It’s the American League Division Series! And just look who the Red Sox have to play again! Meanwhile, listen to this badly overplayed Fall Out Boy song while you contemplate the first game today.
TAMPA BAY RAYS – 92-71, finished in 2nd place in the AL East (5.5 GB)
Tampa Bay has had to fight through a Game 163 and a Wild Card game just to get here, so they may just have some luck on their side as well. This is going to be just like old times – and by old times, I mean the 19 times these two teams played in the regular season. So, yeah, anxiety abound.
Just checked: still pretty good.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
1 – Desmond Jennings – CF – .252/.334/.414
2 – Ben Zobrist – 2B – .275/.354/.402
3 – Wil Myers – RF – .293/.354/.478
4 – Evan Longoria – 3B – .269/.343/.498
5 – Delmon Young – DH – .258/.329/.452
6 – Sean Rodriguez – LF – .246/.320/.385
7 – Yunel Escobar – SS – .256/.332/.366
8 – James Loney – 1B – .299/.348/.430
9 – Jose Lobaton – C – .249/.320/.394
Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com
SERIES PROBABLES
Game 1: Matt Moore vs. Jon Lester
Now, before you freak out about a tough lefty, let it be known that the Red Sox really aren’t all that awful against them. Actually, compared to the rest of the league, they’re quite good. Boston has a collective .751 OPS against them, and that’s good for 5th in the league, just behind the Texas Rangers. So don’t let that deter you. Lester will try and continue his superb 2013 campaign where he posted a 2.77 FIP & 2.7 fWAR in the second half of the season.
Game 2: David Price vs. John Lackey
Another day, another dollar, another lefty. The Rays put their two best available pitchers out on the road to try and get a game in Boston. John Lackey and his good home split will try to keep that from happening. And this one is an afternoon game too, so yay inconvenient TV schedules…
Game 3: Clay Buchholz vs. TBA
Game 4: Jake Peavy vs. TBA
Game 5: TBA vs. Jon Lester
INJURY REPORT
- No new injuries to report for either side.
IN CONCLUSION
OH MY GOD I’M STRESSING OUT JUST PLAY AND WIN SO I DON’T HAVE A HEART ATTACK I CAN’T DIE THIS YOUNG