Thanks to losses by both the O’s (who lost game two of the double header against the Jays) and the A’s, Tampa Bay didn’t lose any ground in the AL East, and now find themselves 3.0 games out in the wildcard race.
Tampa Bay will start an important two-game series against those bastards in Boston, tonight. On the mound for the Beantown bums: Clay Buccholz and Jon Lester. The Rays will counter with David Price and Alex Cobb.
The Red Sox are 0-1 against the Rays this season, when Lester is on the mound. He finds himself with a 15.75 ERA in his only start against when he gave up seven earned runs on seven hits, while lasting only four innings.
Buccholz, on the other hand, has been a tougher nut to crack. He’s 1-1 in his three starts this season against Tampa Bay. He was outstanding in his last start against last week, which ended up as a no-decision. He’s really cleaned up his act of late, posting a sub three ERA in June, July, August, and September. Buccholz has given up seven runs in his three starts against the Rays, though they’ve only been able to squeeze two runs out of him in the last two games.
It’ll be tough on our resurgent Rays, but I have to think they’re more than up to the task.
Rays 9/25/12 Starting Lineup:
Jennings LF
Upton CF
Zobrist SS
Longoria 3B
Scott DH
Keppinger 2B
Joyce RF
Pena 1B
Molina C
Price LHP
Noteworthiness: With Evan Lingoria at third and ‘Los at first, Luke Scott and Jeff Keppinger find themselves at DH and second respectively.
Let’s go Rays! #162Strong.