The heated division rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will continue Friday when the teams meet at Fenway Park for Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Broadcast starts at 3 p.m. ET on TBS.
Rays vs. Red Sox, 2013 ALDS Game 1: Time, TV schedule, starting pitchers and more
Boston took 12 of 19 games against Tampa Bay in the regular season, but all bets are off in October.
The Rays, coming off two elimination games on the road in the last week, must now turn their attention to taking on division rival Boston in a five-game series. While some may argue momentum leans Tampa’s way as a result, others could argue fatigue puts the Rays at a disadvantage. The Red Sox, after finishing the regular season with the AL’s best record, have had a few days off and enter Friday’s contest fully rested.
Game 1 will be a battle of southpaws, as Jon Lester will take the hill for the Red Sox, while youngster Matt Moore will get the nod for the Rays.
Lester faced Tampa Bay four times during the regular season, holding the Rays to two or fewer runs on three occasions, along with an unfortunate seven-run outing. The Boston left-hander was lights out in the second half -- 2.57 ERA in 13 starts -- and was more than a full run better when pitching in Fenway than on the road this year, so things seem to line up well for the veteran.
Moore, 24, toed the line between “effectively wild” and just plain wild all season, but pitched far and away his best game of the year against Boston, when he completed his first career shutout in July. If that Matt Moore shows up again Friday, the Sox could be in trouble.
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