The Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers are set to face off this afternoon at the Trop in 
Tampa. It’s our first elimination game of the postseason and promises to be exciting given the Rays penchant for giving their fans late inning heart attacks. The Rays nearly pulled out the come from behind win last night against the Rangers’ late inning relievers brought to Texas for the sole reason of finishing games in the playoffs. Mike Adams, brought over in a deadline deal, gave up three walks and a homer in his 2/3 of an inning last night and had to be bailed out by fellow midseason acquisition Mike Gonzalez and former rookie of the year Neftali Feliz in a 45 minute bottom of the 8th. Whoever wins today, its going to be interesting.
The Rays will start potential Rookie of the year Jeremy Hellickson while fellow rookie Matt Harrison looks to stymy the Rays lineup. I like Hellickson in the matchup for a number of reasons. First, Hellickson sported a 2.95 ERA through the regular season while Harrison had a 3.39. Throw in the fact that Hellickson made 8 starts against playoff teams, including four against the Yankees. Additionally, Harrison gave up a run in his relief appearance against the Rays in Game 1.
It’s more than this though, we’re talking about a rookie starter in the Trop in an elimination game. Ask Dellin Betances how that worked out for him and the Yankees. Hint: it was Game 162.
Also, let’s not forget that today is a day game and that means Josh Hamilton and his blue eyes won’t hit. Even if it’s at the indoor stadium in Tampa.
I’m looking forward to the game and should watch most of it from my comfortable couch up here in New York and hope to see Matt Moore in relief at some point.
Prediction: Rays win 6-2 before heading to Texas for an awesome Game 5.
Stat of the Day: Aaron Hill had a BABIP of .194 in 2010. That’s the lowest in any single season since at least 1985 when I got bored of looking for someone with a lower BABIP
-Sean Morash
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