Simulated Season: Tampa Bay Rays get first win in six games behind McKay

The Tampa Bay Rays finally broke out of a five-game skid against the Blue Jays today in the simulated season.

We continue on in Baseball-Reference’s OOTP simulated season. The Tampa Bay Rays went 17-3 since May 8, only to lose five straight. The losses came at the hands of two losing teams, the Tigers and the Blue Jays.

Today the Rays rolled their stud rookie Brendan McKay to the mound in an attempt to get the car back on the road.

McKay comes into the game as one of the most reliable starters in the rotation for the Rays this season. He kept his stellar season going today with 7.2 innings, 4 Ks, 2 BBs, while allowing just one earned run. His record now stands at 6-4 on the season.

Nick Anderson earned his 13th save of the season.

On offense, Tampa Bay Rays were led by Hunter Renfroe who hit his 13th homer of the season. Jose Martinez also had a solo blast in the fifth inning off of Anderson.

For the Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr. blasted his 20th homer of the season off of Nick Anderson in the ninth inning. It was too little, too late as the Rays sealed the victory with a final score of 4-2.

Tampa Bay Rays Statistical Leaders

Brandon Lowe still leads the Rays with a .309 average and 36 RBI.

Hunter Renfroe remains the only Tampa Bay Rays player with double-digit homers.

Three Tampa Bay Rays (Nate Lowe, Brandon Lowe, and Hunter Renfroe) have over 30 RBIs on the season with Austin Meadows knocking on the door with 28.

Kevin Kiermaier continues to struggle with a .197/.253/.354 slash line with 6 SBs and 3 CS.

The Tampa Bay Rays remain five back of the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. Here’s a quick look at the standings after today’s games:

1. New York Yankees (35-22)

2. Tampa Bay Rays (31-28)

3. Toronto Blue Jays (26-31)

4. Boston Red Sox (26-32)

5. Baltimore Orioles (21-36)

The Rays will get a day off tomorrow.