Rockin' at the Trop
The Yankees leave St Pete. with nightmares of Cowbell and Astroturf
RAYS BASEBALL
The Rays on Monday win a crucial matchup against the perpetual rival the Yanks. The Yankee defense was abysmal but crucial hits by the Rays, high leverage pitching, and defensive awareness gets it done. Below I go over who has got it done and who fans would like to see step up to bring out the brooms on Wednesday in the Bronx
Second times the charm...
For players like Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda, this is not their first rodeo in the postseason. With a combined 3 at bats entering this 2026 postseason, they have not wasted this opportunity. With Aranda scoring the solo run with a blast of Yankee Ace Gerrit Cole and Caminero coming up strong with 2 hits on Monday. Both Junior Caminero and Aranda are batting .333 after 2 games this postseason, solidifying why national media has paired them with Yandy Diaz as the "big three".
The definition of Ace
Drew Rasmussen on Saturday night pitched an absolute masterclass on Saturday. With one of of the best pitching performances of the season, postseason, as well as Rays postseason history, you have to tip your hat to the game plan and execution. Allowing just 1 hit over 8 hits, and that hit barely even being as such. One of the best performances I have seen in the playoffs in some time for a well deserved Game 1 start for the longtime Ray.
With a little help from my friends
It is undeniably Rays fans are ecstatic about the teams performance, but alas as we travel from the friendly confines into the dark waters of enemy territory the team is looking at a few players to step up.
Liam Hicks - Hicks has been elite all season at the plate, but only 1 for 6 after 2 games. A very small sample size, but with a short porch in the Bronx look for him to drive one. With a lefty on the mound he may not get the start, but look for him to enter the game late with a right handed reliever entering.
Chandler Simpson - 1 for 8 after only 2 games. Simpson does have a Stolen base which is great to see, look for him to find ways to get on base via bunt.
Jonny Deluca - Deluca came wildly close to a HR on monday, look for him to get the start in Center against the Lefty again and come up huge in a righty/lefty split the Rays like against Fried.
Added Bonus of some footage of Junior Caminero at the Plate from the stands
