Tampa Bay Rays Power Rankings - 2013
| Power Ranking | ||||
| WEEK | RECORD | RANK | COMMENT | |
| Week 27 | 91-71 | 10 | The Rays finished the scheduled portion of the regular season with a record of 91-71, marking the fourth consecutive season they have won at least 90 games. As it turns out, they'll need every one of those wins plus one more if they want to officially qualify for the postseason. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 26 | 86-69 | 9 | The Rays survived the longest game in franchise history on Friday (six hours and 54 minutes) and expanded their lead in the AL wild-card race. Left-handed pitching prospect Enny Romero was called up much sooner than expected, and then he delivered a good enough performance Sunday. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 25 | 81-67 | 9 | The Rays kept their head above water last week and now sit tied with the Rangers for the top wild-card spot in the American League. The two teams face off in a four-game series starting Monday at Tropicana Field. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 24 | 78-64 | 10 | The Rays wrapped up a horrendous 3-7 West Coast trip with a 4-1 victory on Sunday against the Mariners. Despite the recent slide, they still hold a two-game lead in the race for the American League's final playoff spot with 20 games to go. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 23 | 75-60 | 9 | The Rays won once last week, falling out of the No. 1 wild-card spot and 5.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. They hope Delmon Young and Luke Scott can help a sputtering offense while a returning Matt Moore and a rested Jeremy Hellickson look to bolster the pitching staff. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 22 | 74-54 | 5 | With his team jockeying for position at the top of the AL East, Rays general manager Andrew Friedman is adding depth. Along with deadline acquisition Jesse Crain, Friedman added outfielders David DeJesus and Delmon Young last week, ensuring Tampa Bay goes into the stretch with the deepest roster in franchise history. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 21 | 70-52 | 9 | With Evan Longoria working his way out of a slump, and a few other regulars on the disabled list, the Rays relied on unsung heroes to gain ground in the American League East. Jason Bourgeois and Jose Lobaton accounted for three walk-off wins during the week, brining Tampa Bay to within a game of the Red Sox. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 20 | 66-50 | 6 | The Rays went 0-5 against the top two teams in the National League West. Rays starters failed to complete five innings in four of the five games. Despite the unsuccessful trip, Tampa Bay stands just three games behind the Red Sox in the American League East and tied for the top spot in the AL wild-card race. The Rays open a six-game homestand against the Mariners and Blue Jays on Tuesday. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 19 | 66-45 | 4 | With Evan Longoria struggling, Wil Myers has carried the Rays' offense as they chase down the Red Sox in the American Leage East. Myers has a batting line of .417/.491/.792 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 13 games since the All-Star break. He notched his first career walk-off hit on Saturday before leading the charge with a monstrous blast on Sunday. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 18 | 62-43 | 2 | Continuing their tour of the AL East, the Rays went 4-2 against the Red Sox and Yankees. They briefly grabbed first place over the weekend, but now stand a half game behind the Red Sox. They head to Boston to play a makeup game on Monday with David Price on the mound and a chance to end the 10-game road trip on top of the division. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 17 | 58-41 | 3 | The Rays picked up right where they left off. On the heels of a 14-2 streak heading into the All-Star break, Tampa Bay swept the Blue Jays in Toronto. The Rays are 20-4 in their past 24 games and hold the top spot in the AL wild-card race. They start a pivotal four-game series Monday in Boston, with first place in the East up for grabs. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 16 | 55-41 | 4 | On June 23, the Rays were last in the AL East, just two games over .500. They went 16-4 in the final 20 games leading to the All-Star break, taking advantage of a soft schedule. They now stand 14 games over .500, 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the East, and hold the top spot in the wild-card race. They will be tested out of the break with a 10-game road trip through Toronto, Boston and New York. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 15 | 49-40 | 11 | Good teams should beat bad teams, which is exactly what the Rays did last week, going 6-1 against the Astros and White Sox. David Price returned to the rotation just in time. