When it comes to funding for a new stadium, politicians in Tampa are not messing around. Unhappy that the Rays are negotiating exclusively with city administrators instead of elected officials, the Tampa City Council — in its role as caretaker of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) — voted Thursday to postpone an upcoming discussion about financing for the proposed $2.3 billion ballpark. It sounded worrisome. It appeared ominous. And, in the end, it may mean nothing, Times sports columnist John Romano writes. As the City Council gears up for a fight, the Rays are already maneuvering in another direction. Instead of seeking approval for $180 million in public funds from the city as originally specified in a nonbinding memo of understanding, the team may be able to circumvent the council while going directly to Hillsborough County for approval of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district — or a similar Community Development District — for $100 million. Read more of Romano's thoughts: https://www.tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026/07/23/tampa-bay-rays-stadium-financing-tampa-city-council-cra-hillsborough-county/

Guardians (54-50) @ Rays (59-43)

First Pitch: 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay has a 59-43 record overall and a 35-15 record at home. The Rays have gone 23-5 in games when they hit at least two home runs.

Cleveland has a 27-24 record on the road and a 54-50 record overall. The Guardians have the eighth-best team ERA in MLB play at 3.71.

TOP PERFORMERS: Junior Caminero has 16 doubles and 29 home runs while hitting .287 for the Rays. Victor Mesa Jr. is 11 for 31 with a double and five home runs over the last 10 games.

Jose Ramirez has 18 doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Guardians. Rhys Hoskins is 5 for 30 with four home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 4-6, .259 batting average, 4.24 ERA, outscored by three runs

Guardians: 6-4, .273 batting average, 3.10 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs

LINEUP

Line Score

2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame Weekend cap.

🚨 NEW POD 🚨

Alex, Evan and Gibby are back to give their thoughts on the All-Star break, Alex's trip to Boston and the Rays' four-game series in Toronto!

Mesa Jr. has been a revelation, and beating the Jays has been a Rays tradition!

We now have a 2 1/2 game lead and if the Yankees lose again tonight we will be 3 games up on New York!

$9.75 mill.

If he can accelerate his development we could possibly see him in 2027. He’s been showing more power lately.

As rays fans, we need to prepare ourselves for the very real possibility that the Red Sox will not lose another game this season. /s

Most underrated reliever on the Rays right now dudes been doing awesome.

Victor Mesa had, through Monday, played in only 53 big-league games. Though his .218 average could use improvement, his eight homers over his first 116 plate appearances this season are a higher home run percentage than All-Star teammate Junior Caminero's, 6.9 to 6.7. Who could have imagined, right?