Tampa Bay Rays (91-71) at Texas Rangers (96-66), 5:07 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tampa Bay - Matt Moore (1-0, 2.89) Texas - C.J. Wilson (16-7, 2.94)
(Sports Network) - Maybe there is something to this destiny thing but according to the oddsmakers the Tampa Bay Rays are heavy underdogs. The Tampa Bay Rays certainly hope so, as they continue their improbable run in a rematch of last year's American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. After an offseason that saw them lose the likes of Carl Crawford, Rafael Soriano, Carlos Pena, Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza, expectations were a bit tempered for Joe Maddon's club entering the 2011 campaign, especially after the team opened the year with six straight losses. Maddon, though, showed why he is considered one of the best managers in the game, as the Rays rallied from a nine-game deficit to Boston as late as September 2 to overtake the Red Sox in the wild card standings on the season's final day in amazing fashion. With the Red Sox clinging to a one-run lead in Baltimore, the Rays rallied from seven runs down to the New York Yankees before pulling out a win on Evan Longoria's home run in extra innings just minutes after Boston lost to the Orioles.
"This team never quits," left-hander David Price said. "We didn't quit when we were 0-6 at the start of the season, we didn't quit in September, we didn't quit when we were seven runs down in the last game of the season and Boston was winning. It looks like this team has what it takes." No team had ever overcome that many games in September to get to the postseason. "I love what the Rays do and create a first within the organization, but now we've done something as a first for Major League Baseball," Maddon said. "It's all on the guys, it's all on the coaches. If you're with us on a daily basis, the work routine, the camaraderie, the coaches preparation is outstanding. That's how we're able to overcome a nine-game deficit going into September." With Price having started on Wednesday and the team not willing to start James Shields on short rest, Maddon shocked the world by announcing that rookie Matt Moore would get the Game 1 assignment. "I don't think we have qualms about doing anything," Maddon said when asked if Moore was a candidate to start. "I think that is one thing that people have learned about us. You look at how we have gotten to this point. ... If we don't utilize everybody within our rosters here, or within the organization, we're missing out, because that's who we are." The 22-year-old lefty, who has thrown just 9 1/3 big league innings, will be making just his second major league start. He started last Thursday against the Yankees and struck out 11 batters in five scoreless innings. In all, he's appeared in three games, going 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA. Moore hadn't pitched above Class A before the season, but in Double-A and Triple-A this season, he went 12-3 with a 1.92 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 155 innings. Now Tampa faces a Rangers team that won an American League pennant a year ago and ended its own postseason run in a thrilling five-game series that saw the road team win every game. continued.... Detroit Tigers (95-67) at New York Yankees (97-65), 8:37 p.m. Probable Starting Pitchers: Detroit - Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40) New York - CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.00) (Sports Network) - It's no surprise that the New York Yankees are back in the postseason for the 16th time in the last 17 years. However, it is a surprise that the Yankees not only won their 12th American League East title in that span, but that they enter this year's playoffs with more wins than any team in the American League at 97. The New York Yankees are small -122 road favorites in the opener. Their quest for an unprecedented 28th World Series title begins on Friday when they open the best-of-five American League Division Series against the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. New York, which lost in six games to the Texas Rangers in last year's ALCS, is of course led by its terrific lineup, but does have some major question marks surrounding its starting rotation behind staff ace and Game 1 starter CC Sabathia.
Sabathia fell a win short of becoming the first Yankees starter to post back-to-back 20-win seasons since Tommy John back in 1979-80, but ended the year 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA. "When I'm right," Sabathia has said, "I can beat anybody." Sabathia is no stranger to the Tigers, having faced them 32 times over the course of his career and posting a 15-12 mark to go along with a 4.54 ERA. continued...
