The defending AL champions flirted with winning the World Series during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and are motivated not only to get back to baseball's biggest stage but win it all after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. The Rays are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, their first AL East title in a decade and posting the best record in the league during a season shortened to 60 games and played while adjusting to strict protocols instated due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kiermaier said reaching the World Series and losing whet the team's appetite for more success.