There is still much to gain in weekend series against Phillies

The Rays accomplished their primary goal for the irregular regular season Wednesday night, clinching the American League East division title for the first time in 10 years.

They’ll start on the path to their ultimate prize of a World Series championship on Tuesday, when they open the expanded and reformatted AL playoffs in a best- of-three series at Tropicana Field.

But in between, they’ve got three games against the Phillies at home that will shape and impact their chances of having more celebrations popping confetti cannons and spraying Silly String, smoking cigars in the dugout and holding sidewalk dance parties.

Should the Rays do whatever they can to win?

They woke up Thursday after a 6 a.m. arrival from New York with an AL-best 37-20 record and two-game lead over the 34-21 A’s (who had five games left, including late Thursday at the Dodgers) and Twins (three) to finish on top and get the No. 1 seed that goes with it.

Unlike past years, there is no significant benefit to having the best record, besides saying so — no byes or homefield advantages in future rounds besides batting last.

The three division winners and the best secondplace team (by winning percentage) host all games of the first-round series, winners advancing to neutralsite play and bubble-style housing in southern California.

But there are some advantages.

The biggest, and the one the Rays won’t talk about, is doing what they can to control who they play in the first round.

Analyzing the just-about-set AL field, the Blue Jays look to be the best matchup and seem likely to be the No. 8 seed as the second wild card, with a chance to clinch a playoff berth Thursday night.

The Jays are better with the bats than on the mound, which plays well for the Rays. They have the pitching and defense to hold the Jays down, winning six of 10 during the season.

And as quiet as the Rays’ bats have been, scoring three or less in five straight games before eight Wednesday, they have to feel better facing the Jays’ pitchers than the higherquality Indians, who seem likely to be the No. 7 seed as the first wild card unless they pass the White Sox for second place in the Central.

Beyond that, being the top seed, in theory, provides an easier path to advance, facing the No. 8 seed, then the winner of the series between the Nos. 4-5 seeds.

That makes sense assuming the top-seeded teams win all four series. But there is a certain randomness to best-of-three series, and a greater chance for upsets.

So the Rays could move on to the best-of-five second round in a tough matchup with a strong second-place team, such as the White Sox or Yankees while the A’s or the Twins (or whoever wins the Central) could get a wild-card team like the Indians that had enough pitching for the opening round but not much chance to go further.

There is also a potential slight logistical edge. The Division Series with the winners will be played in San Diego, which is also the site of the best-of-seven AL Championship Series. The Division Series will be played at Dodger Stadium, meaning the winner has to change bubbles, relocating the 122 miles —- and probably three-four hours, given SoCal traffic — down Interstate 5.

Or should the Rays emphasize rest and not worry about the wins?

The Phillies, who are battling to get an NL wild-card berth, would love that. But from what Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the Wednesday clinching, they will try to do both, as he said he also values going into the playoffs with momentum.

The Rays’ rotation seems set up well. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow faced the Mets and will be on extra rest for the playoffs (in either order). Charlie Morton is set to throw Friday, which also gives him an extra day if needed for Game 3.

The questions are whether, and for how long, to use starters Ryan Yarbrough Saturday and Josh Fleming Sunday if they will be part of the bullpen starting Tuesday.

The Rays can obviously control usage of their relievers against the Phillies and shift innings to those less likely to be included on the playoff roster, which could be something like 12 pitchers and 16 position players.

Cash did mention wanting to rest the infielders, as they only have five with JiMan Choi and Yandy Diaz out, and four have been playing pretty much every day: Willy Adames, Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe, Joey Wendle. Mike Brosseau, out since Saturday with oblique-area irritation, is said to be ready to return.

With roster rules making it unlikely they will call up any help (as any player sent down can’t come back for 10 days unless there is an injury) and with neither Choi nor Diaz expected yet, it’s not clear how Cash will do that.