Rays lower AL East magic number to two

One win at Yankee Stadium this week secures the division.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 201 min read

Tampa Bay RaysMLB

The Tampa Bay Rays' magic number drops to just 2 with their victory and the Yankees' defeat. They can clinch the AL East

What happened: The Tampa Bay Rays dropped their magic number to clinch the American League East to two following a 5-1 final victory over the Boston Red Sox and a New York Yankees defeat. The combination of Sunday results puts Tampa Bay on the verge of a division title.

Why it matters: Securing the AL East crown would lock in a top postseason seed for Tampa Bay. Clinching the title directly against the Yankees in New York would serve as a definitive conclusion to the divisional race.

By the numbers: Tampa Bay improved to 90-59 with the victory, which also leaves the series between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays tied 1-1.

What to watch: The Rays head to the Bronx this week for a four-game series against the Yankees, where a single victory will clinch the division.

Sources

@BNightengale Sep 20, 7:05 PM ET

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Rays lower AL East magic number to two

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