AL Wild Card Tampa vs. Cleveland
In the AL wild card game three teams battled until the last day of the season. This creates great drama for fans of these teams, although attendance in Tampa was poor down the stretch. The concern for the teams and managers is having their teams give all they can give to get to this spot, but have enough left for the actual playoff game. Tampa used Matt Moore Sunday and David Price in Monday’s play in game (to the play in game). Manager Joe Maddon continues to be able to push the right buttons with his squad, guiding them through a tough last week of the season to this point. Due to the playoff push lasting until game 163, the team will turn to Alex Cobb to start against Cleveland. Cobb spent about two months on the DL with a concussion this summer. Since his return he has a 5-4 record, but looking closer he is 3-0 in his last three starts all of which he has pitched at least 7 innings in. The DL stint could prove to be a blessing for Cobb as he has a fresh arm to go up against Cleveland’s contact oriented lineup. The rest of the rotation has rookie Chris Archer and second year man Jeremy Hellickson. Neither has been specifically consistent this season, and depending on who Maddon wants to start should they win, the other would be available to pitch in long relief if needed on Wednesday. Tampa’s bullpen has been great all year with Fernando Rodney at the back end, and Jake McGee and Joel Peralta in set up roles.
The offense features Evan Longoria and relies on a high on base percentage surrounding cast to make games difficult for the opposing team. The definition of a team at the plate, the Rays need multiple players to step up their middling regular season play. Among them is 2B Ben Zobrist, and OF’s Desmond Jennings and Matt Joyce. This could be Wil Myers coming out party to the national audience. This kid is great, acquired in the trade that sent James Shields to Kansas City; Myers must rise to the occasion and not get engulfed in the pressures of playoff baseball.
Cleveland has been hot down the stretch winning their last 10 games of the season, and getting solid pitching from Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir. These were guys who were thought to be done in the majors, (Kazmir) or on his way to being done, (Jimenez). Along with Zach McAllister, Danny Salazar, and Corey Kluber Cleveland has a solid but not spectacular rotation. They have tabbed Salazar to start the wild card game at home where he is 2-0 with a 3.16 era. The bullpen is less settled for the playoff run. Closer Chris Perez was demoted this week leaving a closer by committee approach the most likely scenario for the playoff run. Defensively the Indians are among the better teams in the league saving their pitcher runs. There is speed in the outfield with Michael Brantley leading the team with 11 outfield assists. Manager Terry Francona has a strong feel for his squad and with a win he would face the team that sent him packing last year, and tried to muddy his name on the way out the door. He wants this win more than he will let on.
The Indians lineup has solid bats throughout the order. There is no thumper in the lineup as Nick Swisher led the team in homeruns with 22. Overall the team was 5th in runs scored this season, so they have been built and have individually accepted their roles in the lineup. Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, and Swisher lead the offense with hot hitting, with Michael Brantley kicking in hits over the stretch run. This is a team that gets the job done both offensively and in the field and has done so all season.
Both teams lack true lineup depth and consistency. The advantage lies on the home field as Cleveland is 51-30 at home this year while Tampa is 41-41 on the road.
Prediction: Tribe 4 Rays 1
