- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Rays Look to Avoid Sweep Against Cardinals in Season Finale
Tampa Bay hopes to bounce back after bullpen struggles in first two games of the series.
Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:37pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Tampa Bay Rays will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, hoping to avoid a sweep in their season finale. The Rays had high hopes coming into the season, but have struggled out of the gate, losing their first two games despite holding leads. The team's bullpen has been unable to hold leads, a major concern heading into the rubber match. Southpaw Steven Matz will take the mound for Tampa Bay, making his debut as the team looks to get back on track.
Why it matters
The Rays were expected to be a contender in the AL East this season, so an 0-3 start would be a disappointing way to begin the year. Avoiding the sweep and getting a win would provide a much-needed confidence boost for the team as they look to turn things around.
The details
In the season opener, the Rays blew a large lead in the 6th inning, allowing 8 runs. On Saturday, closer Griffin Jax blew a lead in the bottom of the 10th inning. Despite their 0-2 record, the Rays' lineup has performed well so far, providing optimism that the team can bounce back with a strong outing from Matz and better bullpen work.
- The Rays and Cardinals will play the final game of their 3-game series on Sunday, March 29th at 2:15pm EST.
- Matz will be making his debut as a starter for the Rays on Sunday after spending time in the bullpen last season.
The players
Steven Matz
A left-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, Matz was one of the team's top offseason additions and will be making his debut in the rotation on Sunday.
Griffin Jax
The Rays' closer, Jax blew a lead in the 10th inning of Saturday's game, continuing the team's bullpen struggles to start the season.
What’s next
The Rays will be hoping for a strong outing from Matz on Sunday, as well as improved performance from their bullpen, in order to avoid the sweep and get their first win of the season.
The takeaway
The Rays' early-season struggles, particularly in the bullpen, have raised concerns about their ability to contend in the AL East this year. However, the team's offensive production and the debut of Matz provide reasons for optimism, as they look to get back on track and avoid an 0-3 start.
