Inside Pitch Podcast

The Tampa Bay Rays secured their first postseason appearance in six years Friday, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays and seeing the Cleveland Indians fall in Washington. Josh Tolentino of The Athletic joins Steve from Toronto to discuss the celebration and how the players want to make sure they have this celebration a couple of times this October.

The Rays begin their final series of the 2019 regular season in Toronto, which mirrors exactly what happened the last time Tampa Bay made the postseason in 2013. The only player who was on the Rays for that playoffrun, outfielder Kevin Kiermaier reminisces about waiting nearly a month between the end of the minor league season and his call-up in Game 163.

The Rays wrap up the home portion of the 2019 regular season with five wins in six games, including sweeping the New York Yankees.

The Rays continue to make a strong push for the postseason, beating the New York Yankees in a 12-inning pitcher's duel. Hear from outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, whose home run tied the game up. And with the Athletics losing and the Indians winning, all three teams are within a game of each other, so we look at the possibility that all three clubs end up tied for the two wild card spots.

The Rays looked to be asleep for the first three innings before turning on the juice and beating up the Red Sox in Monday's finale. Also, Albert Pujols' 2000th RBI has found a home.

After three straight games where Tampa Bay gutted out 11-inning victories, the bats and the arms needed to recharge Sunday, dropping the third of four games to the Red Sox and dropping back to tied for the final wild card. And with seven days remaining before the start of the playoffs, we start looking at how the front office may start to cut the roster back down to 25 for the postseason.

The Rays win a third straight 11-inning contest and walk off for a second consecutive night against the Boston Red Sox. Steve says there's something that feels oddly familiar with this team that hearkens back to the years where the franchise competed to be the best in the American League. It should lead to an exciting final week of the regular season.

Tampa Bay walks off on the Boston Red Sox, allowing them to remain tied for the final wild card spot with Cleveland. Plus, a warning why you should never throw stones in a glass house.

Tampa Bay goes into the final homestand of the 2019 regular season tied for the second wild card spot with the Cleveland Indians. Steve explains why Cleveland has been able to keep pace for the postseason. Plus, a former Ray could be out as a manager of another club, and it's crazy which one it might be.

The Rays rally to split their two-game series with the Dodgers and return home still in possession of a wild card spot. Steve discusses all the pieces that went into the win and how they overcame a ton of obstacles to pull out an 11 inning victory.