Rays at their best and worst in first half of the season

The Rays’ performance during the first half of the season can tell us a lot of about what kind of team they have.

Depending when you checked.

During their 11-game win streak, the 15-1 stretch and remarkable 24-5 run when everything seemed to be going right, they looked to be the best team around. Six days with the best record in the majors and 22 atop the American League’ standings validated that.

But during their 19-19 start, when they were at .500 10 different times? Their seven-game losing streak, with four walkoff losses? The four other times they lost four out of five?

Not so much.

“In some ways, the first half kind of (showed) us at our best and us at our worst,” veteran infielder Joey Wendle said.

Before starting the second half of their schedule Friday with another ugly loss to the Blue Jays, the Rays were pleased, but not satisfied, with how they got through the first 81 games:

A 47-34 record that is third best in franchise history and has them on pace for 94 wins, but also had them equidistant between the AL East-leading Red Sox, and the wild card-trailing Indians.

“Obviously we’d like to be in that top spot in the AL East,” Wendle said. “But I feel like we’ve really competed, showed kind of what we’re capable of.”

There is a feeling in the clubhouse even through the hot streaks, several Rays said, that they can play better overall. “We could still take it to another level,” pitcher Michael Wacha said.

Two keys would be eliminating some of the inconsistency in all facets of their performance and turning some of the late-inning losses into victories that shouldn’t have gotten away.

“Whether it’s fair or not, I always sit here and think if this or that would have went our way, we could have won this game or that game,” veteran centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier said.

“I feel like we’ve had about 10 or 12 of those where the other team has just capitalized. … The competitive juices in me say we could be a lot better than what we are right now. But at the same time, very proud with how things have gone.”

How they have gotten there is also a factor, weathering a lengthy list of injuries (11 pitchers sidelined), and some self-inflicted roster upheaval, such as trading away shortstop Willy Adames and for relievers J.P. Feyereisen, Drew Rasmussen and Matt Wisler; and calling up prospects Wander Franco and Taylor Walls.

Wendle said the clubhouse vibe is also a factor. “We’ve always had a good environment in the clubhouse, when things are going bad, when things are going well,” he said. “It’s a group of guys that likes to be together. I think that over the course of a long season, that kind of will only benefit us as we go on further. Just continuing to keep those relationships strong in the clubhouse and off the field, I think that plays into a lot about what we do on the field.”

Overall?

“A lot of positives, and some things we can improve upon,” general manager Erik Neander said. “Great energy, consistency in the work, a group that plays hard for one another. The most important baseball is ahead of us and there’s a lot of season left, so not much time to reflect right now.”

Here are five things from the first half that stood out:

1. Finish stronger.

Of the first 34 games the Rays have lost overall, they led in 18. Of their first 42 road games, they led or were tied in the ninth inning in 32 but lost 18, eight on the final pitch, the most walkoff losses in the majors.

2. This does not compute.

The Rays averaged a solid 4.90 runs per game (sixth in the league) with just a .230 average (13th), a combination unmatched in modern history (since 1900). Also on record pace, the Rays struck out 837 times, including a majors-most 52 games with at least 10.

3. Matter of perspective.

Compounded by the loss of top starter Tyler Glasnow to injury, the Rays reached the halfway point in a bad way, allowing five or more runs in eight of their final 13 games. That hiked their team ERA to 3.54, which was still second best in the league.

4. Close doesn’t count.

A team that manager Kevin Cash says is built to play close games has not done very well in them. The Rays were 10-14 in one-run games and a league-worse 3-9 in extra innings.

5. Wendle’s the best.

Per baseball-reference.com’s calculations, the Rays’ most valuable player through the first half was Wendle, with a 2.5 WAR rating. Next in line were Randy Arozarena (2.2) and Glasnow (2.1).

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