2019 MLB Season: The Best Surprises of the First Month
By Ben Fadden
Tampa Bay Rays Are In Front of Crowded AL East
We already discussed the Red Sox getting off to a slow start, but here is the surprise team that is benefitting from it.
The Tampa Bay Rays seem like they have been rebuilding since they traded Evan Longoria, but ever since then, they have never really been out of the playoff race.
Last season the Rays won 90 games…. and still missed the playoffs. That is because the Red Sox and Yankees are in their division.
Blake Snell won the Cy Young award and has continued to impress throughout the 2019 MLB season. They are currently in first place in the American League East, two games up on the Yankees and almost 8 up on the Red Sox.
Tyler Glasnow came over in the Chris Archer trade, and he has dominated ever since he stepped on the mound at Tropicana Field. He is 5-0 and owns a 1.75 ERA in 36 innings.
Charlie Morton signed with the Rays during the off-season, and he might have been the most underrated pick up in the game.
He is also undefeated at 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA in addition to nearly 40 strikeouts.
Blake Snell is once again quietly shutting down opposing offenses, as he an ERA under three with 12.4 strikeouts per nine.
If those stats don’t impress you, Rays pitchers have had to face star-studded offenses like the Houston Astros on Opening Weekend and the Boston Red Sox twice.
I am sure the Yankees and Red Sox will be fighting for the division once they get players back from injury, but don’t count out the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East crown.