ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays could find some solace, at least, in the fact that they lost the first two games of this World Series by just one run apiece. They had a chance to win until the final out of both games at American Family Field. They didn’t play their best, but they were inarguably close to winning both games.
Now, victory couldn’t feel much further away.
The Rays will be facing elimination in Game 4 against the Brewers on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field after getting outplayed and blown out in a 10-1 defeat in Game 3 before a sold-out crowd of 40,388 on Monday night.
There were no silver linings to be found in a quiet home clubhouse after this one. No what-ifs. Just this cold, harsh reality: The American League champions’ season could end Tuesday if they don’t start playing like the team that spent the past seven months disproving their doubters and defying the odds.
“It's not a secret. We're in a tough spot,” Game 4 starter Griffin Jax said. “But I think this is a really close-knit group, and I think we're going to come together strong tomorrow and come out with some pretty strong aggression and momentum.”
Of course, what else are the Rays going to say?
They have no choice but to maintain their confidence. They have to trust the players inside their clubhouse, the same group that used the “power of friendship” and more ability than anyone else appreciated to win the third AL pennant in franchise history.
They haven’t played their final game yet, so they cannot accept the idea that their season is over.
“It's kind of that ‘chip and a chair’ mentality. We've got a seat at the table. We've got to do something with the chip,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Obviously, the only thing we can do is win tomorrow.”
But the odds are stacked against the Rays. History has shown it’s a nearly impossible task.
In all best-of-seven postseason series, teams with a 3-0 lead have gone on to win 42 of 43 times, and 33 of those wound up being sweeps. (The most recent example, of course, is the Brewers doing away with the Dodgers in a four-game National League Championship Series.) Only two teams have ever forced a Game 7 after trailing, 3-0: the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, which Boston came back to win, and the Astros against the eventual AL champion Rays in the ‘20 ALCS.
In the World Series, no team has made it as far as Game 6 after being in a 3-0 hole.
In other words, the Rays would have to make history just to send this series back to Milwaukee.
“All you can do is just take it one pitch at a time, backs against the wall,” shortstop Taylor Walls said. “Nobody's expecting you to win at this point, so just play free, go out there, do what you can to survive the at-bat, win the pitch and see what happens at the end of it.”
After an incredible regular-season run and impressive postseason series victories against the Yankees and Guardians, the most shocking aspect of the Rays’ stumble into the World Series is that it hasn’t been just one issue.
Their lineup has gone quiet. Their pitchers are allowing hits all over the place. Their defense has been stunningly sloppy at times.
“They're doing everything extremely well, so credit to them,” Yandy Díaz said through interpreter Kevin Vera. “And unfortunately, things aren't really going well for us.”
There wasn’t much to look back on fondly in Game 3.
The Rays were completely ineffective against Brewers starter Robert Gasser, managing just a leadoff single by Díaz as Gasser faced the minimum over six innings. Their lone run came against Brandon Woodruff -- who hadn’t pitched in four months -- in the ninth, when Díaz ripped an RBI double to center.
In Game 4, they’ll have to beat a fully rested Brewers bullpen -- including the high-leverage trio of Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill.
Meanwhile, the Rays will need everyone on their pitching staff to step up after Freddy Peralta and Cam Booser got knocked around in an eight-run fifth inning in Game 3. It was only the third time all season the Rays allowed eight runs or more in one inning, joining the sixth inning in St. Louis on Opening Day and the 10th inning against the Marlins on May 16.
“Of course, we don't want to start the World Series like that, behind 3-0, but we still have the chance,” Peralta said. “We've got two more games here, and we can make it happen.”
Jax will start, and veteran starter Nick Martinez should be available behind him. Closer Bryan Baker, absent all series given the circumstances, will likely play an outsized role as well.
The season is on the line. If they can’t turn it around, the only thing close is the end.
“The same [mentality] that we've had this entire time is to win,” Junior Caminero said through Vera. “We just have to come back tomorrow and do our best to win the game.”