How the Tampa Bay Rays Match Up Against Every Potential AL Playoff Opponent

The Tampa Bay Rays are currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot in the American League. If they are able to advance to the postseason, they will have a rough road to the World Series.

The Rays’ winning formula of great starting pitching and defense has been challenged this year due to injuries to the rotation. The team hopes those worries are behind them for 2013 with a full stable of arms finally available.

The additions of Delmon Young and David DeJesus are efforts that the team is making to boost their struggling offense.

Of course, if they are unable to qualify for the postseason, the rest won’t matter. According to Baseball Prospectus the Rays currently have a 65.3 percent probability of making the 2013 playoffs.

Here is a look at how the Rays match up against their eight potential postseason opponents.

Kansas City Royals

Likely Matchup: Wild Card

Playoff Probability: 0.9 percent

2013 Record Against: 1-6

The Kansas City Royals have owned the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. The Rays’ only victory was the June 15 game that saw Alex Cobb unfortunately take a line drive off of his head.

The largest problem for the Rays has been their inability to score runs against the Royals. In their seven matchups this season they have only scored 22 while allowing 53.

If the Royals and Rays meet in the postseason, it will be in the Wild Card round. The game could also come down to which team received the better deal in their offseason trade that included Wil Myers going to the Rays and James Shields going to the Royals.

If Myers and the Rays can muster enough offense, they could advance to the ALDS. The more likely scenario, though, is that the Royals continue their dominance over the Rays in 2013.

Advantage: Royals

New York Yankees

Likely Matchup: Wild Card

Playoff Probability: 4.7 percent

2013 Record Against: 9-7

The New York Yankees have struggled this season. In the unlikely event they make the postseason it will be as a Wild Card team. They are 10.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox and would also have to pass the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles to claim the division title.

The Yankees have also had their struggles against the Rays in particular. In their 16 games thus far, the Rays have outscored the Yankees 73-57.

In a one-game matchup, the Yankees would likely put CC Sabathia on the mound. That would not seem to work out in their advantage, as Tampa Bay is 4-1 against the New York ace this season.

The Rays have had memorable moments against Sabathia this year, including Wil Myers hitting his first career home run, a grand slam in Yankees Stadium.

Advancing to the ALDS would be likely for the Rays if these teams meet.

Advantage: Rays

Baltimore Orioles

Likely Matchup: Wild Card

Playoff Probability: 12.6 percent

2013 Record Against: 9-6

The Baltimore Orioles are currently looking into the postseason from just outside the second Wild Card spot. The Rays struggled early this season, going 2-4 against the Orioles in April. Since then the lead has shifted and the Rays are 7-2 in the last three series.

The Orioles have the edge with better offensive players including Chris Davis and Adam Jones. The duo has combined for 79 home runs so far in 2013. If you combine the home runs for Evan Longoria, Matt Joyce, Kelly Johnson and Desmond Jennings it only adds up to 74.

Even with the unbalanced power, the Rays have still outscored the Orioles 86-76 this season.

The Rays' greatest advantage comes from their pitching depth in the rotation and bullpen. If David Price or Matt Moore are as dominant as they can be, the Orioles will not be able to generate enough offense to advance.

Advantage: Rays

Cleveland Indians

Likely Matchup: Wild Card

Playoff Probability: 27.3 percent

2013 Record Against: 4-2

The Cleveland Indians are playing good baseball but do not pose too great of a threat for the Rays. The Rays have outscored the Indians 30-23 this season.

It’s even more of a lopsided history if you remove the Indians' dominant 13-0 victory over the Rays on April 7.

The Rays could start David Price, Matt Moore or even Alex Cobb and feel confident in their matchup against Justin Masterson.

The Indians lineup is also lacking any player, or combination of players, that would give the team a significant edge over Tampa Bay in a one-game matchup or series.

Advantage: Rays

Texas Rangers

Likely Matchup: Wild Card, ALDS or ALCS

Playoff Probability: 91.1 percent

2013 Record Against: 1-2

The Texas Rangers have eliminated the Tampa Bay Rays in their last two postseason appearances. If they cross paths in the 2013 postseason, history could easily repeat itself.

The Rangers lineup—led by Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz and Mitch Moreland—will not make it easy on the Rays. The trio has combined for 144 extra-base hits this season, and the Rays have struggled putting up enough runs to compete with potent offenses.

The Rangers rotation, led by Yu Darvish, has enough talent to match up respectively against the Rays. Darvish has held opponents to a .191 batting average this season.

If the Rays lineup struggles to hit, as they often have, Texas could make quick work of them.

Advantage: Rangers

Oakland Athletics

Likely Matchup: ALDS, ALCS or Wild Card

Playoff Probability: 98.8 percent

2013 Record Against: 3-3

The Oakland A’s represent the most evenly balanced matchup the Rays could face in the postseason. In their matchups this season, the home team has swept the visitors in both series. The Rays have a slight edge in runs, outscoring the A’s 22-15 in six games.

The Rays have the edge when it comes to starting pitching. On paper, Jarrod Parker does not present a dominant matchup against almost any of the Rays starters.

The A’s have an edge on offense with more consistent hitters led by Yoenis Cespedes.

At the end of the day, this matchup is so close it would likely come down to which outdated ballpark the game is played in.

Advantage: Root, root, root for the home team

Detroit Tigers

Likely Matchup: ALDS or ALCS

Playoff Probability: 99.2 percent

2013 Record Against: 3-3

The Detroit Tigers are too powerful offensively for the Tampa Bay Rays. The season series is tied, with the Rays scoring no more than four runs in any victory. The Tigers have outscored the Rays 25-16 this season.

Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Torii Hunter are all much more consistent offensive players than any single player in the Rays lineup.

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer lead a Tigers rotation that can match up with the Rays starters to negate what is normally an advantage for Tampa Bay.

It will be extremely difficult for the Rays, or any other AL team, to stop the Tigers' pursuit of a second straight trip to the World Series.

Advantage: Tigers

Boston Red Sox

Likely Matchup: ALDS or ALCS

Playoff Probability: 100 percent

2013 Record Against: 6-10

The Red Sox were dominant over the Rays in the beginning of the season. Tampa Bay bounced back, winning four of the last five games against Boston. The Rays have outscored the Red Sox 86-76 this year.

A healthy Rays team is the difference maker from the start of the year.

David Price has owned the Red Sox. Due to a postponed game, the Rays ace was able to defeat the Red Sox in back-to-back starts. Given the opportunity to start multiple times in a playoff series, the advantage goes to the Rays.

Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz are still great players for Boston. But the Rays offense, with the addition of Delmon Young and the emergence of Wil Myers, should be able to keep pace in the postseason.

Advantage: Rays