Rays' 'fatal flaw' for MLB postseason involves one-third of their lineup

The Tampa Bay Rays have clinched a spot in the MLB postseason and, now in the final week and a half of the season, are seeking the AL East title.

But once the postseason starts, regardless of their final seeding, it's going to be a tricky field, with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox being their top competition.

In the postseason, there is one major flaw the Rays cannot afford to succumb to. As ESPN's David Schoenfield noted, the Rays have a flaw with one-third of their lineup that could make a deep postseason run a bit challenging to accomplish.

Rays have a flaw with one-third of their lineup

 "Tampa Bay Rays. Fatal flaw: Lineup depth (24th in OPS from 7-8-9 slots in lineup)," Schoenfield writes. "... But the bottom third of the lineup has been an issue for most of the season."

While the Rays will need Junior Caminero to lead this offense alongside Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Liam Hicks, the bottom third of the lineup is important as well.

While Hicks, Caminero, Aranda, and Diaz are good starters, there are plenty of question marks elsewhere in the lineup. Chandler Simpson is an X-factor, so while his overall offense might not be as elite as some others, his speed makes a big difference.

Richard Palacios, Ryan Vilade, Jorge Mateo, Taylor Walls, Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley, Jonny DeLuca, and Victor Mesa Jr. are the other options currently on the roster for the final four slots in the lineup.

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While many of these hitters have had their moments, the fact that their 7-8-9 hitters have put up the 24th-best OPS in the big leagues this season is something to worry about.

There's a chance that the hitters in those spots of the order figure things out in the postseason, but if the bottom third of the lineup struggles, it's going to be hard to score runs in October.

This issue is a "fatal flaw" according to Schoenfield, and while that might be a bit of a stretch, the struggles from one-third of the lineup are something that could end up sinking the Rays' chances this season.

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