Rays fall in a winnable Chicago affair as a bases-loaded walk in the second and a six-run bottom frame derail their chances. A bullpen-game plan backfires when rookie Mason Montgomery allows five runs, while Yandy Díaz opens with a career-best 23rd homer to spark a late Rays rally that falls short at 6-5. Junior Caminero keeps his hot pace (42nd homer) and Carson Williams’ rising power gives Rays a glimmer, but the gap in the standings widens with 17 games left.

Benintendi muscles a homer off Kevin Kelly for Chicago, while Rays depth players Palacios and Feduccia provide late-game inkling of offense. The Rays sit 5½ back in the wild-card chase as Mariners shift hold, Rangers and Royals win elsewhere. The weekend poll of Pena linkage and Wrigley field chatter adds a subplot to a season-long sprint, with Díaz, Caminero, and Pepiot among the most intriguing fantasy threads.

Yandy Díaz kept the Rays rolling with a career-best 5-for-5, including a double and four singles, powering a 9-4 win that swept Seattle at Steinbrenner Field. Tampa Bay rapped 19 hits, six players with multi-hits, and chased George Kirby early, forcing his shortest start of the season. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez supplied late Seattle damage, but the Mariners couldn’t slow a Rays attack that now sits within 2.5 games of the final wild-card spot. Tampa Bay opens a four-game set with Cleveland to push for a postseason berth as the Rangers and Royals remain in its crosshairs.

Fantasy-backed Rays sticks look primed: Díaz’s 5-for-5 eruption boosts his rest-of-week projections, while six Rays collected multi-hit nights and a homegrown spark from Caminero and Mangum adds growing upside. Seattle’s skid tightens the wild-card race as Kirby’s rough two-inning start leaves questions for their rotation, even as Rodríguez kept pushing in a late rally. The upcoming Guardians series will be a real test of the Rays’ momentum and lineup depth.