Junior Caminero Makes History as Rays Close 98-Win Regular Season

The Tampa Bay Rays ended the 2026 regular season on a loss, but there is still plenty to be excited about for the upcoming postseason. 

The team fell on the road in game 162 at Citizens Bank Park, 7-3, against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, finishing with a record of 98-64. The team will be the top seed in the American League in the upcoming MLB playoffs. The win for Philadelphia allowed them to clinch the final NL wild card spot for their fifth straight playoff appearance. 

Here's what you need to know about the contest. 

It wasn't the best outing for All-Star pitcher Nick Martinez, but it didn't have to be. And Kevin Cash knew it. 

Martinez was given a short leash and, after 50 pitches, was removed from the contest after allowing four earned runs and seven hits in 2.2 innings of work. Martinez has been one of the best pitchers all season, and I am not worried about him heading into the playoffs. 

The majority of the bullpen behind him was also fine. Ian Seymour followed Martinez out of the bullpen to finish the third inning and could possibly have given us a sneak preview of what his role could be beginning next weekend. 

Miguel Rodriguez and Casey Legumina both had scoreless innings of work, while Jesse Scholtens allowed three earned runs on three strikeouts, including two home runs allowed in three innings of work in long relief. 

There is no doubt that, in the last month of the regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays have faced some elite pitching. And that certainly will happen in the postseason as well. 

One thing that this Phillies series has shown us is that Tampa Bay could be prone to a high amount of strikeouts in a game. On Sunday, the team struck out eight times against the Phillies' pitching staff, including five to starter Zack Wheeler. 

This is only a problem if they can't capitalize on the rest of their at-bats. If the team can still contribute with run support and assist the dominant Tampa Bay pitching staff, then this will just be another stat worth monitoring. 

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero made the start at the hot corner on Sunday and made history while doing it. 

The young Rays slugger became just the fourth player in the divisional era (1969) to start 162 games at third base in a single season. He's the first player to do so since Vinny Castilla in 1998. He joins Cal Ripken Jr. (1997) and Sal Bando (1969) as the only four players to reach this feat.  

The team now awaits the winner of the AL wild card matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox before playing again in the American League Division Series. The Yankees and Red Sox will begin their series on Tuesday, and game one of the ALDS is scheduled for Saturday, October 3rd.