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner made two starts during the week, allowing one run while striking out 15 and walking none in 16 innings. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 14 | 43-39 | 13 | Reigning AL Cy Young winner David Price will rejoin the Rays' rotation on Tuesday after missing six weeks with a triceps injury. Meanwhile, the status of Evan Longoria (plantar fasciitis) is unknown. After a rough stretch on the schedule, Tampa Bay will head into the All-Star break with 14 games against the Astros, White Sox and Twins. Now seems like a good time to make a move in the standings. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 13 | 39-37 | 14 | Phenom Wil Myers makes his Tropicana Field debut Monday, riding a six-game hit streak that includes his first career home run: a grand slam off CC Sabathia. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 12 | 36-33 | 12 | The Rays promoted top prospect Wil Myers to provide a boost to an offense that is already fourth in the American League in runs scored. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's unstable rotation (4.62 ERA) got even shakier when Alex Cobb took a line drive off his head, which will keep him out for an unknown amount of time. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 11 | 34-28 | 11 | Matt Moore has allowed as many runs (15) in two June starts as he did in the previous two months of the season. Meanwhile, Alex Cobb continues to impress and David Price (triceps) could be back by the end of the month. The Rays host the Red Sox this week, with a chance to climb closer to first place. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 10 | 31-25 | 12 | The Rays went an AL-best 18-10 in May. Unlike previous years, they continue to be paced by a surprising offense that is fourth in the league in runs scored. Their pitching staff, however, has been slightly below average. If the pitching catches up to the offense, Tampa Bay's best ball is to come. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 9 | 25-24 | 15 | Fernando Rodney has more blown saves (five) already this season than he did all of last year (two). Coincidentally, the Rays are five games behind the Yankees in the American League East. Joe Maddon remains confident in his closer, but for how long? -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 8 | 23-20 | 14 | This season has not been kind to David Price. The reigning AL Cy Young winner -- and his 5.24 ERA -- was placed on the disabled list (triceps). Prospect Jake Odorizzi will take his place in the rotation. The Rays put up 25 runs during a weekend sweep of the Orioles and sit fifth in the AL in runs scored this season. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 7 | 19-18 | 17 | After a horrific start to the week, the Rays are riding a five-game win streak as the Red Sox come to town. Evan Longoria (.333/.403/.610) and James Loney (.376/.429/.560) are leading the way while the bullpen closed the week with 13 2/3 scoreless innings. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 6 | 14-16 | 17 | The Rays are maximizing James Loney's potential by limiting his exposure to left-handed pitchers. He has seven three-hit games and is hitting .398/.444/.542 overall. Meanwhile, another lefty -- David Price -- is struggling to find his grip and Cy Young Award-winning results. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 5 | 12-13 | 16 | Rays ace David Price is 1-2 with a 5.21 ERA. Matt Moore, their emerging ace, is 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA. They'll face their old ace, James Shields, on Tuesday when Tampa Bay plays the Royals in Kansas City. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 4 | 8-10 | 17 | Evan Longoria might be the league's most important player. He has reached base in all 18 games this season and has four home runs over the last week. The Rays, as a team, have hit 13 home runs in their last seven games after belting just four bombs in their first 11 contests. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 3 | 4-7 | 16 | The Rays are built on pitching and defense; however, some kind of offense is required to win. The team's OPS of .569 is last in the American League. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 2 | 3-3 | 10 | How will the Rays replace the 200-plus innings lost by trading James Shields? Each starter went at least six innings the first time through the rotation, allowing a combined 11 earned runs in 32 1/3 innings (3.06 ERA). There's a start. -- Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |
| Week 1 | 0-0 | 9 | Roberto Hernandez -- formerly Fausto Carmona -- was given the final spot in the Rays' rotation. How long will he be able to fend off top pitching prospects Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi? Tommy Rancel, The Process Report | |