseason.
The Rays last entered the postseason as a Wild Card in 2019, when they lost in a five-game ALDS against the Houston Astros.
The past two seasons, they’ve been the top seed in the American League.
The AL East will feature at least three postseason teams this October.
If the Rays win the second Wild Card, they’ll travel to Toronto for the best-of-three Wild Card series.
They could even still leapfrog the Blue Jays.
In that case, they would open up the postseason at home.
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