Tuesday's Best Mound Matchup
Cliff Lee, Texas Rangers vs. David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
Cliff Lee (13-9, 3.12)
Cliff Lee takes the ball in the fifth and deciding game between his Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s the kind of matchup Lee lives for.
“This is why we got him, for this type of game,” Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters. “And I certainly feel great about what's about to happen when we get to Tampa. And we couldn't have a better guy on the mound.”
Lee went seven innings when he knocked off the Rays 5-1 in Game 1, allowing a single run on five hits while striking out 10 and walking none. The 32-year-old lefty has a sparkling postseason track record, going 5-0 with a 1.52 ERA in six career playoff starts.
Lee has pitched just one postseason elimination game before Tuesday, getting the better of the New York Yankees in Game 5 of 2009 World Series. He gave up five runs in seven innings, but hung on long enough to pick up the win.
Before Game 1’s win, Lee was 0-3 against the Rays during the regular season, giving up 24 hits in 23 2/3 innings.
David Price (19-6, 2.72 ERA)
After a terrible outing in his first playoff start in Game 1, all David Price wanted was another crack at the Texas Rangers. He gets that shot Tuesday in Game 5.
Price gave up four earned runs and a pair of home runs over 6 2/3 innings in last Wednesday’s loss. It was his worst start since he allowed seven runs to the New York Yankees on July 18 and Price wasn’t happy, stomping around the mound while giving up runs in four consecutive innings against the Rangers.
"It was pretty rough," Price said of his last start after learning that he would get another shot at the Rangers following Sunday’s win. "It stung a little bit. I definitely wanted to give us a better chance to win. I wanted to throw better for myself. I wasn't able to do that. And they got the ball back in my hand and I appreciate that."
Price is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in six career playoff appearances, striking out 16 while walking four in 12 1/3 innings of work and is in contention for the AL Cy Young Award after posting 19 wins with a 2.72 ERA during the regular season.
Rays and Rangers square off in Game 5
By: Adam Markowitz
Something has to give in the Tuesday night matchup at Tropicana Field. There has only been one team in baseball history down 2-0 in a series after losing both games at home to come back and win that series. However, the visitors, who were ahead 2-0 going back home, have never won a series in their franchise's history, making them the only team in the AL to be able to say that.
It will all come to a head Tuesday in the Sunshine State, as the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers square off in MLB betting action for the right to take on the New York Yankees in the ALCS.
For the Rangers, the role of manager Ron Washington has been huge in this series. Many question the way he handled his bullpen on Saturday. The unit imploded, allowing five runs in just two innings of work to put the Rays back in this series. Had that game gone to extra innings, Texas was out of regular relief pitchers.
For the Rays, there is still a ton of question about their offense and the ability to close out games. The 'pen was shoddy at times on Sunday, allowing a few situations for the Rangers to sneak back in the game, while the batting order went to sleep after putting five runs on the board in the first five innings.
However, Tampa Bay has been here before, and it has arguably the biggest warrior on the team on the bump on Tuesday night in the form of LHP David Price.
Price made a real name for himself in the only other close-out game in the history of Tropicana Field, Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. The Sox had the bases loaded in a 3-1 game with two down in the eighth inning. Price came on to face JD Drew and struck him out. Instead of going to anyone else, Manager Joe Maddon elected to leave his rookie in the game, and he proceeded to get two more strikeouts and a ground out to send Tampa Bay to its first ever World Series.
Unfortunately for Price, his debut as a starting pitcher in the postseason didn't exactly go according to plan. He allowed five runs, four of which were earned, including two solo homers in Game 1 against these Rangers. The loss dropped him to 0-3 lifetime against Texas.
On the other side of the diamond, Washington was questioned all week about whether or not he should have used LHP Cliff Lee in Game 4 on Sunday on three days of rest. However, that is something that Lee has never done in his career, and he knew that he had his southpaw in his back pocket to use for Game 5 for the full nine innings if need be.
Lee has a great history in the postseason, and it would be shocking to see him do anything less than throw the majority if not the entirety of the game on Tuesday. He "only" went seven frames and allowed just a solo home run to utility man Ben Zobrist in his dominating Game 1 effort. He improved to 5-0 all-time in the playoffs and has still only allowed more than one run in two of his six playoff appearances.
The Rangers had only won three of their previous 16 visits to the Trop before taking the first two games in this series. The rash of road wins was very strange for a series in which the hosts went 5-1 over the course of the regular season.
In this do or die game, Price and the Rays are minus 115 choices of the MLB oddsmakers. The 'total' has been set at 6½ and flat-priced at minus 110 on each side at most shops.
Tips and Trends
Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays
RANGERS: Texas will be playing their 3rd consecutive game with the opportunity of advancing to the ALCS. The Rangers starting rotation cost them victory in their past 2 games, but that shouldn't be the case tonight. Ace Cliff Lee just might be the best pitcher in all of baseball, and would easily rank as one of the top 3 pitchers you'd want on the mound in an elimination game. Lee is 13-9 SU this year, with an ERA of 3.12 and a WHIP of 0.99. Texas is 92-74 SU this season, including 41-42 SU on the road. Texas is -1.33 and -21.58 units both SU and on the RL this year. The Rangers are 5-0 in their last 5 road games overall. Texas is 5-0 in their last 5 games against a left-handed starter. The Rangers are 7-2 in their last 9 games against the American League East. Texas is 4-1 in Lee's last 5 starts overall. The Rangers are 2-5 in Lee's last 7 starts against the American League East.
Rangers are 6-0 last 6 games as a road underdog.
Under is 6-1 last 7 road games against a team with a winning record.
Key Injuries - None Reported.
Projected Score: 2
RAYS: (-115, O/U 6.5) If nothing else, Tampa has shown some major heart. The Rays were left for dead after falling behind 0-2 SU in their best of 5 series against Texas. Instead, the whole world gets to watch a deciding Game 5. Ace David Price is looking to revenge his loss in Game 1 of this series against the Rangers. Price is 19-7 SU this year, with an ERA of 2.80 and a WHIP of 1.20 this season. The Rays are +2.38 and -6.02 units both SU and on the RL this year. Tampa has scored 11 runs in their past 2 games, thanks to an aggressive approach offensively. Back at home, that is style of play is likely to continue in this elimination game. The Rays are 21-8 in their last 29 home games against a team with a winning record. Tampa is 2-5 in their last 7 playoff games overall. The Rays are 0-5 in their last 5 games against a left-handed starter. Tampa is 6-1 in Price's last 7 starts against the American League West. The Rays are 4-1 in Price's last 5 starts as a home favorite. Tampa is 7-3 in Price's last 10 starts with 5 days of rest.
Rays are 3-8 last 11 games following an off day.
Under is 6-0 last 6 games against a left-handed starter.
Key Injuries - None Reported.
Projected Score: 4 (SIDE of the Day)
MLB Preview
Road team is 4-0 in Texas-Tampa Bay series; lot of pressure on Ranger franchise that has never won playoff series to advance after going ahead 2-0 here last week. Lee beat Price 5-1 in Game 1; Price is 1-1, 4.97 in his two starts vs Texas this year- he is 4-1, 2.49 in last seven starts overall. Lee is 1-3, 4.11 in four starts against the Rays this season; he is 3-1 in his last five starts overall, with a 2.06 RA.