ST. PETERSBURG -- Immediately after the Rays lost to the Astros last year in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, the club immediately began talking about all it can accomplish during the 2020 season.

Now that the young core has experienced the postseason, the Rays enter this season with legitimate World Series aspirations. They are led by a pitching staff that returns nearly every key contributor from last season and could thrive in a 60-game season.

The Rays’ rotation is led by Charlie Morton, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, who are all reasonable picks to win an AL Cy Young Award. Throw in Yonny Chirinos and Ryan Yarbrough and it’s difficult to name a better starting five. But as good as the rotation could be, the bullpen has a chance to be even better. The Rays traded closer Emilio Pagán to the Padres, but they still have plenty of weapons to choose from, with Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo leading the way.

Over the offseason, general manager Erik Neander put an emphasis on adding more offense to the club. The Rays signed Japanese slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo to a free-agent deal and made trades for Hunter Renfroe and José Martínez. Those moves, paired with full seasons from Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe, give the Rays optimism that they will provide their pitching staff with enough runs.

What needs to go right?
Aside from keeping the team healthy from COVID-19, the biggest key for the Rays will be keeping their starting pitchers off the injured list.

The Rays will always wonder what the ALDS against the Astros would’ve looked like if they had Glasnow and Snell fully healthy. Well, they’re healthy now, and the priority for the Rays is to keep it that way. Tampa Bay will continue to be cautious with Glasnow and Snell, even in a condensed season. Morton will also be monitored closely after starting a career-high 33 times in 2019. The Rays have enough pitching depth to handle a minor injury, but if they want to make it back to the postseason, they’re going to need their rotation to stay healthy over the next three months.

Big question: Can Mike Zunino and José Alvarado bounce back?
Even with all the success the team had as a whole last season, Zunino and Alvarado were two of the players who did not meet expectations. Zunino struggled offensively in his first season with the Rays, finishing with a career-low .165 batting average. Alvarado, on the other hand, was considered the team’s best bullpen arm entering 2019, but his season was derailed by multiple injuries and an extended absence to attend to a family matter in Venezuela.

Though they struggled last season, Zunino and Alvarado both believe they can have a bounce-back season and give the Rays even more production. If that happens, the club has a legitimate shot at dethroning the Yankees in the AL East.

Prospect to watch: Shane McClanahan
Wander Franco, the game’s top prospect per MLB Pipeline, is the easy pick, but it still appears unlikely that he’ll appear in a big league game in 2020. Of all the prospects in the 60-man player pool, McClanahan, the team’s No. 7 prospect, is the most likely to make an impact this season. McClanahan has a plus fastball, and Rays manager Kevin Cash has been impressed with his breaking ball during Summer Camp. McClanahan projects as a future starter, but the Rays could use him as a valuable left-handed reliever in ‘20.

On the schedule
A three-city trip in mid-August against the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees has the potential to determine just what the Rays will be able to accomplish this season. There’s no room for error in a 60-game season, especially against your division foes.

Team MVP will be … Willy Adames
With a strong second half and postseason, Willy Adames showed why he’s one of the best young shortstops in baseball. Despite a slow start at the plate, Adames hit 20 home runs last season, pairing that with elite defense at shortstop that was capped off by an impressive relay throw in Game 4 of the ALDS. Though he’s improving at the plate, Adames might not finish with the best offensive numbers on the team, but his energy off the field and defense at shortstop will be invaluable for the Rays.

Team Cy Young will be … Blake Snell
When healthy, Snell is the most talented pitcher on the Rays’ starting staff, and that’s saying a lot. The left-hander is just one season removed from an AL Cy Young Award and perhaps the best single-season pitching performance in Rays history, which also says a lot. Past elbow issues appear to be behind him, which makes Snell a prime bounce-back candidate.

Bold prediction: The Rays will win the World Series.
It doesn’t get any bolder than that, right?