‘Something a little bit new’: The unique approach that carried the Rays to October

The AL-best Tampa Bay Rays reached October after winning 98 games behind a rare, contact-oriented offensive approach. Tampa Bay finished the 2026 regular season with the lowest strikeout rate (18.8%) and lowest swing-and-miss rate (20.7%) in Major League Baseball. Manager Kevin Cash noted that the team's dramatic shift toward limiting strikeouts was a new development compared to previous seasons.

After moving on from five high-whiff hitters in the offseason, the Rays integrated high-contact players such as Cedric Mullins, Ben Williamson, and Chandler Simpson. Third baseman Junior Caminero anchored the lineup by hitting 42 home runs with a 24.1% whiff rate. Hitting coach Chad Mottola credited the roster construction and strong pitching staff for enabling the team's distinct offensive identity.