Can separation be extended?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Through nearly one-half of the season, the Tampa Bay Rays have surprised the baseball world. At the start of the season, here was a team without a legitimate power, clean-up hitter, a shaking starting rotation, a suspectable bullpen and no closer.

As the the All-Star game approaches, those concerns appeared to have melted like an ice cream cone in the searing Florida heat. Not only has Junior Caminero supplied the power, Yandy Diaz with a timely and reasonable bat and Bryan Baker emerged, as a member of the American League All-Star team, was a dependable closer, these seeming less isolated parts have fused as one.

The Rays recent nine-game winning streak, along with failure from the New York Yankees, their most significant American League East rival, created a four-game gap atop the AL East standings. Coming into a four-game set with the Bombers at Tropicana field, beginning July 6, the Rays have a legitimate chance to gain important separation.

Taking advantage of the Yankees’ recent misery, and New York losing nine of their previous 10 games, coming into the Rays series, Tampa Bay has a unique opportunity For a team destined to be counted out by the All-Star game, the Rays now control a fate that was unknown just a few months ago.

Thanks are noted here to manager Kevin Cash and Kyle Synder, the Rays pitching coach. Together, they have pieced together a rotation of starters and “openers” and this composition could foretell the future.

Called from AAA Durham on Saturday and thrust on the mound as the Rays starter to close out a road trip in Houston, Mason Englert turned in 5.2 strong innings, surrendered five hits, solo homers to Isaac Paredes and Christan Walker, fanned nine but gave his team that opportunity to win, Despite dropping a 2-0 decision to Astros on July 5, Englert presented the kind of effort, especially out of the bullpen, which continues to fuel hope from productive “openers,” such as Ian Seymour, Cameron Booser, Griffin Jax, Casey Legumina, Cole Sulser and Englert.

“It’s huge,” Cash told MLB.com after the Houston series and identifying the effort of Englert. “We’re in a better spot heading into our homestand because of the performance (Englert) just had.”

Coming into this important series, the Rays and Yankees seem headed in opposite directions. Then again, New York is missing Aaron Judge and Giacarlo Stanton and an unsure middle of the lineup. That one should give the Rays incentive to lengthen the existing separation. Coming into this four-game set, Tampa Bay holds that four game in the AL East and a five-game advantage in the all-important loss column over the Bombers.

Kudos in order … With naming the National League and American League rosters for next week’s All-Star game in Philadelphia, the Rays placed four on the AL squad. Third baseman Junior Caminero will start at the “hot corner,” and his 26 homers (through July 5) is second in the AL behind Yordan Alvarez (29) of Houston. Joining Caminero at Citizens Bank Park is DH Yandy Diaz, starter Drew Rasmussen and closer Bryan Baker.

Next … The pitching matchup for the Rays-Yankees series is set. In the opener on July 6, look for righty Cam Schlitter (8-5, 2.08) to take the mound for New York and face Griffin Jax (4-5, 3.45). For the second game, it’s righty Wil Warren (7-3, 3.73) taking on Rays’ lefty Shane McClanahan (7-5, 3.05). For the third game, a pair of righties, Gerit Cole (3-3, 4.01) and Nick Martinez (7-2, 2.61) square off. For the series finale, an afternoon affair on July 9, it’s righty Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.78) going for the Rays and Yankees manager Aaron Boone is undecided. Then, Seattle visits Tropicana Field to help the Rays conclude the first half of the season. The Yankees travel to the Nation’s capital and take on the Nationals for three before the break.

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