Victor Mesa Jr. is making a strong case for the Tampa Bay Rays' postseason lineup. After another big game against the Atlanta Braves, Mesa's hot bat and strong defense could give Tampa Bay the lineup depth it needs to become a dangerous offense in the MLB playoffs.
Victor Mesa Jr. is starting to make the Tampa Bay Rays postseason decisions a little more difficult.
And that's a pretty good problem to have.
Mesa had another big performance Wednesday as the Rays took down the Atlanta Braves 7-2 to clinch another series victory.
The outfielder hit a home run, picked up a single, and reached base on a walk.
But it's becoming more than just one good game.
Over his last 15 games, he has hit 3 home runs for the bottom of the Rays order and is hitting .288/.327/.481, which are consistent enough numbers to be more than serviceable for the bottom the lineup.
Mesa continues to show that he can provide something to this Rays lineup that Tampa Bay might need once October arrives.
And I'm starting to have a hard time seeing how you keep him out of it.
Of course, we know who Tampa Bay's top of the lineup is built around.
Yandy Díaz, Junior Caminero, and Jonathan Aranda have carried a large portion of the offensive production throughout the season.
And Chandler Simpson and Liam Hicks have been great players, turning it on in the second half of the year for the Rays in different ways.
However, one of my biggest questions has been what happens when those three aren't producing? Because earlier this summer, we saw exactly that, and the Rays suffered their worst slump of the season.
Well, over the last few games, we might be getting our answer.
Mesa has been a big part of that.
On Wednesday, Mesa, Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Richie Palacios and Jorge Mateo combined to drive in five of Tampa Bay's seven runs.
That's exactly the type of production the Rays haven't always received from the bottom half of the lineup, and suddenly this offense looks considerably deeper.
Mesa also gives Tampa Bay more than just another bat.
He's a very good defensive outfielder with an impressive arm and gives Kevin Cash another option when putting together a postseason lineup.
Tampa Bay has now scored at least six runs in five straight games.
On Tuesday, the Rays used the home run ball to beat Atlanta.
On Wednesday, they did it differently. They picked up 10 hits, went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and received production throughout the lineup.
If this team wants to avoid a sweep in October, like what happened in 2023, they have to have multiple ways to get scoring.
Sometimes Junior will hit the big home run.
Sometimes Yandy or Aranda will have to carry the offense.
But if players such as Mesa continue producing?
This lineup becomes considerably more difficult to pitch around. The MLB Trade deadline has already felt like a massive success with the additions Erik Neander has brought in, but if the depth that was already with the team, such as Victor Mesa Jr., can step up in a big way, that would be the type of development that could take this Rays offense from good enough to legitimately dangerous in October.
