Tampa Bay’s Historic Season Opening Win Streak is Over

Toronto does the trick.

The Tampa Bay Rays had a historic start to their 2023 season, becoming just the third AL/NL team to start a season 13-0. The only two teams to do it were the 1987 Brewers and the 1982 Braves. The only better starting record in baseball is 20-0 by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association.

The Rays swept the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Oakland A’s, and Boston Red Sox to accomplish this outstanding feat. The teams are all in last place in their respective divisions, and the differential showed against the Rays. Tampa Bay outscored those opponents 101-30, the best run differential through 13 games since 1884. They also outhomered the four teams 32-6, the best 13-game home run differential in MLB history.

But the streak ended on Friday night when the Toronto Blue Jays handed Tampa Bay a 6-3 loss, thanks mainly to Bo Bichette’s 5-hit night. Bichette also recorded his 500th career hit, which came in his 407th career game–the fasted to 500 hits in franchise history.

The teams will continue their 3-game series today at 3p Eastern time.