The Tampa Bay Rays will look to stay alive in the ALDS while the Boston Red Sox hope to wrap up a sweep and clinch a spot in the ALCS when the two teams meet Monday night at Tropicana Field in Game Three of the ALDS.
Red Sox vs. Rays, 2013 ALDS Game 3: Time, TV schedule, starting pitchers and more
Alex Cobb will attempt to help the Rays stay alive for another game, while Clay Buccholz try to earn a series-clinching victory.
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Alex Cobb will take the mound for the home team. Cobb missed two months this season after being hit in the head by an Eric Hosmer line-drive, but pitched well before and after the injury, going 11-3 with a 2.76 ERA.
The right-hander struck out 134 batters over 143 1/3 innings while maintaining a 56 percent groundball rate, the fourth highest groundball percentage in the AL among pitchers with at least 140 innings pitched.
Cobb struggled in four starts against the Red Sox this season, going 0-1 with a 5.16 ERA. Boston tagged the starter for 24 hits and 10 walks over 22 2/3 innings, scoring 14 runs.
Clay Buccholz will start the game for Boston. Buchholz missed nearly three months this season with right neck and shoulder injuries, but pitched stellar when healthy, going 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA. The right-hander increased his strikeout rate while decreasing his walk rate in 2013, and only allowed four home runs in 16 starts.
Buchholz overpowered Tampa Bay during the regular season, winning both of his starts against the Rays while not allowing an earned run. He only surrendered five hits over 13 innings, striking out 17 batters.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. ET, with TBS televising the game.
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