Rays vs. Rangers kicks off the 2010 MLB Playoffs on Wednesday afternoon. Here’s all the information you’ll need to get set to enjoy:
2010 MLB Playoffs: Rays Vs. Rangers ALDS Game 1 Viewing Guide
Time: 1:37pm ET
Starting Pitchers: LHP David Price vs. LHP Cliff Lee
Series: 0-0
TV: TBS
TV Announcers: Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez
Radio: ESPN Radio
Radio Announcers: Dan Shulman and Bobby Valentine
Umpires: Tim Welke, Jim Wolf, Jerry Meals, Bill Miller, Jeff Kellogg, Mike DiMuro
MLB.com Gameday: Link
Team Blogs: DRays Bay, Lone Star Ball
Situation
The Rays return to the playoffs to take on the Rangers, who haven't played in a Division Series since 1999. Neither team is coming into the series with any strong season-closing momentum, although one is free to argue whether that's in any way meaningful. Game 1 will take place in Tampa Bay, whose home venue drew a lot of attention down the stretch for its unimpressive attendance, but if 2008 is any indication, then come playoff time, the Rays fans are numerous, and the Rays fans are loud. This is going to feel as much like a playoff game as any contest at 1:37pm on a Wednesday afternoon ever can.
Three Keys
(1) One could say that Cliff Lee never quite got into a groove after coming over to Texas from Seattle in a midseason trade. However, the Rangers didn’t trade for Lee to help them in the regular season. They traded for Lee to help them in the playoffs, and so those 15 starts he got under his belt were more of a warm-up. Lee comes right after hitters and doesn’t get into deep counts. If he’s at his best, or close to it, the Rays will have to swing early and aggressively. If they end up on the defensive, it’ll be a long game.
(2) Over the course of his career, David Price has allowed exactly one home run to a left-handed hitter. The Rangers can come with a righty-heavy lineup, and they will, but that's bad news for Josh Hamilton. If and when Texas puts together a rally against Price, look for it to come from somewhere other than the top third of the order.
(3) Rafael Soriano has had an excellent season, but his tiny ERA masks a marked increase in contact rate and a corresponding decrease in strikeouts. He throws strikes and doesn't get himself into walk trouble, but he's also an extreme flyball pitcher, so be wary if he inherits a late one-run lead. He can get hit out of the yard.
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