Tonight, the Tampa Bay Rays will welcome the Oakland Athletics into town for a three game set.

The Athletics currently hold a more than comfortable lead with eight games separating them from the Rays and Seattle Mariners for the second Wild Card spot with less than 20 games to be played in the regular season. However, the Rays still have some hope left, but it would take a massive collapse from either the Yankees or Athletics in order to get it done.

Diego Castillo opens tonight for Tampa Bay. He will be opposed by former Rays pitcher, Edwin Jackson.

Rays Links

• Time is running out for the Rays and their stadium venture as the December 31st deadline is approaching rapidly
• With the Rays on the cusp on contention, he looks at some regrets the team may have that could have propelled them into the postseason
• With his amazing run of starts this season, Blake Snell has emerged as a possible Cy Young favorite
• Jonathan Mayo looks at 20 prospects who significantly boosted their stock this season, naming Wander Franco and Jesus Sanchez for the Rays
• Jim Callis predicts who the top 10 prospects in baseball will be a year from now, placing Wander Franco at 6th on the list
• A trio of Rays prospects made Jeff Passan’s 2018 All Prospect team, with several more being named as honorable mentions

Around the League

• According to Jon Heyman, the Los Angeles Angels are planning on offering Mike Trout a lifetime contract extension this winter
• David Wright, who enjoyed a Hall of Fame pace early on in his career before being ravaged by injuries, will finally hang things up after the season. He will be activated for one final series at the end of the season.
• Former Rays minor leaguer, and Mariners catcher, Mike Marjama retired so he can help people with eating disorders and he opens up about his own struggles
• McCovey Chronicles looks at the most positive number for each member of the Giants, for Longoria, they spotlighted his extra base hits
• Minor League Ball poses the question, which franchise has the brighter future; Blue Jays or Rays?
• Joe Mauer, one of the best hitting catchers in baseball history, may retire this off-season