Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash referenced a tomahawk steak shared by infielder Yandy Díaz and teammates after securing a postseason berth last month to illustrate the team’s remaining goals following a sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series. “We’ve got two more bites left… two more bites to the bone! Nobody’s sleeping here!” Cash told his team in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium late Wednesday night, according to team accounts.
Following the late-night celebration in New York following their ALDS sweep, the Rays returned home Thursday afternoon and took the rest of the day off to recover. The club held a full, pregame-style workout Friday afternoon at Tropicana Field, followed by an intrasquad game Saturday ahead of their upcoming playoff opponent’s decisive fifth game in Cleveland. Tampa Bay will hold another standard workout Sunday before hosting Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night at Tropicana Field.
The team earned the extended break by sweeping the Yankees, mirroring the rest they received during the Wild Card round after capturing the American League East division title. Combined with scheduled off days in the Division Series calendar, the Rays will have roughly 11 days off compared to three playing days over a two-week span between their regular-season finale in Philadelphia on September 27 and the start of the ALCS.
“I think it’s a privilege. I feel like whenever you have an opportunity to get your legs back underneath you… for starters, the regular season is long, and then these postseason games can get long and tiring,” Cash said during a Zoom video call Friday from Tropicana Field. “I think ‘taxing’ is a good word. From the first pitch to the ninth inning, everything is a challenge in those games, a lot of mental and physical strain going on. They take advantage of the rest, but they know how to turn it back on when needed.”
Rays Balance Player Recovery with Postseason Readiness
While the prolonged layoff provides clear physical recovery after a 162-game schedule, the club acknowledges the risk of over-resting during October. In the 2023 American League Wild Card Series, the Texas Rangers arrived at Tropicana Field appearing sluggish before dominating the series en route to a World Series title. “At the end of the day, we’re just going to focus on ourselves and live in the moment,” outfielder Jonny DeLuca said.
The schedule allows the Rays to line up their starting rotation without relying on four-day intervals or shortened rest. Position players can progressively build back up ahead of a best-of-seven series that features only two scheduled off days, following Games 2 and 5. The break also creates work opportunities for relief pitchers seeking to maintain sharpness. During the ALDS, only three traditional relievers—alongside starters Ian Seymour and Griffin Jax pitching out of the bullpen—appeared on the mound: closer Bryan Baker across three innings over three games, left-hander Cam Booser with three outs over two games, and right-hander Kevin Kelly with one out in Game 3.
“It’s about finding the balance between throwing too much and having too much downtime. I think we’ve done a good job with days like today, coming in and working out on an off day,” Kelly said. “But, at the same time, it’s been nice to have some downtime in between. You watch how other teams have used their bullpens and the wear and tear that comes with that. So the workload management has been good.”
Pitching Plans Await Opponent Decision
Cash noted that the Rays hold strong conceptual plans for their ALCS pitching staff, though concrete decisions depend on the conclusion of the Division Series between the Cleveland Guardians and their opponent. Drew Rasmussen is lined up to start Game 1, repeating his role from the ALDS, though Cash emphasized that final confirmations remain pending. “We’ve got a lot of conversations left to have,” Cash said.
Following the heavy workload and strong performances of the team’s five starting pitchers throughout the ALDS, Cash confirmed expectations of continued reliance on the rotation. Major League Baseball rules permit clubs to adjust active rosters between postseason rounds. While the Rays have not finalized their ALCS roster configuration, Cash indicated that he expects the personnel to mirror the group deployed during the Division Series.
Game 1 of the American League Championship Series is scheduled for Monday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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