The Tampa Bay Rays went 7-2 against the Rangers, Braves and Astros to maintain a four-game AL East lead over the New York Yankees. With 13 games remaining, Tampa Bay has clinched an MLB playoff berth and is closing in on the division title.
The Tampa Bay Rays knew this part of the schedule was going to tell us a lot about them.
I don't think they could have handled it much better.
They looked fine in Texas.
Won in Atlanta.
And swept Houston.
Three consecutive series against teams with plenty to play for as Tampa Bay tried to hold off the New York Yankees in the American League East.
The Rays went 7-2.
And somehow, after all of that, they still hold a four-game lead in the division.
This stretch of games has certainly been talked about for a while because it felt like an opportunity for New York to finally make up some ground. The Yankees had an easier portion of their schedule while Tampa Bay had to play some of the better teams in baseball.
But thankfully, the Rays got through it in a big way.
Tampa Bay started the stretch by splitting four games against the Texas Rangers before taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves.
Then they returned home and swept the Houston Astros.
They took care of business after ending it with Sunday's 14-4 win over Houston. That game also gave Tampa Bay its 15th sweep of the season, which is a new franchise record and currently leads Major League Baseball.
But although they clinched the postseason and got through a tough portion in their schedule, its not over yet.
The Yankees are still only four games back, and those two teams still have four games remaining against each other in New York.
That series could ultimately decide the division if Tampa Bay doesn't clinch by then.
The Athletics come to Tropicana Field for three games beginning Tuesday.
They are the only team remaining on Tampa Bay's regular-season schedule with a losing record.
That means you can't waste this opportunity.
We've already watched the Rays prove they can beat good teams.
They just took two of three from Atlanta and swept Houston.
Now they need to do what division-winning teams are supposed to do against teams they should beat.
There are only 13 games remaining.
Tampa Bay has already secured its spot in October.
Now it's about winning the division and putting itself in the best possible position once it gets there.
The difficult September stretch was supposed to give the Yankees an opportunity to catch the Rays.
Instead, Tampa Bay came through it 7-2.
And the Yankees are running out of time.
