Tampa Bay Rays Must Maintain Focus as Interleague Play Begins

Things could not be going better for the Tampa Bay Rays right now. 

Coming off a two-game sweep of the New York Yankees, at the house that Jeter built no less, the Rays now have a commanding five-game lead, just a quarter of the way through the season.

Boy, doesn't it look good?

That's what makes the next series just as important.  This is the perfect opportunity for a "letdown" series.  Houston is a team that isn't doing too well right now.  After focusing on the Yankees, and building their division lead, it would be easy to overlook a team like Houston.

That nicely built lead could evaporate fast.

However, so far this team doesn't appear ready to let down anything.  It helps that certain players are heating up. 

Ben Zobrist hit his first HR of the season (and his first in 159 at-bats), Carlos Pena hit two HR last night as well and has an RBI in three consecutive games (after no RBI since April 28th), and B.J. Upton hit an opposite-field HR as well.

Despite the Bronx Bomberish surge, it still all comes down to pitching.

The Rays boast the MLB's best staff, which doesn't bode well for the worst ranking NL offense in Houston. 

Yes, the Rays present problems from 1-9 in their batting order and 1-5 in their rotation, but if they maintain their focus nothing can stand in their way.

Just ask the Yankees.