Kevin Goldstein tries to understand the Rays:

There’s certainly still a risk to what the Rays do without traditional starting pitchers, but they’ve done everything in their power to mitigate that risk, and to great effectiveness. I went into this piece intending to show why the Rays can’t get through the playoffs doing what they do in terms of managing their pitching. After looking at the data, I’m not as convinced as I once was. That’s becoming the norm when I try to find something wrong with the Rays and their unconventional ways.

FanGraphs.com

Twenty years ago the Athletics won in unconventional ways. The Rays have taken up that mantle and moved even further in that direction.