The Tampa Bay Rays are among the best teams in baseball, and I think that most wouldn't have expected this to be the case.It is interesting seeing how this team has gotten it all done, considering they are not loaded with big names, and they never have one of the top payrolls.
I always wonder why other teams - both big and smaller market - don't take some of the lessons from them and implement them into their own franchise.I guess not everyone can replicate everything successfully, but whatever the Rays are doing, they replicate it seemingly year-to-year.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ian Seymour pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass., on July 18, 2026.(Eric Canha/Imagn Images)Today, the Rays are sending out Ian Seymour to the hill.
A lot of teams have swingmen in their rotation who bounce between the bullpen and rotation.The Rays typically use "openers" for games, but Seymour seems like he is somewhere between an opener and one they actually want stretched out.
He only has seven starts for the season, and you can expect him to throw around five innings and give up three runs.He has faced the Toronto Blue Jays in a relief role this season, going four games and allowing two earned in four innings of work.Overall, Blue Jays hitters have done well against him, batting 14-for-38.Toronto is not one of the best teams in baseball.
If anything, they are among the most disappointing teams in baseball.After giving the Los Angeles Dodgers everything they could handle last year, expectations were very high.
Unfortunately, they haven't come close to those expectations and are 10 games under .500.I highly doubt they blow up the team, but they may trade away a few pieces.The most glaring issue with the team is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .256 (which isn't bad), but has just six homers for the year.
He had nine in 2020, when they played 60 games, and just 15 in 20...