Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Richie Palacios gives fist bumps in the dugout prior to a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on September 11, 2026. The Rays defeated the Astros 3-1 to become the first team to clinch a postseason berth in Major League Baseball. (Photo by Kim Hukari/Image of Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Imagine Yandy Diaz going 2-for-26 in the first six games of a nine-game homestand and the Rays win all six. Such is how things have been going for Kevin Cash’s team as the games vanish from the schedule and October nears.
Sure, the Rays have their share of standout players who are firmly in the conversation when it comes to hardware and league leadership in various categories. Junior Caminero (MVP? HR leader?), Chandler Simpson (Batting champ? Current AL SB leader), Drew Rasmussen (Cy Young?) and Bryan Baker (Current MLB saves leader) have all been sparkling since the curtain rose on this 2026 season.
Contributions from top to bottom typically have underscored how the Rays go about their business, something apparent during a season in which they are seeking their fifth American League East title and first since 2021.
Speaking of the Yankees, the teams meet for a four-game series in the Bronx beginning with a doubleheader Tuesday. It is a series that by any definition will feature a playoff atmosphere. The Rays could be in position the clinch the division while the Yankees could even the score. Much will likely depend on what happens this weekend when Tampa Bay hosts Boston, which took the first game a three-game series Friday night, and New York battles the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
Regardless, if the Rays are to nail down the division and make some noise in October, some of the players who are not stars per se, but certainly star on the Tampa Bay roster, will undoubtedly have something any success this autumn.
Here is a glimpse at a few of the less-than-household names making a name for themselves in a big way of late.
Cam Booser | LHP
Need to get a lefthanded hitter out? Booser has been lights out. Those swinging from the left side are hitting a paltry .138 (8-for-58) against a reliever who made his Tampa Bay debut June 2 after being called up from Triple-A Durham. He has also recorded a microscopic 0.79 WHIP thanks in very large part to issuing all of six walks in 38 innings in as many appearances. Booser is on a roll with six straight scoreless appearances (4 2/3 IP) beginning September 4 at Texas. He has allowed one baserunner in that stretch and has allowed no more than one hit in nine of his last 10 outings dating to August 19.
The 34-year-old, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Twins in 2013, had one injury after another hinder his development. He called it quits at one point and worked construction jobs in his native Seattle. After three seasons (2018-20) away from the game, Booser got back at it, worked his way to the big leagues and debuted with the Red Sox in 2024. The Rays signed him as a free agent in January after he pitched for the White Sox in 2025.
Victor Mesa, Jr. | RF
The 25-year-old came off the injured list September 2 and went on a tear that included winning American League player of the week honors for the week of September 9. He was 10-for-18 (.556) with six extra base hits (3 HR) and six RBI. Mesa has also contributed mightily in right field where his cannon arm has been highlight worthy.
“He has had as big an impact as anybody,” said Cash of a player who was acquired from Miami in February and summoned in May from Triple-A Durham where he battled a bit of the injury bug.
Richie Palacios | 2B
Following an injury-riddled 2025 that limited him to a handful of games toward the end of the season, Palacios has been a household name at Tropicana Field in 2026. He has also been productive, especially in September hitting .303 (10-for-33) with five homers and 13 RBIs. Three of his homers came in a four-game stretch, which is news for him.
“Whenever I am hitting a couple of home runs in a week, for me, it is a lot,” he said. “I am definitely feeling good this month and I am going to try to keep it up.”
There is no window dressing when it comes to Palacios. Though his average was .234 with a .709 OPS in 325 at-bats heading into the weekend series versus the Red Sox, he was batting .263 (15-for-57) with an .863 OPS and 23 RBI (of his 52) with two outs and runners in scoring position.
Cole Sulser | RHP
At 36, the righthanded reliever is the elder statesman on the Rays. He has served as an opener and late-inning reliever who could go a couple of innings. He has also closed out games when Baker needs a breather, including Wednesday evening’s 4-3 win over the A’s. The outing, Sulser’s third save in as many opportunities, made it four straight appearances without allowing a batter to reach safely.
The Dartmouth product, whose brother, Beau, also a former Big Green pitcher and an assistant in Tampa Bay’s player development department, takes much pride in not only his versatility, but that of the entire roster.
“The eagerness every day and the versatility that we display on both sides of the baseball,” he said, rattling off the club’s ability to put the ball over the fence, beat out bunts, steal bases and consistently get stellar pitching. “It’s really nice to have such a versatile team where you don’t feel there’s any holes and you can win ballgames many different ways.”
Thanks in part to those noted above, the Rays have won games many different ways.
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