The Rays will be looking to put a good (and healthy) finish on their record-breaking season, give a couple of their players chances at personal milestones and carry some momentum into Thursday’s playoff opener as they face the Yankees today in Game 162.
How they do will play a large role in how complicated a process it will be to determine the two teams that will meet in Tuesday’s wild-card game for the right to open the division series Thursday at Tropicana Field.
That’s because of the potential chaos of having four teams going into the final day with a chance to get there. The Yankees and Red Sox, who play at the Nationals, are 91-70; the Blue Jays, who host the Orioles, and Mariners, who host the Angels, are 90-71.
The simplest outcome: If the Yankees and Red Sox both win, they will be the wild cards and play Tuesday in Boston. The most chaotic: If the Yankees and Red Sox lose and Jays and Mariners win, there will be a four-way tie that would require two Games 163 on Monday.
A three-way tie would be even more complicated, taking two days to sort out and push the wild-card game back to Wednesday, which would be to the Rays’ advantage as whoever survives would have used their top pitchers.
Going into today’s game, Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe has 39 homers and 99 RBIs and is looking to reach the next round numbers. Outfielder Randy Arozarena is seeking his 20th stolen base to reach the 20-20 club and would be the third Ray to do so, joining Tommy Pham and B.J., Upton.
Here is the Rays lineup:
And for the Yankees, who on Sunday placed infielder D.J. LeMahieu on the injured list with a sports hernia:
• • •
Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter to get fresh perspectives on the Tampa Bay Rays and the rest of the majors from sports columnist John Romano.
Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.