The Tampa Bay Rays had a terrible July going 8-16, which was tied for the second-worst record in the month; they also saw their lead in the American League East disappear and ended the month 1.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles for first place. However, they held a strong lead in the first Wild Card spot in the American League. The one positive the Rays had in the month was Tyler Glasnow, and because of that, he was awarded the American League Pitcher of the Month. The Rays got their ace in Glasnow back as he made his first start of the season back on May 27th against the Dodgers, and in that game, he struggled going 4.1 innings giving up three runs on five hits; he walked one and struck out eight. So far this season, he has made 12 starts going 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work; he has a 3.18 FIP, a 1.07 WHIP, a 2.9 BB/9, and a 12.6 K/9. Glasnow was lights out in July, making six starts and going 3-2 in 38.1 innings of work with a 2.11 ERA, 2.67 FIP, a 0.89 WHIP, an 11.97 K/9, and a 1.88 BB/9. So where did Glasnow rank among the lead in those categories? He finished second for the most innings, he finished tenth in ERA, he finished fifth in FIP, he finished tied for seventh in WHIP, he finished fourth in K/9, and he finished 24th in BB/9. The Rays have a 96.6% chance of making the playoffs meaning they should be getting in. If they want to win the American League East and make a deep run in October, they will need Glasnow to continue to pitch as he did in July. If Glasnow can continue to pitch as he did, he could make a case to be in the conversation for the American League Cy Young Award.
