The Tampa Bay Rays have seemingly passed every test that’s been thrown their way so far this season, but they are in the middle of one of their biggest tests right now, and so far they aren’t doing so well.

The Rays have been the best team in baseball in the first half of the season. Their play has earned them first place in the American league East. It earned them the best record in all of baseball. But as we approach the All-Star Break, suddenly the Rays are having trouble just winning a game.

What once looked like a sure thing for the Rays to be in first place the the Break suddenly isn’t quite so certain. In fact, the Boston Red Sox have closed the gap to a measly game and a half. The Red Sox have won three straight games while the Rays have lost four straight.

Could this be the collapse that so many cynics have been predicting all year? It might just be.

But the Rays do have the All-Star Break coming and that might be a good thing… but then again it might be a bad thing too.

The Break could give the Rays a chance to regroup and to get their legs back under them. It could allow them to refocus and to gather themselves for the rest of the July and then August and then September. Or it might have the opposite effect.

The Break may give the Rays time to think about how well they’ve played all season up until just before the break. And it will allow the standings to stare them in the face - despite all their greatness, and despite the Red Sox’s injuries - the division is still very close.

So will the Rays pass this their biggest test yet? Only time will tell. But this weekend against the Cleveland Indians (the lowly Indians) will help or hurt them a lot.