2023 Tampa Bay Rays season

The 2023 Tampa Bay Rays season was the 26th season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise and their 16th as the Rays. The Rays played their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East.

The Rays started the season with 13 consecutive wins, tying the 1982 Atlanta Braves and the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the modern era (post-1900) record, and the most since the 1884 St. Louis Maroons, before suffering their first loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on April 14.

The Rays drew a total attendance of 1,440,301 to home games at Tropicana Field — a 27.6% increase from the previous season but still only 27th of the 30 MLB teams.

On September 17, the Rays qualified for the postseason for the fifth straight year. However, they were defeated by the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in the ALWCS in a two-game sweep.

Offseason

Rule changes Pursuant to the CBA, new rule changes will be in place for the 2023 season:

institution of a pitch clock between pitches; limits on pickoff attempts per plate appearance; limits on defensive shifts requiring two infielders to be on either side of second and be within the boundary of the infield; and larger bases (increased to 18-inch squares);

Regular season Game log

Legend Rays win Rays loss Postponement Clinched playoff spotBoldRays team member

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || March 30 || Tigers || 4–0 || McClanahan (1–0) || Rodríguez (0–1) || — || 25,025 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 1 || Tigers || 12–2 || Eflin (1–0) || Turnbull (0–1) || — || 20,204 || 2–0 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 2 || Tigers || 5–1 || Springs (1–0) || Wentz (0–1) || — || 19,425 || 3–0 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 3 || @ Nationals || 6–2 || Rasmussen (1–0) || Williams (0–1) || — || 10,754 || 4–0 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 4 || @ Nationals || 10–6 || Thompson (1–0) || Finnegan (0–1) || — || 15,272 || 5–0 || W5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 5 || @ Nationals || 7–2 || McClanahan (2–0) || Corbin (0–2) || — || 13,836 || 6–0 || W6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 7 || Athletics || 9–5 || Eflin (2–0) || Waldichuk (0–2) || — || 15,980 || 7–0 || W7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 8 || Athletics || 11–0 || Springs (2–0) || Fujinami (0–2) || — || 15,880 || 8–0 || W8 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 9 || Athletics || 11–0 || Rasmussen (2–0) || Kaprielian (0–1) || — || 11,159 || 9–0 || W9 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 10 || Red Sox || 1–0 || Poche (1–0) || Martin (0–1) || Fairbanks (1) || 13,470 || 10–0 || W10 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 11 || Red Sox || 7–2 || McClanahan (3–0) || Whitlock (0–1) || — || 12,649 || 11–0 || W11 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 12 || Red Sox || 9–7 || Bradley (1–0) || Sale (1–1) || Fairbanks (2) || 17,136 || 12–0 || W12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 13 || Red Sox || 9–3 || Kelly (1–0) || Kluber (0–3) || Bristo (1) || 21,175 || 13–0 || W13 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 14 || @ Blue Jays || 3–6 || Berríos (1–2) || Rasmussen (2–1) || Romano (5) || 34,822 || 13–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 15 || @ Blue Jays || 2–5 || Kikuchi (2–0) || Kelley (0–1) || Romano (6) || 41,679 || 13–2 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || April 16 || @ Blue Jays || 8–1 || McClanahan (4–0) || Manoah (1–1) || — || 39,179 || 14–2 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 17 || @ Reds || 1–8 || Gibaut (1–0) || Beeks (0–1) || — || 7,375 || 14–3 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 18 || @ Reds || 10–0 || Bradley (2–0) || Lodolo (2–1) || — || 11,304 || 15–3 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || April 19 || @ Reds || 8–0 || Rasmussen (3–1) || Stoudt (0–1) || — || 10,205 || 16–3 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 21 || White Sox || 8–7 || Kelly (2–0) || López (0–2) || — || 17,973 || 17–3 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 22 || White Sox || 4–3 || Cleavinger (1–0) || Lambert (1–1) || — || 22,333 || 18–3 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || April 23 || White Sox || 4–1 || Eflin (3–0) || Giolito (1–2) || Fairbanks (3) || 22,702 || 19–3 || W5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 24 || Astros || 8–3 || Bradley (3–0) || Urquidy (1–2) || — || 10,611 || 20–3 || W6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 25 || Astros || 0–5 || García (2–2) || Rasmussen (3–2) || — || 9,916 || 20–4 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || April 26 || Astros || 0–1 || Brown (3–0) || Faucher (0–1) || Pressly (2) || 14,168 || 20–5 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || April 27 || @ White Sox || 14–5 || McClanahan (5–0) || Cease (2–1) || — || 11,060 || 21–5 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || April 28 || @ White Sox || 3–2 || Poche (2–0) || Graveman (1–2) || Kelly (1) || 16,681 || 22–5 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 || April 29 || @ White Sox || 12–3 || Chirinos (1–0) || Lynn (0–4) || — || 28,462 || 23–5 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || April 30 || @ White Sox || 9–12 || Bummer (1–1) || Beeks (0–2) || — || 17,049 || 23–6 || L1

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 30 || May 2 || Pirates || 4–1 || Poche (3–0) || Contreras (3–2) || Adam (1) || 10,325 || 24–6 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 3 || Pirates || 8–1 || McClanahan (6–0) || Keller (3–1) || Anderson (1) || 15,247 || 25–6 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || May 4 || Pirates || 3–2 || Eflin (4–0) || Velasquez (4–3) || Adam (2) || 12,418 || 26–6 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || May 5 || Yankees || 5–4 || Kelly (3–0) || Cordero (1–1) || Adam (3) || 25,007 || 27–6 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 6 || Yankees || 2–3 || Marinaccio (1–1) || Kelly (3–1) || Hamilton (1) || 27,078 || 27–7 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || May 7 || Yankees || 8–7 || Beeks (1–2) || Abreu (1–1) || — || 32,142 || 28–7 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || May 8 || @ Orioles || 3–0 || McClanahan (7–0) || Gibson (4–2) || Adam (4) || 12,669 || 29–7 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 9 || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Rodriguez (2–0) || Eflin (4–1) || Bautista (8) || 10,017 || 29–8 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 10 || @ Orioles || 1–2 || Kremer (4–1) || Chirinos (1–1) || Canó (3) || 14,395 || 29–9 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 11 || @ Yankees || 8–2 || Rasmussen (4–2) || Germán (2–3) || — || 37,686 || 30–9 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || May 12 || @ Yankees || 5–6 || Holmes (1–2) || Adam (0–1) || Peralta (1) || 46,130 || 30–10 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 13 || @ Yankees || 8–9 || Cordero (3–1) || Thompson (1–1) || Peralta (2) || 44,714 || 30–11 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || May 14 || @ Yankees || 8–7 || Eflin (5–1) || Schmidt (1–4) || Adam (5) || 42,116 || 31–11 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || May 16 || @ Mets || 8–5 || Chirinos (2–1) || Verlander (1–2) || — || 28,296 || 32–11 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 44 || May 17 || @ Mets || 7–8 || Robertson (1–0) || Fairbanks (0–1) || — || 29,695 || 32–12 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 45 || May 18 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Megill (5–2) || Littell (0–1) || Robertson (8) || 29,946 || 32–13 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || May 19 || Brewers || 1–0 || Adam (2–0) || Strzelecki (2–3) || Fairbanks (4) || 18,961 || 33–13 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || May 20 || Brewers || 8–4 || Eflin (6–1) || Lauer (4–5) || Adam (6) || 19,954 || 34–13 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 48 || May 21 || Brewers || 4–6 || Peralta (5–3) || Criswell (0–1) || Williams (7) || 20,193 || 34–14 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 22 || Blue Jays || 6–4 || Fleming (1–0) || Bassitt (5–3) || Fairbanks (5) || 8,857 || 35–14 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 23 || Blue Jays || 1–20 || Berríos (4–4) || Bradley (3–1) || — || 11,906 || 35–15 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || May 24 || Blue Jays || 7–3 || McClanahan (8–0) || Kikuchi (5–2) || — || 8,699 || 36–15 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 || May 25 || Blue Jays || 6–3 || Eflin (7–1) || Manoah (1–5) || Poche (1) || 10,736 || 37–15 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || May 26 || Dodgers || 9–3 || Criswell (1–1) || Syndergaard (1–4) || — || 19,715 || 38–15 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || May 27 || Dodgers || 5–6 || Almonte (3–0) || Poche (3–1) || Ferguson (2) || 23,443 || 38–16 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || May 28 || Dodgers || 11–10 || Beeks (2–2) || González (1–2) || Adam (7) || 21,043 || 39–16 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || May 29 || @ Cubs || 0–1 || Stroman (5–4) || Bradley (3–2) || — || 38,163 || 39–17 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || May 30 || @ Cubs || 1–2 || Merryweather (1–0) || McClanahan (8–1) || Alzolay (2) || 31,762 || 39–18 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || May 31 || @ Cubs || 4–3 || Poche (4–1) || Leiter Jr. (1–1) || Beeks (1) || 29,360 || 40–18 || W1

|- style="background:#bbb;" | — || June 2 || @ Red Sox || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || June 3 || @ Red Sox || 5–8 || Kluber (3–6) || Beeks (3–6) || Jansen (12) || 31,303 || 40–19 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 60 || June 3 || @ Red Sox || 4–2 || Faucher (1–1) || Jansen (1–3) || Adam (8) || 30,784 || 41–19 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 61 || June 4 || @ Red Sox || 6–2 || Bradley (4–2) || Houck (3–5) || — || 34,192 || 42–19 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || June 5 || @ Red Sox || 4–1 || McClanahan (9–1) || Bello (3–4) || Adam (9) || 30,860 || 43–19 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 63 || June 6 || Twins || 7–0 || Eflin (8–1) || Varland (3–2) || — || 14,689 || 44–19 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 64 || June 7 || Twins || 2–1 || Adam (2–1) || Durán (1–2) || — || 10,846 || 45–19 || W5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 65 || June 8 || Twins || 4–2 || Chirinos (3–1) || Ober (3–3) || Adam (10) || 12,584 || 46–19 || W6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 66 || June 9 || Rangers || 8–3 || Glasnow (1–0) || Heaney (4–4) || — || 17,447 || 47–19 || W7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 10 || Rangers || 4–8 || Eovaldi (9–2) || Bradley (4–3) || — || 18,932 || 47–20 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 68 || June 11 || Rangers || 7–3 || McClanahan (10–1) || Pérez (6–2) || — || 23,069 || 48–20 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 69 || June 12 || @ Athletics || 3–4 || Kaprielian (2–6) || Eflin (8–2) || Waldichuk (1) || 4,848 || 48–21 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 13 || @ Athletics || 1–2 || Harris (2–0) || Poche (4–2) || May (3) || 27,759 || 48–22 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 14 || @ Athletics || 6–3 || Glasnow (2–0) || Medina (1–6) || Adam (11) || 7,055 || 49–22 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 72 || June 15 || @ Athletics || 4–3 || Stephenson (1–3) || Pruitt (1–4) || Fairbanks (6) || 7,133 || 50–22 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 73 || June 16 || @ Padres || 6–2 || McClanahan (11–1) || Darvish (5–5) || Fairbanks (7) || 42,367 || 51–22 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || June 17 || @ Padres || 0–2 || Snell (3–6) || Eflin (8–3) || Hader (17) || 43,180 || 51–23 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 75 || June 18 || @ Padres || 4–5 || Musgrove (5–2) || Chirinos (3–2) || Hader (18) || 44,404 || 51–24 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 76 || June 20 || Orioles || 6–8 || Bradish (3–3) || Glasnow (2–1) || Bautista (20) || 20,906 || 51–25 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 77 || June 21 || Orioles || 7–2 || Bradley (5–3) || Wells (6–3) || — || 19,493 || 52–25 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || June 22 || Royals || 5–6 || Chapman (3–2) || Fairbanks (0–2) || Barlow (9) || 10,436 || 52–26 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 79 || June 23 || Royals || 11–3 || Eflin (9–3) || Greinke (1–8) || — || 16,189 || 53–26 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || June 24 || Royals || 4–9 || Lyles (1–11) || Chirinos (3–3) || — || 20,884 || 53–27 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;"