Technically, the second half of the 2025 regular season came a few weeks ago when the Tampa Bay Rays played their 82nd game. However, the All-Star break is the ceremonial division point of the season and with that, the ceremonial second half of the 2025 regular season is set to begin!
The Tampa Bay Rays didn’t so much as limp into the break but rather spiraled into the void uncontrollably. Honestly, the break couldn’t have come at a better time, if only to allow the team to catch its collective breath.
As it stands, the Rays are 50-47, they’ve fallen into 4th place in the American League East, 5.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the division lead and now 1.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners for the 3rd Wild Card spot. The trade deadline is less than two weeks away, so every win is crucial and every loss is critical to the Rays as they make decisions that will alter the course of the franchise.
The Rays will be welcoming into town the one team they are ahead of in the division, the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore is 43-52, but are still a very dangerous team as horrific play buried their playoff hopes early but are 26-18 since late May.
Gunnar Henderson has been the team’s top player with 2.4 fWAR, while All-Star Ryan O’Hearn is close behind with 2.3 fWAR. Ramon Laureano is also having an excellent year and always seems to punish the Rays. Pitching wise, Dean Kremer is the Orioles ace, while Trevor Rogers has been excellent thus far over his six starts since rejoining the active roster.
Frivolities
- The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and Orioles:
- Nelson Cruz
- Jose Bautista
- Aubrey Huff
- Alex Cobb
- Erik Bedard
- The Rays best player offensively against the Orioles all-time (min. 25 PA):
Mike Brosseau: .322/.365/.729 with 8 HR over 63 PA
The next four are Rey Ordonez, Tommy Pham, Aaron Ledesma, & Logan Morrison - The Rays most previous transacation with the Orioles:
— 7/6/24: Rays trade Zach Eflin to the Baltimore Orioles for Jackson Baumeister, Matthew Etzel, & Mac Horvath - The Rays first transaction with the Orioles
— 3/29/99: Rays trade Jason Johnson to the Baltimore Orioles for Danny Clyburn & Bolivar Volquez
READ MORE
First trades in Tampa Bay Rays history: “With the Baltimore Orioles”
Probable pitchers are projected by MLB
GAME ONE
Friday, July 18th
7:35 pm EDT
RHP Taj Bradley vs RHP Charlie Morton
GAME TWO
Saturday, July 19th
7:05 pm EDT
RHP Zack Littell vs RHP Dean Kremer
GAME THREE
Sunday, July 20th
12:10 pm EDT
RHP Ryan Pepiot vs LHP Trevor Rogers
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- Baseball America releases Rays Top 30 prospects list in 2017 Prospect Handbook
- Rays Organization Ranked 2nd in AL East
- Tampa Bay Rays Trivia Thursday - Most Homeruns by a Rays Second Baseman
- The United Kingdom loves pastel baseball hats
