The Tampa Bay Rays are heading back to the postseason for the first time in six years.
Tampa Bay, which carries the lowest payroll in the majors, clinched a berth into the playoffs by beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-2, on Friday. The Cleveland Indians fell to the Washington Nationals earlier in the night to drop the Rays' magic number to one.
For the first time since 2013...#RaysUp | #StayHungry pic.twitter.com/YZ8EHT1vKo
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 28, 2019
''This organization has created a very winning culture, and there's been a little bit of a drought,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said, according to The Associated Press. ''We get to hang another banner, we want to hang some more. Really happy to be a part of it.''
The Indians' loss also means the Rays will face the Athletics on Wednesday in the American League wild-card game. Oakland lost to the Seattle Mariners on Friday to drop back into a tie with Tampa Bay at 96-64.
If the teams finish with identical records, the Athletics would claim home-field advantage in the elimination game after winning the season series.
''This is a small step in the right direction,'' outfielder Tommy Pham said. ''Oakland is a tough team. We have to get through them first. We're going to probably have to get through Houston next. It's a long road ahead of us, but it's a step in the right direction.''
The Rays' offense has been carried by outfielder Austin Meadows (.925 OPS) and a productive if unspectacular supporting cast.
On the pitching front, right-hander Charlie Morton is in the Cy Young conversation after posting a 3.05 ERA in 194 2/3 innings. Tampa Bay's vaunted bullpen entered Friday's action tied for major-league bests in ERA (3.67) and WAR (7.6) while leading all of baseball with 807 strikeouts.
