The Tampa Bay Rays clinched the AL East, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs. They were 98-63 before their road finale against Philadelphia and had gone 55-26 at Tropicana Field, the AL’s best home record.
Tampa Bay’s 67.9% home winning rate trailed only the Milwaukee Brewers’ 68.4%; Milwaukee was 54-25 at home with one game left against St. Louis. Atlanta ranked third in MLB at 52-29 (64.2%), while the next-best AL record cited was the White Sox’s 47-33.
The Rays’ ALDS opponent was to be either the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees; the article did not say which.
