MLB Predictions on Where the Tampa Bay Rays Will Finish the 2021 Season

MLB Predictions on Where the Tampa Bay Rays Will Finish the 2021 Season
Sat 16th January 2021

The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the World Series last season, but they came up short against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Kevin Cash has become a noteworthy figure for how he’s willing to go against the grain when running a team.

The Rays have a great chance of going far this coming season. But the Rays lost one of the team’s top pitchers, and it will be tough to figure which players are going to repeat their performances from last year.

Our MLB predictions on the Rays have them performing well, but it’s hard to tell what they will do this year. The Rays have a slightly weaker roster this season, but the team does have some of the best prospects in the sport.

What to See With the Rays

The Rays lost starting pitcher Charlie Morton to the Atlanta Braves on the free-agent market. Hunter Renfroe also moved on and joined the Boston Red Sox. Nate Lowe was also traded to the Texas Rangers this offseason.

There are also worries about some of the team’s regular starting pitchers and if they’re going to be healthy. Brendan McKay had shoulder surgery in August, and Brent Honeywell underwent another elbow procedure in December.

Honeywell has undergone four separate surgeries since he last pitched in 2017. The Rays say that Honeywell will be available at the start of the 2021 season, as his most recent procedure was minor.

Michael Wacha joins the Rays after spending last season with the New York Mets. But Wacha hasn’t been as productive as of late as he was when he played in the St Louis Cardinals. He had a 6.62 ERA in seven starts last season. Playing in a heavily controlled indoor environment like Tropicana Field might help Wacha in 2021.


Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow remain on the starting rotation. The offense still features Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe, while Ji-Man Choi and Kevin Kiermaier hope to see some improvement this coming season.

Who to Watch

The top point about the Rays this season entails the possibility that Wander Franco will join the team this year. The shortstop is the top-rated prospect in all of baseball, and he could enter the lineup if Willy Adames struggles.

The team also has high hopes for some of their top pitching prospects. 2018 first-round pick Shane McClanahan is expected to make his debut this season, while Aaron Slegers saw plenty of experience in 2020 and even started a few games.

Where Can the Rays Finish in the AL East?

The Tampa Bay Rays will finish in second place in the AL East according to our current MLB predictions. We feel the Rays have a great chance to go after the New York Yankees, but the uncertainty over how well the roster is working could be a problem.

How Will the Rays Perform in the Playoffs?

We predict the Tampa Bay Rays will reach the wild card round, but they will lose to the Minnesota Twins. The team’s general inexperience and the team’s losses this past season will make the Rays weaker this coming year than they were last season. But the Rays will reach the playoffs regardless and will continue to show they are one of the best teams to review for the coming season.

There are still a few months before the next season of the MLB starts! But if you are looking to get your fix of baseball early, make sure you visit our MLB hub page for all the information you need!

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