New York Yankees Joel Sherman Not even the plucky Rays can escape new MLB reality By Joel Sherman Published Oct. 5, 2026, 3:42 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) celebrates as he rounds the bases on his solo home run during the third inning of Game 1 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post ST. PETERSBURG — There is the game we want. You know, with bunts and the ball in play and high-level athletes turning the basepaths into a freeway.
And there is the one that is based on just how good the pitching is.
The Rays exemplify the game we want. They struck out at the lowest percentage in the majors. They stole the most bases in the American League. No team approaches them for bunts of all varieties — for hits, for sacrifice, for squeeze plays.
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And that certainly is part of their DNA. It differentiates them from just about everyone else and makes them particularly tough in their home ballpark with a difficult dome roof to see flyballs against and the springy turf.
