The Tampa Bay Rays took the first game of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Monday night and this afternoon they’ll look to take the second game of the best of seven series.
The Rays will be sending Charlie Morton to the mound and he’ll be opposed by Lance McCullers Jr.
During the regular season, McCullers started 60 games for the Astros , finishing the season with a 3-3 record, a 3.93 ERA / 3.70 FIP over 55 innings pitched. A reverse splits pitcher, righties (.338 wOBA) fared much better against McCullers than lefties (.281 wOBA) in 2020.
He pitched in game one of the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics and allowed five runs — four earned — over 4 innings pitched.
The Rays are lining two of their most potent left-handed bats to leadoff against McCullers, and then going with the traditional R-L-R-L through the rest of the lineup.
Starting Lineup
- Austin Meadows, DH
- Brandon Lowe, 2B
- Randy Arozarena, LF
- Ji-Man Choi, 1B
- Manuel Margot, RF
- Joey Wendle, 3B
- Willy Adames, SS
- Kevin Kiermaier, CF
- Mike Zunino, C
Charlie Morton, SP
Bench
- Yoshi Tsutsugo, 3B/OF
- Hunter Renfroe, OF
- Mike Brosseau, INF
- Michael Perez, C
- Yandy Diaz, INF