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5 Biggest X-Factors For Tampa Bay Rays To Make 2015 MLB Playoffs

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5 Biggest X-Factors For Tampa Bay Rays To Make 2015 MLB Playoffs

Tampa Bay Rays
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Against all odds, the Tampa Bay Rays are still alive for a playoff spot in 2015. Winning the AL East may be a pipe dream at this point, but even though the Rays are a game under .500, they are just three games out of the second Wild Card with plenty of time left in the season to make up the difference. Of course, if Tampa Bay is going to reach the postseason, they’ll need everything to go their way. Here are five x-factors for their playoff fate.

5. Back End of the Rotation

Tampa Bay Rays
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5. Back End of the Rotation

Tampa Bay Rays
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The only reason the Rays are in contention at this point in the season is their pitching, and they're going to have to rely on that aspect of the team down the stretch to reach the postseason. Chris Archer has been fantastic leading the rotation, but back of the rotation pitchers like Erasmo Ramirez and Nathan Karns performing at a high level can help the Rays string wins together and move closer to the second Wild Card spot.

4. September Call-Ups

rays prospects
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

4. September Call-Ups

rays prospects
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

Tampa Bay is going to need all hands on deck if they're going to make a playoff push, and that means getting contributions from a few September call-ups. Richie Shaffer has hit 25 home runs in the minors this season and could provide a much-needed offensive boost to the Rays in September. Meanwhile, pitcher Blake Snell has dominated at Triple-A and could give Tampa another great arm to further boost their pitching staff.

3. Brad Boxberger Turning Things Around

Tampa Bay Rays
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3. Brad Boxberger Turning Things Around

Tampa Bay Rays
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Boxberger was great for the Rays early in the season, but he has struggled as of late. If he can turn things around and start pitching the way he was early in the season, it would make a huge difference for the Rays down the stretch. Tampa Bay has a small margin for error, and with Jake McGee on the DL, the Rays need Boxberger and the rest of the bullpen to step up and ensure they don't let any games slip away.

2. Drew Smyly

DSmyly
Greg M. Cooper - USATODAY Sports

2. Drew Smyly

DSmyly
Greg M. Cooper

The Rays have been without Smyly for much of the season, but now that he's back he has a chance to be the ultimate x-factor down the stretch. His first start back from the DL didn't go well, but that's to be expected. If he can get things turned around and become the pitcher he's been the past couple of seasons, Smyly can be a difference maker for the Rays and help offset the team's offensive struggles.

1. Anyone With A Bat in Their Hands

Tampa Bay Rays
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1. Anyone With A Bat in Their Hands

Tampa Bay Rays
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The Rays' offense has been so bad this season that every hitter in the Tampa Bay lineup has the ability to be an x-factor down the stretch. The likes of James Loney, Asdrubal Cabera, Kevin Kiermaier and others are all capable of producing offensively at a higher rate than they have thus far. If just two or three hitters in the Rays' lineup can get hot down the stretch, it could make a huge impact on Tampa's playoff hopes.

Bryan Zarpentine is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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