Tampa Bay Rays Season Left in Their Own Hands

Aug 14, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Evan Longoria (3) celebrates his two run home run in the fifth inning with third base coach Tom Foley (6) against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays are 60-61 and the fate of their season lies in their own hands.

One game below .500, the Rays have 41 games left in their 2014 season as they push to make the postseason.

However, it’s who they play that leaves the Rays’ fate up to them.

32 of those last 41 games come against divisional opponents. The Rays have three-game series with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians too.

The Rays have nine games left against the New York Yankees, (6 at home, 3 on the road), nine against the Toronto Blue Jays (3,6), seven versus the Boston Red Sox (4,3) and seven against the Baltimore Orioles (3,4).

Tampa Bay are coming off a successful road trip where they went 6-4 against the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.

However, they remain 10 games behind the Orioles in the AL East but sit six back of the Tigers for the final wild card spot, the latter of which should be their predominant focus.

The Rays have a realistic chance of making the playoffs despite a dreadful start, where on June 10 they were 18 games below .500.

It just so happens the Rays will determine their own success from here on out as they face their AL East foes on a near nightly basis.