Rays fall 10 games out of 1st place just 15 games into season
The 2018 season is only 18 days old but the Tampa Bay Rays are already going to need a miracle if they hope to win their division.
With their 10-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday - the club's fourth in a row - the Rays have fallen to 3-12 on the season and reside in the basement of the American League East. If that wasn't bad enough, the division-leading Boston Red Sox won a fourth straight game Sunday, and now hold a 10-game lead over the Rays in the division.
| Team | W-L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | 13-2 | .867 | -- |
| Blue Jays | 9-5 | .643 | 3.5 |
| Yankees | 7-7 | .500 | 5.5 |
| Orioles | 5-11 | .313 | 8.5 |
| Rays | 3-12 | .200 | 10 |
After an offseason selloff, the Rays weren't expected to challenge for a playoff spot - let alone the division - but the club's three wins in 15 games have left many shaking their heads. Tampa Bay has just one win in seven tries at home this season, rank in the bottom third of the league in almost every offensive category, and are the first team with a double-digit deficit in a divisional race in 2018.
It wasn't until mid-August last season before the Rays fell at least 10 games back.