The 2020 Tampa Bay Rays season was the 23rd season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise. The Rays played their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East.

On March 12, 2020, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for Opening Day in late July. The revised 60-game schedule was announced on July 6, with the Rays set to have Opening Day on July 26, and the regular season concluding on September 27. The revised Rays schedule was composed of 40 games against AL East opponents and 20 games against NL East opponents.

Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule. On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders during the season would be seven innings. On September 17, the Rays clinched a spot in the playoffs for the second straight year. On September 23, the Rays clinched their third American League East championship and their first since 2010. They swept the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALWCS and beat the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The Rays would then go on to defeat the Houston Astros in the ALCS and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 2008. They lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

Offseason

Rule changes For the 2020 season, MLB instituted several new rule changes including the following:

Single trade deadline – there would no longer be a waiver trade deadline later in the year. 26-man roster – rosters expanded from 25 players, but no team may carry more than 13 pitchers. Three-batter minimum for pitchers - a pitcher must face three batters in a game before they can be removed unless there is an injury or the end of an inning.

Further rule changes came into effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the addition of the designated hitter in the National League, a shortened schedule, and in extra innings, a runner was placed at second base in each half inning.

Regular season

Game log Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was shortened to 60 games, with teams playing 10 games against each other member of their division while also playing four games against each team in the corresponding division in the other league. The Rays played 10 games against each team in their division and 20 games between the teams in the National League East Division. On July 6, 2020, MLB announced the Rays' 60-game schedule, which began on July 24 and ended on September 27. Legend Rays win Rays loss PostponementBoldRays team member

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || July 24 ||Blue Jays|| 4–6 ||Romano (1–0) ||Morton (0–1) ||Giles (1) || 0–1 ||L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 2 || July 25 ||Blue Jays|| 4–1 ||Anderson (1–0) ||Gaviglio (0–1) ||Drake (1) || 1–1 ||W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 3 || July 26 ||Blue Jays|| 6–5 ||Roe (1–0) ||Yamaguchi (0–1) || — || 2–1 ||W2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 4 || July 27 ||Braves|| 14–5 ||Castillo (1–0) ||Foltynewicz (0–1) || — || 3–1 ||W3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || July 28 ||Braves|| 5–2 ||Fairbanks (1–0) ||Wright (0–1) ||Drake (2) || 4–1 ||W4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || July 29 || @ Braves|| 4–7 ||O'Day (1–0) ||Drake (0–1) ||Melancon (1) || 4–2 ||L1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || July 30 || @ Braves|| 1–2 ||Fried (1–0) ||Yarbrough (0–1) ||Melancon (2) || 4–3 ||L2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 8 || July 31 || @ Orioles|| 3–6 ||Fry (1–0) ||Fairbanks (1–1) ||Sulser (2) || 4–4 ||L3

|- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || August 1 || @ Orioles|| 4–5 ||Lakins (1–0) ||Drake (0–2) || — || 4–5 ||L4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || August 2 || @ Orioles|| 1–5 ||Phillips (1–0) ||Beeks (0–1) ||Sulser (3) || 4–6 ||L5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || August 4 ||Red Sox|| 5–1 ||Morton (1–1) ||Eovaldi (1–1) ||Anderson (1) || 5–6 ||W1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 12 || August 5 ||Red Sox|| 0–5 ||Pérez (2–1) ||Yarbrough (0–2) || — || 5–7 ||L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || August 7 ||Yankees|| 1–0 ||Roe (2–0) ||Ottavino (2–1) || — || 6–7 ||W1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || August 8 ||Yankees|| 4–8 ||Green (2–0) ||Glasnow (0–1) || — || 6–8 ||L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || August 8 ||Yankees|| 5–3 ||Fairbanks (2–1) ||King (0–1) ||Anderson (2) || 7–8 ||W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || August 9 ||Yankees|| 4–3 ||Thompson (1–0) ||Britton (0–1) || — || 8–8 ||W2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || August 10 || @ Red Sox|| 8–7 ||Loup (1–0) ||Springs (0–1) ||Kittredge (1) || 9–8 ||W3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || August 11 || @ Red Sox|| 8–2 ||Curtiss (1–0) ||Pérez (2–2) || — || 10–8 ||W4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 19 || August 12 || @ Red Sox|| 9–5 ||Snell (1–0) ||Godley (0–2) || — || 11–8 ||W5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || August 13 || @ Red Sox|| 17–8 ||Beeks (1–1) ||Hart (0–1) ||Banda (1) || 12–8 ||W6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || August 14 || @ Blue Jays|| 4–12 ||Font (1–1) ||Thompson (1–1) || — || 12–9 ||L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || August 15 || @ Blue Jays|| 3–2 ||Loup (2–0) ||Romano (1–1) ||Anderson (3) || 13–9 ||W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 23 || August 16 || @ Blue Jays|| 7–5 ||Loup (3–0) ||Font (1–2) ||Slegers (1) || 14–9 ||W2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || August 18 || @ Yankees|| 6–3 ||Snell (2–0) ||Tanaka (0–1) ||Roe (1) || 15–9 ||W3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 25 || August 19 || @ Yankees|| 4–2 ||Fairbanks (3–1) ||Britton (0–2) ||Beeks (1) || 16–9 ||W4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 26 || August 20 || @ Yankees|| 10–5 ||Castillo (2–0) ||Ottavino (2–2) || — || 17–9 ||W5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || August 21 ||Blue Jays|| 5–6 ||Hatch (1–1) ||Loup (3–1) ||Romano (1) || 17–10 ||L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || August 22 ||Blue Jays|| 2–1 ||Banda (1–0) ||Bass (1–1) || — || 18–10 ||W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || August 23 ||Blue Jays|| 5–4 ||Fleming (1–0) ||Borucki (1–1) ||Curtiss (1) || 19–10 ||W2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || August 24 ||Blue Jays|| 4–6 ||Hatch (2–1) ||Loup (3–2) ||Romano (2) || 19–11 ||L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 31 || August 25 ||Orioles|| 4–2 ||Glasnow (1–1) ||Milone (1–4) ||García (1) || 20–11 ||W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || August 26 ||Orioles|| 4–3 ||Sherriff (1–0) ||Givens (0–1) ||Castillo (1) || 21–11 ||W2 |- style="background:#bbb" | — || August 27 ||Orioles|| colspan="7" |Postponed (2020 American athlete strikes) Makeup: September 17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 33 || August 28 || @ Marlins|| 2–0 ||Fairbanks (4–1) ||Bleier (1–1) ||Castillo (2) || 22–11 ||W3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || August 29 || @ Marlins|| 4–0 ||Fleming (2–0) ||López (3–2) || — || 23–11 ||W4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 35 || August 30 || @ Marlins|| 12–7 ||Snell (3–0) ||Alcantara (1–1) || — || 24–11 ||W5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 36 || August 31 || @ Yankees|| 5–3 || Glasnow (2–1) || Cole (4–2) || Castillo (3) || 25–11 || W6

|- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || September 1 || @ Yankees|| 3–5 || Tanaka (1–1) || Thompson (1–2) || Chapman (1) || 25–12 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 38 || September 2 || @ Yankees|| 5–2 || Curtiss (2–0) || Montgomery (2–2) || — || 26–12 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || September 4 ||Marlins|| 5–4 || Fleming (3–0) || López (3–3) || Anderson (4) || 27–12 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || September 5 ||Marlins|| 3–7 || Alcantara (2–1) || Snell (3–1) || Kintzler (9) || 27–13 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || September 6 ||Marlins|| 5–4 || Curtiss (3–0) || Kintzler (1–3) || — || 28–13 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 42 || September 7 || @ Nationals|| 1–6 || Scherzer (4–2) || Morton (1–2) || Hudson (8) || 28–14 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 43 || September 8 || @ Nationals|| 3–5 || Sánchez (2–4) || Yarbrough (0–3) || Hudson (9) || 28–15 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || September 10 ||Red Sox|| 3–4 || Weber (1–2) || Fairbanks (4–2) || Barnes (5) || 28–16 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || September 11 ||Red Sox|| 11–1 || Snell (4–1) || Hall (0–3) || — || 29–16 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 46 || September 12 ||Red Sox|| 5–4 || Glasnow (3–1) || Walden (0–2) || Castillo (4) || 30–16 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || September 13 ||Red Sox|| 3–6 || Pérez (3–4) || Fairbanks (4–3) || Barnes (6) || 30–17 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || September 15 ||Nationals|| 6–1 || Yarbrough (1–3) || Sánchez (2–5) || Anderson (5) || 31–17 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 49 || September 16 ||Nationals|| 2–4 || Hudson (2–2) || Anderson (1–1) || McGowin (1) || 31–18 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 50 || September 17 || @ Orioles || 3–1 || Castillo (3–0) || Valdez (1–1) || — || 32–18 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || September 17 ||Orioles|| 10–6 || Fairbanks (5–3) || Sulser (1–5) || — || 33–18 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 52 || September 18 || @ Orioles|| 2–1 || Glasnow (4–1) || Cobb (1–5) || Sherriff (1) || 34–18 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || September 19 || @ Orioles|| 3–1 || Morton (2–2) || López (2–1) || Thompson (1) || 35–18 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || September 20 || @ Orioles|| 1–2 || Means (2–3) || Yarbrough (1–4) || Valdez (2) || 35–19 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 55 || September 21 || @ Mets|| 2–1 || Fleming (4–0) || deGrom (4–2) || Anderson (6) || 36–19 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || September 22 || @ Mets|| 2–5 || Lugo (3–3) || Snell (4–2) || Díaz (5) || 36–20 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 57 || September 23 || @ Mets|| 8–5 || Glasnow (5–1) || Wacha (1–4) || — || 37–20 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 58 || September 25 ||Phillies|| 6–4 || Anderson (2–1) || Morgan (0–1) || Curtiss (2) || 38–20 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 59 || September 26 ||Phillies|| 4–3 || Fairbanks (6–3) || Wheeler (4–2) || Slegers (1) || 39–20 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 60 || September 27 ||Phillies|| 5–0 || Fleming (5–0) || Nola (5–5) || — || 40–20 || W4

|- style="text-align:center;" |Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = PostponementBold = Rays team member

Games played at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York. Game played at Oriole Park at Camden Yards with the Rays as the home team.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day starters Name Pos. Yandy Díaz 1B Hunter Renfroe RF Yoshi Tsutsugo 3B José Martinez DH Manuel MargotLF Mike Brosseau 2B Willy AdamesSS Kevin Kiermaier CF Mike Zunino CCharlie MortonSP

Player stats

Batting Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLGBrandon Lowe561933652921437325.269.554Willy Adames541852948151823220.259.481Joey Wendle50168244892417810.286.435Yoshi Tsutsugo51157273151824026.197.395Manuel Margot471451939901111213.269.352Kevin Kiermaier49138163053322820.217.362Austin Meadows36132192781413217.205.371Ji-man Choi421221628130316020.230.410Hunter Renfroe42122181950822214.156.393Yandy Díaz34114163530211023.307.386Mike Brosseau368612265151228.302.558Michael Pérez38847143011307.167.238Mike Zunino28758114041006.147.360José Martínez246710164021009.239.388Nathaniel Lowe216710152041119.224.433Randy Arozarena236415182071146.281.641Kevan Smith173138301805.258.452Brett Phillips172023011335.150.400Brian O'Grady2522100010.400.600Team totals601975289470105128027448243.238.425 Source:

Pitching