The Rays’ Evan Longoria is the leading candidate for A.L. rookie of the year after hitting 27 homers and driving in 85 runs.

AP / Alan Diaz

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Star rookie third baseman Evan Longoria and several of his teammates insist that battling the Red Sox for the right to advance to the World Series is exactly what the Rays thought might happen all along.

The Rays jumped out to a 35-22 start and were in first place by June 1. The Red Sox were always in sight, however.

“We knew once it was down to the last couple weeks of the season that it was going to be us and them in the playoffs,” said Longoria. “From Day One, this is the way we wanted it to be. Boston and us were the best teams in the A.L. East all year, and now it’s come to this. I think we’re really excited it happened this way.”

Longoria said he’s noticed that “in the last couple of years it’s been tougher to win the A.L. East than the World Series. It’s a tough road through Boston.”

A budding superstar

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia knows what it feels like to have an impressive rookie season.

He was so good in 2007 that he won the A.L. Rookie of the Year award, and he’s followed that up with an even more impressive sophomore season.

When the Sox face the Rays in Game One of the ALCS at Tropicana Field tonight, the world will get a firsthand look at another superstar in the making.

Longoria is a lock for A.L. Rookie of the Year this season. He established himself as one of the premier players in the league this season. The 22-year-old hit 27 homers, the most by an American League rookie in 11 years, since former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra hit 30 in 1997.

Longoria also led all A.L. rookies with 85 RBI and 60 extra-base hits.

“He’s done a great job,” said Pedroia. “He plays a Gold Glove third base, and offensively he’s a big force. He’s had a great season, but we have to try to stop him this series.”

Here’s the strategy

Longoria on facing Daisuke Matsuzaka: “The special challenge to Dice-K is to make him throw strikes,” said Longoria. “He can really lull you to sleep, in my opinion. He throws a lot of balls. He gets into trouble but always wiggles out of it. If we get him on the ropes early, we have to put the dagger in him. It’ll be a matter of getting the key hits.”

Rays hats

Cumberland’s Rocco Baldelli was asked if he sees any Rays hats back home in Rhode Island.

“There are some Rays hats up there, but they’re all my friends,” he said. “There might be some others, but I probably know half the state, anyway.”

Odd men out

The Rays won’t officially announce their roster until today, but reliever Troy Percival and former Red Sox outfielder Eric Hinske confirmed to the St. Petersburg Times that they won’t be active for the ALCS.

Tampa Bay chose to activate pitcher Edwin Jackson in Hinske’s spot.

“They want to carry an extra pitcher, and I’m the odd man out,” said Hinske. “That’s how it is. It’s something that I can’t control. I’ll be ready if somebody gets hurt. It’s not about me, it’s about the team winning ballgames.”

Percival, who served as the Rays’ closer for most of the season before being sidelined by physical problems, wasn’t active for the ALDS, either. He worked out yesterday and declared himself ready to go.

“I know that I’m healthy and ready to go if they need me,” said Percival. “I’m physically ready now, they know I’m physically ready now, but the way they’ve got their bullpen set up, they needed somebody that can throw some more innings.”

jmcdonal@projo.com / kmcnamar@projo.com