MONDAY GAME NOTES

According to Fangraphs, the Rays have a 0.0% chance of making the postseason, but the Red Sox also have a 0.0% chance, so take comfort in that. Again, there's not much baseball left and the Rays don't really have that many stories as the season concludes. Yesterday afternoon, the Rays looked on their way to another gut-wrenching loss that looked eerily similar to most of their losses this season was the starting pitcher wasn't able to pitch deep into the game, the bullpen couldn't hold the lead, and the offense failed to produce with runners in scoring position.

However, rare pinch hit homer from Brandon Guyer tied the game in the ninth (Rays pinch-hitters have hit just .208 this year in 203 PA), but it looked to be more of the same following that as Evan Longoria tripled and seemed like he'd be stranded, but then Kevin Kiermaier made a mad 90 foot dash after hitting chopper up the middle to win the game.

Tonight, the Rays will begin a four game set against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway separated by just a half game for possession of last place in the American League East. A loss tonight, and the Rays will find themselves in last place in the AL East for the first since April 21st earlier this year. Hopefully, they won't lose and the Red Sox will be unveiling this banner at next year's home opener.

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS:

With seven strikeouts his last time out, Chris Archer surpassed Scott Kazmir's 2007 single-season record for strikeouts in a season. It was a decent outing for Archer, but that lack of control that has plagued him over the past two months, costed him again as he walked four hitters and was only able to register six innings. He finished the day having allowed two runs on fours hits and ended up with a loss.

Eduardo Rodriguez Scouting Report:

Rodriguez has put together a decent season for the Red Sox having allowed two earned runs or less in 14 of 19 starts, six of the last seven, and his past five outings. He was actually saddled with a loss his last time out when faced off against Orioles and was only able to pitch an out into the sixth inning and was removed having allowed a run on five hits, while he walked three and struck out nine.

His arsenal:

His splits:

September 21st in Rays History:

• They are 7-9 all-time on this date
• 2002 - I attended my second game ever, sat in the front row somewhere in the left field bleachers. Have vague memories of it, but one thing that sticks out in my mind was watching the left fielder (Carl Crawford) collide with Randy Winn (my favorite player at the time) on the warning track. The Devil Rays won, so pretty lucky to see that considering they only won 34% of their games that season.
• 2003 - The Devil Rays are shutout by the Yankees, only recording four hits a 6-0 nothing loss. Roger Clemons did the bulk of the work, allowing four hits in seven innings, while he one and struck out three, earning his 16th victory of the season.
• 2011 - The Rays took  on the Yankees in a double-header with a chance to gain some ground in the wild card chase. Unfortunately, they faulted in the eighth inning of both games and they'd lose both by the same score of 4-2. The losses put them 2 1/2 games back of Boston with seven games to be played, what a week that was.