Blue Jays AL East Recap: Jays plummet from the top spot

Those pesky Rays
Tampa Bay Rays: 60-82.

For a team that has no hope at making the playoffs, the Rays find themselves with a lot of power. As the A.L. East teams spend the rest of the season duelling with each other, the Rays, more than any other team, could have the most impact.

Winning against a tough division leader is hard enough, but when the worst team in the division makes you fight tooth and nail every game things get quite interesting. The Rays successfully took one game away from the Orioles and Yankees, temporarily halting their playoff bid. Tampa Bay could end up being Baltimore and New York’s greatest asset, though.

The plummeting Jays have been held in check all year by the Rays, so a repeat series win against them could sign two tickets to the postseason and end Toronto’s hope of a return trip.

Next: Exploring the Blue Jays and one run games

The Rays have been scrappy going down the stretch. They’ve lost good players to injuries but have kept up the fight. Their continued perseverance will continue to be the ultimate thorn in the AL East’s side. With the season winding down, the Rays could pull off the ultimate revenge fantasy by pulling down a playoff competitor with them. If the Rays can continue to spoil, they may just be able to achieve that.