Through Season’s First Half, Tampa Rays Have Halted Losing Streaks Before They Really Began

Christian Bethancourt said he did not realize the Rays had lost three straight. Who could blame him? Winning has become a habit for a team that has sported the best record in the majors throughout the season’s first half.

When the Rays lost to Baltimore on Tuesday evening it marked the first time in 2023 they had lost three in a row. It was the team’s 76^th game.

On seven previous occasions, the Rays prevented two losses in a row from becoming three. They would not make it eight-for-eight as an 8-6 defeat to the Orioles, which followed losses in the final two games of a three-game series at San Diego, gave Tampa Bay its longest losing streak of the season. Of course, that is not much of a streak.

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“We are just going out there to win,” said Bethancourt, following a 7-2 win over the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon that prevented a four-game skid. “You can ask the guys (in the clubhouse) and most of them did not know we had a three-game losing streak because it doesn’t feel like that. We show up here every day with a great attitude, we show up every day to play, to compete and win a ballgame.”

Because of that mindset, losing a couple of games here and there has merely served as speedbumps during a season in which the Rays have set a handful of team records, including a 13-0 start that equaled the modern (since 1900) MLB mark for most wins to begin a season.

It helps to have all cylinders firing simultaneously. The combination of a powerful lineup, exceptional pitching and superb defense have far more often than not been on display at once. Indeed, through 77 games Tampa Bay was either first or second in the majors in several offensive categories including, but not limited to, extra base hits (271, 1st), home run (119, 2nd), runs per game (5.56, 2nd), slugging percentage (.464, 2nd) and OPS (.803, 2nd). The Rays have also turned on the speed this season with an MLB-leading 96 stolen bases.

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On the mound, the Rays led in ERA (3.53), batting average against (.222) and were tied for the lowest WHIP (1.19) despite having lost the services of Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery, out for the season) in April and Drew Rasmussen (elbow, possible August return) in May. Then there is a bullpen that has seen a collection of arms come and go, and has dealt with injuries to closer Pete Fairbanks, among others, yet has continued to roll along effectively.

A defense with MLB’s fourth-best fielding percentage (.989) has turned in several, and often spectacular, run-saving plays.

Given all of the above, it is no wonder anything resembling a losing skid is nipped in the bud in a hurry.

“That’s kind of the hope and it is also the byproduct of a good team,” said manager Kevin Cash. “We have a good team that when they recognize when things don’t go well, we have to turn it around a little bit. It seemed like they did that (Wednesday).”

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It is also a byproduct of a team that wins, and wins big, at home. The Rays won 32 of their first 40 games at Tropicana Field to become just the ninth team in the modern era (since 1901) to win at least as many games in the first 40 home dates. They are averaging 5.8 runs per game under the dome and have lost consecutive games once. That was to the defending World Series champion Astros in April.

“This year, for whatever reason, it feels like we’ve taken it to another level,” said Cash, when asked about his team’s success at home. “A lot of that, I think, is that we have shown the ability to open up games a little more frequently than we have in the past with having a really potent offense.”

Of course, Cash’s team has a really potent offense this season. It is one that has hit at least two home runs in 20 of 40 games at the Trop. The Rays have won all 20.

On the surface, it might seem difficult for the Rays to continue to perform at the pace in which they have. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the pitching staff has compiled such impressive numbers while dealing with numerous injuries.

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If Rasmussen returns at some point in the second half, he will re-join a rotation that has an impressive one-two punch of Shane McClanahan and Zach Eflin and has been bolstered by the late-May return of Tyler Glasnow (oblique) as well as the continued development of 22-year-old rookie righthander Taj Bradley.

Sure, there will be bumps in the road during the season’s second half. However, with what could be a formidable quintet of starting pitchers in August/September combined with a powerful lineup that provides plenty of speed on the bases, it is easy to see how the Rays might continue to avoid losing skids of consequence.