The Tampa Bay Rays Are Chasing More Records!Β The Rays win streak may have ended, but Tampa Bay continues to set and chase β more records heading into the final week of April.
The Rays are 13-0 at home this season, tied for the longest home win streak to begin a season in modern MLB history (since 1900). With another win Monday, the Rays will be the first team to start 14-0 or better at home in 137 years.
Here Come The World Champion Houston Astros
The Rays will look to keep that home win streak going against the reigning World Series champion Astros. This will be the sixth time in the last 50 years that a team on a double-digit home win streak hosted the reigning champion.
The team on the win streak won four of the previous five series, but just two of the five extended the win streak beyond the series.
Hosted Reigning World Series Champion
Teams on 10-Game Home Win Streak in Last 50 Years
OpponentΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Result
2023 RaysΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β AstrosΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ?
2009 PadresΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β PhilliesΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β L, 0-3
1994 ClevelandΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Blue JaysΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β W, 3-0
1988 Red SoxΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β TwinsΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β W, 3-0
1980 AstrosΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β PiratesΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β W, 2-1
1977Β PhilliesΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RedsΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β W, 2-1
The Rays enter this series at 19-3 overall on the season. If they win Monday, it would be the fastest any team has reached 20 wins since the 1987 Brewers.
That team picked up win No. 20 in their 23rd game on May 2nd, 1987 and then didnβt win another game until May 20th, losing 12 straight.
Astros- Tampa Bay Rays Recent History
The Astros have played the Rays tough in recent years like they have many teams. Tampa Bay went just 1-5 (.167) against the Astros last season, their worst record against any AL team.
Houston also enters this series on a season-high four-game win streak.Β 22-year-old rookie right-hander Taj Bradley will start Mondayβs game for the Rays.
Bradley is off to a historic start in his young career, going 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 17 strikeouts in two starts (10 1/3 IP). Heβs already the only pitcher in Rays history with at least eight strikeouts in each of his first two career starts.
Only three pitchers have ever done it in each of their first three starts, the last being Masahiro Tanaka for the 2014 Yankees.
Rays Fun Fact
The Rays have also been hitting home runs at a record pace. Theyβve homered in all 22 games this season, the longest streak by any team to start a season in MLB history and the longest streak at any point of a season in Rays history.
The all-time record at any point of a season is 31 straight games with a homer by the 2019 Yankees.Β Check out Shemon and Sheppard 2-6pm for all the latest on this game and others.