ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - Jonny DeLuca of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Tropicana Field on June 21, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Home sweet dome. Tropicana Field has been just that for the Tampa Bay Rays so far in 2026. At 26-10 (.722), the club has MLB’s best home record and equaled its second-best 36-game mark inside the friendly confines.
“The fan base has really rallied behind us the entire season,” said first baseman Jonathan Aranda, following Friday night’s 5-2 win over the visiting Nationals. “Thankfully, we have been playing really well. You just want to do your part and put on a good show for the fans.”
The Rays have been doing their part while putting on a good show. After Saturday’s 4-3 loss, they rebounded to win Sunday afternoon’s game by the same score and take the three-game series. Rays’ pitchers allowed five homers during the series, though each was of the solo variety. The pitching did not walk a batter in the first two games and yielded only nine runs overall against MLB’s highest-scoring team.
“We pitched very well,” said manager Kevin Cash, whose club heads into a new week in second place and two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. “That is a very good offense (we faced.) They have a bunch of guys that can make contact and put pressure on the defense with their speed, and they have a couple of guys that can put the ball out of the ballpark.”
Home sweet dome. Tropicana Field has been just that for the Tampa Bay Rays so far in 2026. At 26-10 (.722), the club has MLB’s best home record and equaled its second-best 36-game mark inside the friendly confines.
“The fan base has really rallied behind us the entire season,” said first baseman Jonathan Aranda, following Friday night’s 5-2 win over the visiting Nationals. “Thankfully, we have been playing really well. You just want to do your part and put on a good show for the fans.”
The Rays have been doing their part while putting on a good show. After Saturday’s 4-3 loss, they rebounded to win Sunday afternoon’s game by the same score and take the three-game series. Rays’ pitchers allowed five homers during the series, though each was of the solo variety. The pitching did not walk a batter in the first two games and yielded only nine runs overall against MLB’s highest-scoring team.
“We pitched very well,” said manager Kevin Cash, whose club heads into a new week in second place and two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. “That is a very good offense (we faced.) They have a bunch of guys that can make contact and put pressure on the defense with their speed, and they have a couple of guys that can put the ball out of the ballpark.”
5 months ago
