The Tampa Bay Rays have reached the 2026 World Collection. They’ll tackle the Milwaukee Brewers in what guarantees to be a basic.
These groups had the perfect data in baseball this season. The Brewers gained 103 video games within the Nationwide League. The Rays gained 100 video games within the American League.
They’re removed from the most important market or the most important payroll, however they’re the perfect groups — and that’s what this championship collection will get to be all about this season.
The Rays have constructed towards constant excellence like this since their first season as an growth group in 1998.
The early years of Tampa Bay, then generally known as the Satan Rays, had been tough. However they slowly began to search out success, they usually’ve had plenty of it lately.
Their look within the World Collection doesn’t really feel frequent, although, and that’s true — it’s not frequent.
Right here’s what to know in regards to the Rays’ World Collection historical past:
Have the Rays Gained the World Collection?
The Tampa Bay Rays haven’t gained the World Collection getting into the 2026 version.
They’ve made it simply twice, they usually got here up quick each occasions
Tampa Bay Rays’ World Collection Historical past
The Rays have made the World Collection twice earlier than, again in 2008 and once more in 2020.
The Philadelphia Phillies gained that 2008 collection 4 video games to 1.
The Rays had reached the collection due to an ALCS MVP efficiency from Matt Garza, however Cole Hamels gained World Collection MVP because the Phillies proved superior within the Fall Traditional.
These Rays had been managed by Joe Maddon.
They featured franchise legends like Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford. Their lineup additionally had gamers like B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena, Dioner Navarro, Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist.
The Rays’ pitching employees was led by David Value and Scott Kazmier. Additionally they had James Shields, Garza, Edwin Jackson, Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Chad Bradford.
The one recreation the Rays gained within the collection was Sport 2 at Tropicana Discipline, a 4-2 victory that featured 5.2 scoreless innings from Shields, then a scoreless body from Dan Wheeler earlier than David Value held on in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. The Rays bought two hits from Upton, Navarro and Bartlett every within the win.
That 2008 season was really the primary yr the Rays ever made the playoffs.
The Dodgers beat the Rays within the 2020 World Collection 4-2 with all of the video games performed within the Texas Rangers‘ dwelling ballpark because of COVID restrictions.
The 2020 yr was when Randy Arozarena hit 10 dwelling runs within the postseason, together with three within the World Collection. Brandon Lowe additionally hit three World Collection homers.
Present Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz went 4-for-12 within the 2020 World Collection. The one pitcher remaining from that group is the injured Shane McClanahan.
The Rays have gone 3-0 all-time of their ALCS appearances. Once they make it there, they advance.
They’ll attempt to change the end this time round — towards a Milwaukee Brewers group additionally in search of its first-ever World Collection title.
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