Fastball

Tampa Bay Rays Doing Something That Hasn't Been Done in Nearly 40 Years

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates again on Thursday, moving their overall record to 26-6. This is the best start for a team through 32 games since the 1984 Detroit Tigers, who went 27-5. The Rays are tied for the second-best start to a season since 1900.

Brady Farkas

Tampa Bay Rays Doing Something That Hasn't Been Done in Nearly 40 Years
Tampa Bay Rays Doing Something That Hasn't Been Done in Nearly 40 Years /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates entered this series with the Tampa Bay Rays at 20-9 on the season.

They'll leave Tropicana Field at 20-12 after being swept in the three-game series. 

Tampa Bay beat the Pirates on Thursday by a score of 3-2 to run their impressive record to 26-6.

That 26-6 record is tied for the second-best start to a season through 32 games (since 1900) and is the best record to start a season through 32 games since the 1984 Detroit Tigers, who won the World Series.

According to Sarah Langs, a researcher for MLB.com:

"best start thru 32 games, since 1900:

1984 Tigers: 27-5

1911 Tigers: 27-5

1902 Pirates: 27-5

2023 Rays: 26-6

1939 Yankees: 26-6

1928 Yankees 26-6

1907 Cubs: 26-6

In addition to the impressive overall win total, the Rays are 17-2 at home this season.

The Rays lead the majors in runs scored (207), hits (298), home runs (64), total bases (558), ERA (2.96), shutouts (6), and fewest homers allowed (20).

As of the time of this posting, the Rays are 4.5 games up on the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East, 7.5 up on the Blue Jays, 8 up on the Red Sox and 9 up on the Yankees.

Tampa will start a weekend series with the Yankees on Friday night in New York. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.

The Yankees will enter that series extremely banged up, as they are missing Josh Donaldson, Aaron Judge, Harrison Bader, Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino, Tommy Kahnle, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodon.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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