/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/73FFS2QJARAKPL3AAISXXQM7HI.JPG "Tampa Bay Rays line the edge of the dugout during the Tampa Bay Rays spring training game against the New York Yankees on March 19, 2019 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. TAILYR IRVINE | Times")
Here’s a look at our staff picks for the Rays’ finish, team MVP and All-Star(s) — along with a few other off-beat predictions for this season and the future:
| Question | Marc Topkin, @TBTimes_Rays | Eduardo A. Encina, @EddieInTheYard | John Romano, @romano_tbtimes | Martin Fennelly, @mjfennelly | Thomas Bassinger, @tometrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rays record (AL East finish) | 87-75 (second) | 89-73 (second) | 87-75 (third) | 85-77 (third) | 86-76 (third) |
| Most Rays homers (last name total) | B. Lowe (26) | Pham (22) | Garcia (26) | Pham (26) | Pham (23) |
| Most Rays saves (last name total) | Alvarado (13) | Alvarado (30) | Alvarado (31) | Alvarado (37) | Alvarado (34) |
| Number of Rays with saves | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Most Rays opens (last name total) | Stanek (20) | Stanek (23) | Stanek (22) | Stanek (28) | Stanek (19) |
| Rays All-Stars | Snell, Pham | Pham | Snell | Snell | Pham |
| Rays team MVP | Pham | Pham | Diaz | Pham | Pham |
| Biggest Rays headline (8 words or less) | Snell signs mega-bucks long term deal -- with Fortnite | Rays use one pitcher an inning in wild-card win over Red Sox | Lowe tops Guererro for Rookie of the Year | Stanek wins more than Snell | Rays clinch wild-card berth |
| Number of sellouts in 25,025 capacity Trop | 5 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Site for next Rays stadium | Albert Whitted airport (seriously, why not?) | Kriseman Field at Derby Lane | Tropicana Field parking lot | Las Vegas | Ybor City |
| Better phrase than bulk guy | Middler | Connector | Delayed starter | Fast-acting relief | Long man |
| Number of Brent Honeywell starts in the majors | 9 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Date of Nate Lowe debut | April 8, 2020 | Sept 1 | July 21 | July 31 | May 21 |
| More homers, Yandy Diaz or Jake Bauers | Bauers | Diaz | Bauers | Diaz | Diaz |
| Most likely trade deadline pickup | Raisel Iglesias | Sam Dyson | Will Smith | Aaron Judge (then we wake up) | International slot money |
| Blake Snell 2022 team | Dodgers | Dodgers | Mariners | Dodgers | Dodgers |
| More 2019 wins, Tyler Glasnow or Chris Archer | Glasnow | Archer | Archer | Archer | Archer |
| Matt Duffy IL days | 30 | 25 | 22 | 42 | 40 |
| Kevin Kiermaieir IL days | 0 | 0 | 31 | 56 | 30 |
| Highest level played in 2019 for Wander Franco | Advanced A Stone Crabs | Double-A | Double A | Class AAA | Double A |
Contact Mike Sherman at msherman@tampabay.com. Follow @mikesherman
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