The Tampa Bay Rays weren't supposed to be here. They're perennial small-market underdogs, toiling in a division with massive spenders such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
Yet, with the MLB postseason upon us, here they are—winners of the American League Wild Card Game and one of six teams left standing in the scramble for the 2019 Commissioner's Trophy.
After defeating the Athletics 5-1 Wednesday night at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, Tampa Bay will advance to a division series meeting with the Houston Astros. We'll delve into that matchup in a moment and examine how the Rays could be a credible threat to the Junior Circuit's other contenders.