As the Tampa Bay Rays prepare for their home series against the Boston Red Sox, there’s little to no hope for the post season, but plenty of intrigue surrounding their performance both on the field and on the basepaths.
A lot of the focus will be on players like José Caballero, who leads the American League with 41 stolen bases. Caballero has a real shot at becoming the first Ray to lead the AL in steals since Carl Crawford did so in the early 2000s. With a slim lead over Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, it’s going to be a tight race. However, Caballero also leads the league in caught stealing, tied with Cleveland’s Lane Thomas, so his aggressiveness on the bases will be worth watching.
Beyond Caballero’s chase for the AL steals title, the Rays, as a team, are also leading the American League in stolen bases, with 172 so far, comfortably ahead of the competition. Holding onto this lead would mark the first time since 2011 that the Rays finish as the top base-stealing team in the league. But this success on the basepaths is in stark contrast to their struggles with runners in scoring position (RISP), where they hold the worst batting average in the majors at just .212.
With the Rays’ playoff hopes dimming, sitting fourth in the AL East and fighting to stay relevant in the wild card race, their performance in this series could either keep them afloat or sink their postseason chances further. Their upcoming opponents, the Red Sox, have had their own challenges but present a formidable obstacle. Tampa Bay’s pitching, led by Ryan Pepiot, who has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with control recently, will need to be sharp. Meanwhile, the Red Sox’s offense will look to capitalize on any lapses.
This series is a defining moment for the Rays as they try to balance their excellent baserunning with fixing their offensive inconsistencies. Will Caballero’s speed continue to ignite the team, or will their inability to drive in runs leave them stranded in the standings? What do you think—can the Rays capitalize on their strengths, or will their hitting woes overshadow their speed?
