By The Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 home opener at Tropicana Field was more than the first home game of a new season.
It was a rebirth for a franchise and a fanbase displaced for 561 days by catastrophic damage from Hurricane Milton in October of 2024.
Baseball finally returned to the Trop after a year away at Steinbrenner Field, and the energy from the fans was unmistakable as a sellout crowd of over 25,000 helped propel the Rays to a 6-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.
This game wasn’t just baseball; it was about the Rays community coming together after months of not knowing whether Tropicana Field would ever host another baseball game.
After a season at Steinbrenner Field, and nearly $60 million to replace the roof and rebuild the Trop, the Rays were back home
The Rays fell behind 2-0 early, but Cedric Mullins and Jonathan Aranda each hit two-run homers, and Junior Camienero added a solo home run in his second straight game, as the Rays beat the Cubs 6-4.
Manager Kevin Cash was happy to see the Rays have some good at-bats. “We’ve been rolling pretty good offensively and having good at-bats. Monday kind of followed suit with that. But very happy for Cedric, for Cami, and then Jonny to kind of open it up.”
Yandy Diaz and Chandler Simpson had two hits apiece, with Simpson reaching base for the 10th straight game to start the season, tying a mark set by Randy Arozarena.
Shane McClanahan started for the Rays, his first start at the Trop since July 22, 2023.
McClanahan struggled through his four innings of work, allowing two runs on one hit. He struck out five and walked one.
The other noticeable thing about McClanahan’s start is his fastball, which used to be in the upper 90’s has now settled in the mid-90s.
McClanahan said he wished he had put on a better performance for the fans.
“I wish I pitched better for them, frankly. “It’s embarrassing to me. I hate it. I really do hate that. I want to pitch better, I want to win. I’m not here to be a feel-good story. I’m here to win a lot of ballgames for the Tampa Bay Rays. I’m not here to be the guy who came back from a couple of injuries. I hate that. I want to go out there and be the pitcher I know I can be.”
Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker worked the final two innings, with Baker earning a save in the Rays’ win.
The Rays are 5-5 in the young season and will continue the series against the Cubs on Tuesday Night at Tropicana Field, with Mason Englert starting for the Rays.
