Desmond Jennings, B.J. Upton and Kelly Shoppach are leading the way with the bats for the Rays so far in this series. Desmond Jennings has lit the fire at the top of the lineup. He has played in all 3 games for the Rays in this series and he is 4 for 11 (.364 avg, 1.462 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 double, 2 homers and 2 RBIs. Jennings is also playing really well defensively in LF. B.J. Upton has also been ripping the baseball in this series. He has played in all 3 games against the Rangers and he is 4 for 10 (.400 avg, 1.271 OPS) with 3 doubles and 3 runs scored. Upton is only 1 for 3 in stealing bases and that has hurt the Rays a little bit. Kelly Shoppach only hit .176 for the Rays during the regular season, but he is ripping the ball in this series. He has played in all 3 games for the Rays in this series and he is 3 for 7 (.429 avg, 1.786 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 2 homers and 6 RBIs. Shoppach needs to be playing all of the time right now instead of sharing time with John Jaso.

Part of the reason why the Rays signed 37-year old LF/DH Johnny Damon last winter is because they knew he was a clutch player. In his last four games, Damon is 5 for 10 (.500 avg) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Damon has now played in 147 games for the Rays this year and he is 149 for 571 (.261 avg, .745 OPS) with 77 runs scored, 16 homers, 71 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. The Rays really hope that Damon stays hot against the Yankees, with the Rays only 1 game behind the Yankees in the Wild Card chase.

25-year old righty swinging 3B Evan Longoria is trying to carry the Rays’ offense and get them to the playoffs. They are now only 2 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card spot. Longoria has played in 17 games so far in September, and he is 18 for 58 (.310 avg, 1.064 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also has walked 17 times already this month as opposing teams have been trying to pitch around him. Longoria has now played in 123 games for the Rays so far this year and he is 110 for 451 (.244 avg, .838 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 28 homers, 92 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

27-year old righty swinging CF B.J. Upton has been on fire with the bat so far in September for the Rays. He has played in 12 games so far this month for the Rays and he is 15 for 41 (.366 avg, 1.128 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 2 homers, 10 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Upton has now played in 139 games for the Rays overall this year and he is 118 for 504 (.234 avg, .734 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 20 homers, 71 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. It is good to see Upton back in a good groove as the Rays really need him to continue swinging a good bat as they are in a dogfight for the A.L. Wild Card with the Red Sox. Upton has now played in 806 games in his first 7 years with the Rays and he is 751 for 2,939 (.256 avg, .754 OPS) with 448 runs scored, 87 homers, 359 RBIs and 194 stolen bases.

Where would the Rays be if 24-year old righty swinging LF Desmond Jennings was on the team from Day #1? Probably in second place in the A.L. East, and maybe even first place. His speed is of the game changing variety as he can hit a grounder right to the 3B and beat it out for a hit. He has played in 46 games for the Rays so far this year and he is 53 for 179 (.296 avg, .922 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 4 triples, 9 homers, 22 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. The power is a surprise, but the Rays will gladly take it. They need him to get hot again as he has had a rough start in September. Jennings has played in 9 games so far this month and he is 6 for 38 (.158 avg, .509 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base.