The Tampa Bay Rays are the hottest team in baseball.
As the team prepares to return home to Tropicana Field, the Rays look to extend their nine-game winning streak and their decent-sized lead in the American League East standings.
On this week's Rays Roundtable, the staff discusses post-MLB trade deadline thoughts, division odds, and a potential strong candidate for the league's top award.
Michael Brauner: Better and better every day. The Yankees are still going to go on a run at some point, but six games in late August, you have to feel pretty great about it.
Christian Rauh: I feel really good about the Rays and their chances at winning the division now following the trade deadline. It got a little sketchy at first after the All-Star break, but they finally figured it out, and they're not even at full strength at the moment.
Michael Brauner: Liam Hicks looks like the steal of the deadline right now. Obviously Peralta has to prove more following an up and down first two starts, but overall, the team has been sensational since the deadline.
Christian Rauh: Hicks is obviously the main conversation here, and he's turning himself into a star. He has reinvented the middle of the Rays' batting order by giving a true sense of power to the catching position for what seems like forever at Tampa Bay. He's obviously fine with the pitching staff after getting a complete game with Nick Martinez earlier this week, and this could easily be the steal of the trade deadline across all of MLB.
Michael Brauner: It's going to be tough to unseat Yordan Alvarez, but he was spectacular. 50 home runs is very much in reach.
Christian Rauh: I think he has an actual chance. Now, Michael's correct: Alvarez will have to slow down a tad for him to catch him; however, Caminero is on pace for 47 home runs , two more than he had last season. Regardless, it is safe to say that he will finish in ninth place, the spot he was in last year.
