ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 26: Pitcher Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on August 26, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend.

Rays' Snell: 'I could see us making a playoff push'

8 years ago
Brian Blanco / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Tampa Bay Rays have won eight straight and they're feeling confident after becoming the first team to sweep the Boston Red Sox in 2018.

Left-hander Blake Snell tossed six innings of two-hit ball while striking out eight on Sunday. He seems to think the Rays are just getting started.

"I could see us making a playoff push," Snell said, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin.

After losing eight in a row at the beginning of June, the Rays have quietly morphed into one of baseball's most impressive teams. They've gone 42-27 since the end of that losing streak and haven't lost more than three straight in that time.

Still, a playoff run seems like a long shot. Even after winning Sunday, the Rays trail the Oakland Athletics for the second wild-card spot by nine games. Catching the division-rival New York Yankees is even more unlikely, as there's a 13-game gap between them in the standings entering Sunday night.

While not insurmountable, claiming a postseason berth will be a difficult hill to climb for the Rays. If they pull it off, it will be a September to remember.

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