MLB NEWS

Rays quietly making bid for playoff berth

The Sports Xchange

August 05, 2015 at 3:49 am.

CHICAGO — They’re a team that barely anybody talks about in the chase for the second wild-card spot in the American League, but the Tampa Bay Rays like it that way.

“That’s kind of how it’s been the whole year,” center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said Tuesday night, after going 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the Rays’ 11-3 win at the Chicago White Sox. “We’re just kind of laying in the weeds and we’re right where we want to be. We can just sneak up on teams. We don’t worry about any of that. We just need to keep playing good baseball and everything will take care of itself at the end.”

The Rays are two games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL’s second wild-card spot and pulled even at 54-54 with the win Tuesday. Still, even they’re not talking much about chasing the postseason.

That includes first-year manager Kevin Cash, whose response to a question involving how many games back of that wild-card spot his team is spoke volumes.

“Couldn’t tell ya, man,” Cash said. “I have no idea.”

Pressed about it further, he basically said the same thing as Kiermaier.

“We just worry about what goes on in here, really,” Cash said. “This team has done a tremendous job of being resilient through a lot of issues this year, injuries namely, but they go in and handle their business and we’ll be where we need to be.”

Those injuries have caused Tampa Bay to depend largely on its developmental system to stay afloat. Third baseman Richie Shaffer made his major-league debut Monday and became the 17th rookie the Rays have used their season. He got his first hit in the majors Tuesday night and it was a homer, setting off a celebration in the dugout afterward.

Rookies have accounted for 39 percent of the home runs the Rays have hit this season and 36 percent of their pitching victories. Now they’re in the middle of a postseason chase whether they acknowledge it or not.

“It can be very (beneficial), because a lot of these young guys are getting some great opportunities and have gotten some great opportunities,” Cash said. “All of our guys, but especially our young guys, they provide a lot of energy in this clubhouse. That’s what helps keep us so positive.”

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