The Rangers are concentrating on St. Petersburg, FL, Tropicana Field, and a Tampa Bay Rays team that looked as though they were the class of the league.
, who finished the season at 90-72, their first playoff foray of the Chris Young Era begins against the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-3 series.
In Texas, it was the buying power that enabled the team to relegate those who were starting pitchers last year to a “next man up” role. For Tampa Bay, Tyler Glasnow, Zach Eflin and their own trade deadline acquisition Aaron Civale have carried the pitching staff through September and they’ll likely get the ball to start in this series with Glasnow earning the Game 1 start.
Montgomery is in a tough spot, however. The former St. Louis Cardinal has been the Rangers’ best starter over the last few times through the rotation, going 2-0 with an 0.67 ERA in 27 innings in his last four games. But Montgomery is at a disadvantage in facing the Rays as Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in the big leagues against left-handed pitching. The Rays slash .276/.351/.451 against southpaws.
Glasnow, meanwhile, faced the Rangers earlier this season, holding Texas to just one run on one hit in six innings at the start of June. At that point in time, the Rays and Rangers were leading the way in the standings. Glasnow over his career has been excellent against Texas, having won in each of his three career starts against Texas. The one run he gave up earlier this year was the first run that the righty has allowed to the Rangers in his career.
There’s a little history on the Rangers’ side as well. The club hasn’t lost a postseason game at Tropicana Field. They’re 5-0, including the 2010 AL Division Series where the road team won each game – Tampa Bay had home field advantage and hosted three of the games before Texas won two more games at The Trop in the 2011 ALDS.
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