Ken Rosenthal shares major reason behind Rays’ 2026 turnaround

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to emerge as one of baseball’s biggest surprises during their 2026 turnaround. After finishing near the bottom of the American League East standings last season, the Rays entered Monday atop the division while benefiting from their return to Tropicana Field.

The Rays entered the week with a 26-13 record, leading the American League East after winning 15 of their previous 20 games. The dramatic improvement followed a difficult 2025 season, when the organization played home games outdoors at George M. Steinbrenner Field after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field’s roof.

The Rays struggled with inconsistency throughout their temporary relocation and finished 77-85 overall. However, returning to a renovated Tropicana Field this season appears to have restored a sense of comfort, stability, and a much stronger home-field advantage for Tampa Bay.

FOX Sports MLB shared comments Monday on X, formerly Twitter, from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal during an FS1 appearance discussing one of the biggest reasons behind the club’s early success in 2026.

“Maybe the biggest difference is that they’re back at Tropicana Field after spending last season playing outdoors”

“Maybe the biggest difference is that they’re back at Tropicana Field after spending last season playing outdoors”@Ken_Rosenthal talks about why the Rays playing back at home has helped them exceed expectations so far this year. pic.twitter.com/6KbNWik0M4

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 11, 2026

Rosenthal’s analysis aligns with the team’s dominant home performance. Tampa Bay entered Monday with a 14-4 record at Tropicana Field while continuing one of baseball’s hottest stretches.

The controlled indoor environment has also removed many challenges the club faced last year. During the 2025 season, outdoor conditions frequently created difficult playing circumstances involving heat, humidity, and wind during home games.

Rosenthal’s comments also underscored how much consistency matters for a roster built around pitching depth, defense, and matchup advantages. After months of disruption following the hurricane damage, the Rays now look far more comfortable in familiar surroundings.

As Tampa Bay’s turnaround continues, the club suddenly looks capable of becoming a legitimate postseason contender again. The Rays also carried that momentum onto the road Monday, holding an 8-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning as expectations around the roster continued rising across the league.

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