The Tampa Bay Rays look to finish off the Yankees tonight after taking a two-games-to-one lead in the American League Division Series following the 8-4 win against New York on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay homered three times last night and now has 12 home runs this postseason — just second in the league to the 14 hit by New York. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, “eight different Tampa Bay players have homered already. The Rays have also hit at least two homers in the last 10 games played against the Yankees.”
This is Rays baseball at its finest. We sit here and talk about never depending on one person each and every night. We have our guys, don’t get me wrong, but you just never know who’s going to be the hero and who’s going to step up with the big strikeout, the big hit, the big defensive play, and we showed that tonight.
— Kevin Kiermaier
From his lips (Juan Toribio of MLB.com, not god) to your ears, “in the history of best-of-five postseason series, teams with a 2-1 lead have gone on to win the series 62 of 87 times (71 percent). However, last season, two of the three teams that fell behind 2-1 in the Division Series — the Nationals (vs. Dodgers) and Cardinals (vs. Braves) — came back to win.”
The Rays made a roster move, removing Oliver Drake (right flexor strain) from the 28-man roster, and adding Trevor Richards. Because of the injury, Drake is out for the next round if they advance, and, given the nature of the injury, likely the remainder of the postseason.
The New What Next
Ryan Yarbough (1-4, 3.56 ERA) will be the “bulk guy” tonight, pitching opposite of Jordan Montgomery (2-3, 5.11 ERA). Yarbrough will follow Ryan Thompson (1-2, 4.44 ERA).
Ryan Thompson threw two scoreless frames in the first game of the ALDS. Thompson faced the Yankees five times in the regular season, surrendering four runs in six innings, with three runs coming in his last outing. Thompson has thrown 3-1/3 shutout innings in the postseason.
Ryan Yarbrough will serve as the primary pitcher for Thursday’s contest against the Yankees and is expected to pitch the bulk of the innings. It isn’t yet known whether he will get the start or pitch behind an opener. In his final outing of the regular season, Yarbrough allowed no runs on three hits while striking out four across 3-1/3 innings against the Phillies. The left-hander has been very good even though his record may not reflect that, maintaining a 2.57 ERA and a 1.76 FIP, and a 0.00 HR/9. Over his career against the Yankees, Yarbrough is 3-2 with a 3.15 ERA in six starts (20 IP).
Jordan Montgomery allowed three runs on six hits across 5-1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on September 24. He struck out eight without walking a batter. The southpaw threw 88 pitches (60 strikes, 68% strike rate) in a solid outing, although he got outpitched by Hyun-Jin Ryu. Montgomery finished the regular season on a roll, posting a 4.02 ERA and an impressive 8 K/BB over his final three starts and 15-2/3 innings. The left-hander lasted all of 2/3 of an inning in his lone start against Tampa Bay this season, as he allowed four runs on five hits (including two home runs) and a walk on 39 pitches. All told, Montgomery is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in six career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-2, 2B), Randy Arozarena (1-1, HR), Michael Brosseau (1-1, HR), Yandy Diaz (1-2), Manuel Margot (1-1, 2B), Austin Meadows (2-2)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 10/8/20 Starting Lineup
- Diaz DH
- Lowe 2B
- Arozarena LF
- Choi 1B
- Margot RF
- Wendle 3B
- Adames SS
- Kiermaier CF
- Zunino C
Noteworthiness
— Tonight’s lineup alternates left-handed hitters and right-handed hitters, in case the Yankees attempt a bullpen day.
— Go home MLB (and TBS … and ESPN), you’re drunk: