| 2020 Tampa Bay Rays | ||
|---|---|---|
| American League Champions American League East Champions | ||
 | ||
| League | American League | |
| Division | East | |
| Ballpark | Tropicana Field | |
| City | St. Petersburg, Florida | |
| Record | 40–20 (.667) | |
| Divisional place | 1st | |
| Owners | Stuart Sternberg | |
| Managers | Kevin Cash | |
| Television | Fox Sports Sun Fox Sports Florida (Dewayne Staats, Brian Anderson) | |
| Radio | Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network (English) (Andy Freed, Dave Wills) WGES (Spanish) (Ricardo Taveras, Enrique Oliu) | |
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The 2020 Tampa Bay Rays season was the 23rd season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise. The Rays played their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for Opening Day in late July.[3] The revised 60-game schedule was announced on July 6, with the Rays set to have Opening Day on July 26, and the regular season concluding on September 27. The revised Rays schedule was composed of 40 games against AL East opponents and 20 games against NL East opponents.[4]
Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule.[5] On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders during the season would be seven innings.[6] On September 17, the Rays clinched a spot in the playoffs for the second straight year. On September 23, the Rays clinched their third American League East championship and their first since 2010. They swept the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALWCS and beat the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The Rays would then go on to defeat the Houston Astros in the ALCS and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 2008. They lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
- ^ Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Toribio, Juan (July 6, 2020). "Rays unveil schedule for 2020 season". MLB.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Daniels, Tim. "MLB Rules, Format Changes for 60-Game 2020 Season Due to COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "MLB reduces doubleheaders to 7 innings for '20". ESPN.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.