How the Rays went 38 games without being shutout
An analysis of the Rays impossible run to start 2024.
Entering the Rays’ series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday, 28 of the 30 Major League teams had been shut out at least once. The only two that hadn’t been shutout? The Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Braves not having been shut out is no doubt impressive, but it’s easier to explain considering their a top-five WAR team sporting superstars like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna.
The Rays however? Not so much.
Since the year 2000, 128 teams have started their season with a streak of at least 30 games without a goose egg. Here’s where the 2024 Rays rank amongst those teams.
Batting Average: 117th - .244
Slugging: 127th - .364
Runs: 116th - 154 (only one team below them had a longer streak)
Streaks like this aren’t for teams like the Rays. 90 of these 128 teams were above .500, and 121 of them had an OPS over .700. This streak was a borderline miracle.
So let’s look at some games where the Rays’ improbable streak could’ve (and maybe should’ve) ended.
April 3 vs. Texas Rangers
The Rays avoidance of being shut out could’ve ended on opening week in a Wednesday afternoon matchup against the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers.
Facing star pitcher Nathan Eovlldi, They recorded just nine baserunners and were shutout through eight innings, entering the bottom of the ninth down 4-0.
They could’ve been shut out here... but they weren't.
Harold Ramirez roped a single in left-center brining in Isaac Paredes and giving the Rays their first, and last run of the game. They would lose the game 4-1.
April 8 vs. Los Angeles Angels
The Rays find themselves in a game that just didn’t go right from the beginning, with the Angels taking hold of the lead and not giving an inch the entire game.
Zack Eflin gave up five runs in five innings and Yandy Diaz went 0-4 in what was just a game to forget for the travelling Rays. They batted just 5-27 as a team and never put together a run through eight embarrassing innings of baseball.
They could’ve been shut out here... but they weren’t
Paredes grounds into a no-out double play as Ramirez squeaks home to give the Rays their first run of the game. They would lose the game 7-1.
April 22 vs. Detroit Tigers
The Rays come off a series loss in Yankee Stadium trying to bring back some momentum with a home series against the Tigers and that is not at all what they got.
Tarik Skubal put together a masterful day going six scoreless innings striking out nine batters. The Detroit bullpen backed him up well and smothered the Rays bats. The Tigers offense overwhelmed Tampa Bay, scoring runs in five of the first seven innings.
They could’ve been shut out here... but they weren’t
Detroit reliever Shelby Miller threw one mistake pitch to Jose Caballero who hits a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 7-1.
The Rays would lose the game 7-1.
May 1 vs. Milwaukee Brewers
This is it. We’ve reached rock bottom. After being swept by the league-worst White Sox and having lost seven of their last nine, The Rays are about as low as a team can be entering a series deciding game in Milwaukee.
This is exactly the kind of game where a shutout occurs. The team can’t get anything going, they’re two stars in Diaz and Randy Arozarena are a combined 0-8, and they find themselves down 7-0 through seven innings just trying to get back to St. Pete.
They should’ve been shut out here... but they weren’t
Abner Uribe throws a wild pitch in the top of the eighth that sends Richie Palacios in to score from third. One of just three wild pitches he’s thrown in 14 innings this season.
And there you have it. The Rays improbable streak through four games in which it could’ve — and sometimes should’ve — ended. On May 10 they were finally shut down by Clarke Schmidt and the Yankees by a score of 2-0, ending the streak at 38 games with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth.
It was improbable, and it was occasionally hard to watch, but in some ways it was also incredible.