Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Home Struggles Send Tampa Bay Rays Tumbling in Power Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Troy Brock | Last updated May 12, 2025 3:36 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Rays have not fared the best in their temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field this year.

Their record for 2025 as a whole sits at 18-22 entering Monday, good enough for fourth in the American League East. A massive 17 of those losses have come at "home." Their 11-17 record in Tampa is a stark contrast to the 7-5 record on the road thus far.

George M. Steinbrenner Field, home of your…Tampa Bay Rays!#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/HXHPAaiXHf
— Mike Vassallo (@MikeVassallo13) May 9, 2025

The lack of success in their (current) home stadium has seen the team's stock plummet in the eyes of those who control the weekly power rankings. In the latest iteration from Will Leitch of MLB.com, the writer dropped the team from 21st last week to 23rd this week.

"Now that the repairs for the roof of Tropicana Field have been approved," writes Leitch, "the Rays get to return home for the 2026 season. They are surely most relieved by that: Their new home has not been treating them well. They had endured a seven-game home losing streak before winning back-to-back games against the Brewers on Friday and Saturday, and they are now [11-17] at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (It’s still a very lovely field.)"

Home may be where the heart is, but it is not where you go to get wins in 2025 if you are the Rays.

After the first week, the Tampa Bay Rays are 5-11 at home.

The team has scored 3 or less runs in 9 of those 16 games.

Wind is going to decrease as we move into the summer months, but for now, Steinbrenner Field has not been friendly to its home tenant.

And it's a problem.… pic.twitter.com/2O3HG46aGi
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) May 6, 2025

The Rays' 17 home losses this year are the most in MLB. The next closest team has 16, and that total belongs to the Colorado Rockies, who are on pace to shatter the single-season loss record (set by the Chicago White Sox last year), and just fired their manager on Sunday.

Home is normally where you go to get away from the stress and troubles in your life. For the Rays this year, it's just the opposite.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: