The Rays have been the surprise of the 2008 baseball season, but they're hoping it doesn't dissolve over the final three weeks into one cruel joke.
Never a team to win more than 70 games in a single season, with their lone achievement being a fourth-place finish that same year of 2004 with Lou Piniella at the helm, the Rays of this season have controlled the American League East for much of the year and have been in first place since June 29.
The Rays' largest lead has been 5 1/2 games, and they held just that advantage a week ago Sunday, but a recent slide, and corresponding surge by the Red Sox has trimmed the Rays' lead in the division to 1 1/2 games.
A visit to Toronto as the first leg of a three-city trip resulted in a three-game sweep on Sunday -- this after the Rays dropped two of three games to the Yankees at home before heading out of town. Now, Tampa Bay is in Boston for a three-game series, then it's to New York and a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
Rays manager Joe Maddon is doing his best to keep his troops loose.
"There are still no concerns," Maddon said. "The motto and the mantra has been to play with a consistent effort, and we're doing that. Sometimes, you lose when that happens.
"All the right things are there; [the Blue Jays] just beat us. They're pitching really well -- the best pitching staff in the league. They've won eight games in a row now. We just happened to catch them at the wrong time."
The Rays can take some comfort in having built one of the best records in baseball.
A half-game back of the Angels for the best record in the AL, the Rays do not currently hold home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but they're still in front in the AL East and would still be leading in the AL Wild Card race if they were to lose their division lead while playing at Fenway Park.
The schedule won't let up, though. Upon returning from their road trip, the Rays will host the Red Sox for three games and the Twins in a four-game series before hitting the road for their final eight games, including a doubleheader in Baltimore to make up a rainout.
"You're going to have rough patches," Rocco Baldelli said. "Every team who's even in first place at this point of the season, in every division, has gone through rough patches like this. We're no different. We're not invincible, and we know that. We just have to learn from our mistakes and pick it up a little bit."
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
White Sox at Rays
Red Sox at Angels
Dodgers at Cubs
Brewers at Mets
AL EASTRays (85-56)
Today at Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. ET: The Rays have hit September and lost five of six games with four key series up ahead, including six of their next nine games against the Red Sox. Edwin Jackson will start in the series opener with the Red Sox. The right-hander is 2-3 in seven career starts against the Red Sox. Preview >
Remaining games (21): Sept. 8-10 at Boston; Sept. 12-14 at Yankees; Sept. 15-17 vs. Boston; Sept. 18-21 vs. Minnesota; Sept. 22-24 (April 23 is a doubleheader, with makeup of April 4 rainout) at Baltimore; Sept. 25-28 at Detroit.
Red Sox (84-58, 1 1/2 GB)
Today vs. Rays, 7:05 p.m. ET: The Red Sox have won 13 of their last 18 games to put heat on the Rays in the race for the AL East crown. On Monday, they'll host the Rays in a pivotal three-game series, with left-hander Jon Lester getting the start. Preview >
Remaining games (20): Sept. 8-10 vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 12-14 (13th is DH, makeup game of 8/15) vs. Toronto; Sept. 15-17 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 19-21 at Toronto; Sept. 22-25 vs. Cleveland; Sept. 26-28 vs. Yankees.
AL CENTRALWhite Sox (80-62)
Today vs. Blue Jays, 8:11 p.m. ET: The loss of Carlos Quentin was not apparent in the White Sox recent series against the Angels, as they pounded eight homers to take two of three games and open some space in the AL Central race. Javier Vazquez will start against the Jays on Monday. Preview >
Remaining games (20): Sept. 8-11 vs. Toronto; Sept. 12-14 vs. Detroit; Sept. 15-18 at Yankees; Sept. 19-21 at Kansas City; Sept. 23-25 at Minnesota; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cleveland.
Twins (78-65, 2 1/2 GB)
Today: off; Tuesday vs. Royals, 8:10 p.m. ET: A day off is coming at a good time for the Twins, who have lost five of six and have not quite shed the jet lag of their recently concluded 14-game road trip. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 9-11 vs. Kansas City; Sept. 12-14 at Baltimore; Sept. 15-17 at Cleveland; Sept. 18-21 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 23-25 vs. White Sox; Sept. 26-28 vs. Kansas City.
AL WESTAngels (86-56)
Today vs. Yankees, 10:05 p.m. ET: With a magic number of three, the Angels could clinch the AL West crown as early as Tuesday. Jon Garland has been moved up to face the Yankees on Monday, as Jered Weaver still hasn't fully recovered from cuts to the middle and ring fingers on his right hand. Garland is 4-5 in 10 career starts against the Yankees. Preview >
Remaining games (20): Sept. 8-10 vs. Yankees; Sept. 11-14 vs. Seattle; Sept. 16-18 at Oakland; Sept. 19-21 at Texas; Sept. 22-25 at Seattle; Sept. 26-28 vs. Rangers.
AL WILD CARDRed Sox (84-58)
The Red Sox are in a pair of races for the postseason. They've narrowed the gap with the Rays in the AL East and they've widened their advantage over the Twins in the Wild Card. David Ortiz snapped a 19-game homerless streak on Sunday, but the left wrist injury that cost him 45 games earlier this season is still giving him trouble.
Twins (78-65, 6 1/2 GB)
The Twins will host the Royals in a three-game series beginning on Tuesday and will send Nick Blackburn to the hill to pitch the opener. The right-hander allowed three runs in his last start to take a no-decision.
Blue Jays (76-66, 8 GB)
Today at White Sox, 8:11 p.m. ET: They still face a sizable deficit in the AL Wild Card, but the Blue Jays are putting wins together at the right time and beating the teams they need to beat. The Jays have won their past three series against the teams ahead of them in the races, edging the Yankees, Twins and Rays for an eight-game streak. Preview >
Remaining games (20): Sept. 8-11 at White Sox; Sept. 12-14 (13th is DH, makeup game of Aug. 15) at Boston; Sept. 16-18 vs. Baltimore; Sept. 19-21 vs. Boston; Sept. 23-25 vs. Yankees; Sept. 26-28 at Baltimore.
Yankees (76-67, 8 1/2 GB)
Today at Angels, 10:05 p.m. ET: The Yankees will conclude their four-city road trip with a three-game set in Anaheim. The Yankees are 4-3 on the trip to this point but have lost three of their past four games. Carl Pavano will start on Monday at Angel Stadium. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 8-10 at Angels; Sept. 12-14 vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 15-18 vs. White Sox; Sept. 19-21 vs. Baltimore; Sept. 23-25 at Toronto; Sept. 26-28 at Boston.
NL EASTMets (80-63)
Today: off; Tuesday vs. Nationals, 7:10 p.m. ET: After playing two at home on Sunday and splitting a doubleheader to keep their lead over the Phillies at two games, the Mets will get a day off before hosting the Nationals for two games. Oliver Perez will start Tuesday's opener. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 9-10 vs. Washington; Sept. 12-14 vs. Atlanta; Sept. 15-18 at Washington; Sept. 19-21 at Atlanta; Sept. 22-25 vs. Cubs; Sept. 26-28 vs. Florida.
Phillies (78-65, 2 GB)
Today vs. Marlins, 7:05 p.m. ET: After falling three games back last Wednesday, the Phillies had a chance to even things up in the NL East but lost the nightcap of the doubleheader to sit two games out at the end of the weekend. The Phillies have added second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who was released by the Padres last Monday. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 8-10 vs. Florida; Sept. 11-14 vs. Milwaukee; Sept. 16-18 at Atlanta; Sept. 19-21 at Florida; Sept. 22-24 vs. Atlanta; Sept. 26-28 vs. Washington.
Marlins (72-71, 8 GB)
Today at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET: Three losses in their past five games have not helped the Marlins' cause as they try to leapfrog two teams in the NL East race. Anibal Sanchez will start on Monday against the Phillies. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 8-10 at Philadelphia; Sept. 12-14 vs. Washington; Sept. 16-18 vs. Houston; Sept. 19-21 vs. Philadelphia; Sept. 22-25 at Washington; Sept. 26-28 at Mets.
