Rays Win Opening Series Against Rockies

After a disappointing 2024 season, the Tampa Bay Rays hope to make their way back to the playoffs. However, the Rays longtime home, Tropicana Field, will be under repairs for the entire 2025 season after sustaining heavy damage in Hurricane Milton, and they will use George M. Steinbrenner Field, also in Tampa. The Rays successfully defended their new home to begin the season with two wins in their first series against the Colorado Rockies.

Bats Get Going

https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1906404275644690730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Last year, the Rays highest batting average from a starter was Yandy Diaz‘s .281. Now, the Rays have a .286 batting average as a team through three games.

Third baseman Junior Caminero has been raking, with a .500 batting average through 10 at bats. Star second baseman Brandon Lowe started out hot too, picking up a home run in the final game of the series along with batting .308 through 13 at bats. Off the bench, Kameron Misner has been a pleasant surprise. The sophomore player, after playing in only 8 games last year and recording one hit, has hit a home run and is batting .429 in his limited opportunities.

Despite the great performances on offense, the Rays only have 10 runs total for the first three games. So, the pitching can be thanked for being a large part of the Rays first two victories.

Depth in the Bullpen

So far, the bullpen for the Rays has only allowed seven hits through three games. Additionally, the bullpen has only given up three runs through the series and did not allow any runs in the season opener.

Closer Pete Fairbanks leads the bullpen in strikeouts with four. With a 1-0 record, he is yet to give up a run through two innings. Second-year relief pitcher Mason Montgomery showed great potential last year with a 1.49 ERA and 17 strikeouts through 9.2 innings, and this year, he has looked to be on the right track of development with a strikeout and no runs given up in his first inning this season.

As the season goes on, the starting pitchers will hope to mature and settle into winning ways.

Looking Ahead

The Rays next series starts tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It will be another home series for the Rays as they look to establish themselves this season.