Coming into the 2026 MLB regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays were a team that many fans and evaluators didn’t have high expectations for. There were a lot of question marks surrounding their lineup and how the team would consistently be able to produce offense. Some people questioned their additions of Steven Matz and Nick Martinez to the starting rotation as well. Through the first month of the season, all of those naysayers have been proven wrong. The Rays have been one of the best teams in baseball, owning a 22-12 record entering play on May 5. Blowing away all expectations that were placed on them, it should come as no surprise that they are one of the highest-graded teams in the MLB by David Schoenfield of ESPN through the first month of the season. Rays have earned elite grade for first month of season May 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays team celebrate a win during the tenth inning against San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field.…