With a win over the Astros, the Rays have officially clinched a playoff spot for the fourth straight season.
Tampa Bay is coming off two straight AL East Division titles, but the Yankees claimed that honor this year. Instead, the Rays will have to settle for a wild-card berth, their second in four years.
As usual, Tampa Bay (86–71) has had success with a rotating selection of players as a number of players have stepped up this year. Most notably, pitcher Shane McClanahan built off his breakout 2021 with an even better ’22 season, accumulating a 2.51 ERA in 161.1 innings pitched. Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs also put up sub-3.00 ERAs in the rotation, while Corey Kluber has made a stable 30 starts for the first time since 2018.
