The Tampa Bay Rays are off to a blazing start in the American League Championship Series, taking the first two games against the Houston Astros. With a victory tonight, the Rays will have their largest postseason series lead in franchise history. The last time they held this large of an advantage in the postseason was heading into game five of the 2008 ALCS, when they were up three games to one against the Boston Red Sox.
Going to the mound for the Rays in their first ‘road’ game of this series will be lefty Ryan Yarbrough; he’ll be opposed by right-handed pitcher, Jose Urquidy. JT Morgan covered the Astros starter extensively in his preview of the pitcher. To sum that up, he throws strikes and is strong against lefties (albeit a SSS).
The Rays will be rolling with a traditional L-R-L-R lineup with the only time that lefties repeat being at the 9-1 spots with Michael Perez and Austin Meadows. Arozarena is up to the spot, while the slumping Brandon Lowe is still near the top of the order at number three.
Starting Lineup
- Austin Meadows, DH
- Randy Arozarena, LF
- Brandon Lowe, 2B
- Yandy Diaz, 1B
- Joey Wendle, 3B
- Manuel Margot, RF
- Willy Adames, SS
- Michael Perez, C
Ryan Yarbrough, SP
The Bench
- Yoshi Tsutsugo, 3B/OF
- Hunter Renfroe, OF
- Mike Brosseau, INF
- Mike Zunino, C
- Ji-Man Choi, 1B