NL CENTRALCubs (86-57)
Today: off; Tuesday at Cardinals, 8:15 p.m. ET: The Cubs have lost seven of eight, last claiming a series when they swept the Pirates on Aug. 25-27. Ryan Dempster will take the ball when the Cubs visit St. Louis in a three-game series that opens on Tuesday. The Cubs have seven games remaining against the Cardinals this season. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 9-11 at St. Louis; Sept. 12-14 at Houston; Sept. 16-18 vs. Milwaukee; Sept. 19-21 vs. St. Louis; Sept. 22-25 at Mets; Sept. 26-28 at Milwaukee.
Brewers (82-61, 4 GB)
Today vs. Reds, 8:05 p.m. ET: A four-game series against the bottom-feeding Padres would seemingly have helped the Brewers in their quest to catch the Cubs, but Milwaukee split to basically tread water, and now the Brewers will host the Reds for three games. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 8-10 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 11-14 at Philadelphia; Sept. 16-18 at Cubs; Sept. 19-21 at Cincinnati; Sept. 23-25 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cubs.
NL WESTDodgers (73-70)
Today at Padres, 10:05 p.m. ET: On the strength of an eight-game winning streak, the Dodgers have forged a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL West and will turn to Greg Maddux on Monday to face his former 'mates in San Diego. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 8-10 at San Diego; Sept. 12-14 at Colorado; Sept. 15-18 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 19-21 vs. San Francisco; Sept. 23-25 vs. San Diego; Sept. 26-28 at San Francisco.
D-backs (71-71, 1 1/2 GB)
Today at Giants, 10:15 p.m. ET: A 4 1/2-game lead on Aug. 29 has evaporated for the Diamondbacks, as six losses in their past eight games have dropped the club to 1 1/2 games back of Los Angeles. Yusmeiro Petit will look to get the Diamondbacks pointed in the right direction in San Francisco on Monday, with the Giants sending right-handed sensation Tim Lincecum to the hill. Preview >
Remaining games (20): Sept. 8-10 at San Francisco; Sept. 12-14 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 15-18 vs. San Francisco; Sept. 19-21 at Colorado; Sept. 22-25 at St. Louis; Sept. 26-28 vs. Colorado.
Rockies (67-77, 6 1/2 GB)
Today: off; Tuesday at Braves, 7 p.m. ET: With the Dodgers surging, the Rockies have lost ground in the NL West and they'll turn to Aaron Cook to open the series with the Braves on Tuesday. The Rockies are 15-24 at Turner Field since it opened in 1997. Preview >
Remaining games (18): Sept. 9-11 at Atlanta; Sept. 12-14 vs. Dodgers; Sept. 15-17 vs. San Diego; Sept. 19-21 vs. Arizona; Sept. 23-25 at San Francisco; Sept. 26-28 at Arizona.
NL WILD CARDBrewers (82-61)
Dave Bush will start against the Reds on Monday. The right-hander was 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA in five August starts, but he allowed six first-inning runs to the Mets in his last start. Bush is 6-4 at home this season.
Phillies (78-65, 4 GB)
Joe Blanton will start for the Phillies in Monday's series opener with the Marlins. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.86 ERA in his past 10 starts, nine with the Phillies since he joined the club in July.
Cardinals (77-66, 5 GB)
Today: off; Tuesday vs. Cubs, 8:15 p.m. ET: The Cards won their second straight game over the Marlins to take the series and pull to within five games of the Brewers in the NL Wild Card race. After a day off, Kyle Lohse will start against the Cubs in Tuesday's series opener. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 9-11 vs. Cubs; Sept. 12-14 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 16-18 at Cincinnati; Sept. 19-21 at Cubs; Sept. 22-25 vs. Arizona; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cincinnati.
Astros (76-67, 6 GB)
Today vs. Pirates, 8:05 p.m. ET: The deficit is sizable, but the Astros are making it fun down the stretch. Not only have they won 10 of their past 11 games, but since staring at a 46-55 record on July 23, Houston has gone 30-12. Alberto Arias will start the opener against the Pirates. Preview >
Remaining games (19): Sept. 8-11 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 12-14 vs. Cubs; Sept. 16-18 at Florida; Sept. 19-21 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 23-25 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 26-28 vs. Atlanta.
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