Jul 3, 2026 3:09 AM

Can Drew Rasmussen win the AL Cy Young? Will Nick Martinez make his first All-Star team? Is Junior Caminero a legitimate AL MVP contender? Rays Roundtable breaks down Tampa Bay's biggest stars, award races, and why the Rays are among MLB's best teams in 2026.

The Tampa Bay Rays have multiple players this season doing immaculate things. 

On this week's Rays Roundtable, the staff discusses some of their performances and what it could potentially land them by season's end. 

Drew Rasmussen is off to a great start to the season, and many view him as one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. Will he win the AL Cy Young this season?

Michael Brauner:  He probably will not win, and more likely than not it will be Cam Schlittler or Dylan Cease, but what an amazing season it has been for Rasmussen. With a 2.45 ERA and an AL-leading 0.87 WHIP, he has been a huge factor in this team becoming a contender.

Christian Rauh: As much as I think he is one of the frontrunners, he isn't getting the respect he deserves. Just this week, MLB Network put him off a list that included what they believed as the top 25 pitchers in the league. Unreal disrespect. He has the numbers to battle with Schlittler and Cease, but those other AL East markets are overshadowing his performance. 

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Nick Martinez started off the gate hot as well inside the Rays rotation. Can you see him making his first All-Star Game next month?

MB: Martinez has been sensational and absolutely should be an All-Star, but it would obviously not be shocking to see him get snubbed. Get your votes in Rays fans!

CR: He definitely needs to be. I think there was a moment this season when he might have been seen as a potential starter, but that has passed him by. I do think he deserves a spot though. 

Junior Caminero is on another level this season. After finishing 9th in 2025's AL MVP race, does he have what it takes this season to compete for the top spot in 2026?

MB: Caminero is absolutely going to have a higher finish than last year, but he would have to go absolutely nuclear during the second half of the year to actually win the award. Aaron Judge being out of the race is huge for all involved, but Yordan Alvarez, Nick Kurtz, and Bobby Witt Jr. will all be tough to beat. He's certainly in the conversation, though

CR: If he keeps hitting home runs the way he is, it will be hard to deny him. Sure, he might be behind a few players right now, but if he reaches 45 homers for the second straight year, the decision could be very difficult for voters. One thing is for sure, he will definitely finish better than he did last year, when he placed 9th in the MVP voting. 

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