Tampa Bay Rays: 3 more HR records on the horizon in 2023

With a two-run home run by Randy Arozarena in the first inning of their game on Saturday versus the Chicago White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays set a new MLB record for most consecutive games with a home run to start a season. The Rays broke the old record of 20 straight games with a HR to start a season held by the 2019 Seattle Mariners, and extended that record to 22 in their win on Sunday.

The home run ball has been a big part of why the Rays have jumped off to a league-best 19-3 start this season. Their 48 home runs after 22 games is tops among the 30 MLB teams.

The 2023 Rays became the 18th team in baseball history to have at least one home run in each of their first 10 games of a season. The last team to reach this mark were the 2021 Los Angeles Angels who opened that ’21 campaign with 11 straight games with a home run.

Tampa Bay Rays lead most games with a HR to start the season

Here are the 18 teams with 10 or more consecutive games to start a season with a home run.

22: 2023 Tampa Bay
20: 2019 Seattle
14: 2002 Cleveland
13: 2017 Detroit; 1954 Chicago Cubs
12: 2020 New York Yankees; 2013 New York Mets; 2007 Tampa Bay; 2001 Arizona; 1997 Colorado; 1986 Cincinnati
11: 2021 Los Angeles Angels; 1994 Colorado
10: 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers; 2016 San Francisco; 2009 Texas; 1999 New York Yankees; 1960 St. Louis

The next record that Tampa Bay could challenge is the longest streak of games with a home run. That record is 31 held by the 2019 New York Yankees. There have been eight teams in MLB history that have homered in 24 or more consecutive games. After the Yankees with 31 games in 2019, the Houston Astros hit a home run in 27 straight games over two seasons (2019-20), and the 2002 Texas Rangers hit a home run in 27 straight games in the 2002 season.

Other teams to hit a homer in 24 or more straight games: 2016 St. Louis, 2016 San Diego, 1998 Atlanta, 1994 Detroit and 1941 Yankees (all 25 straight games); and the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers with 24 straight games with a homer.

The MLB record for most games in a season with a home run is 139 games. That record is held by the 2019 New York Yankees. Following are the seven teams in baseball history that hit a home run in 130 or more games in a season:

Most games with a home run by a team in a season

139: 2019 Yankees
132: 2019 Twins, 2019 Astros
131: 2012 Yankees, 2018 Yankees
130: 1961 Yankees, 2007 Brewers

One final stat: The MLB record for most home runs by a team in a season is 307 by the 2019 Minnesota Twins. The 2019 Yankees are second on the list with 306 home runs. The 2023 Rays have 48 homers in their first 22 games; that puts them on a pace for 355 for the 2023 season, which would shatter the season record for home runs by a team in a season.

Can the Tampa Bay Rays continue this torrid pace?