ALDS Game One Preview Tampa Bay @ Texas
September 29th 2011 15:10
At 5:07 ET the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers will kick off the 2011 MLB Playoffs. The Rays have not yet named their starter for game one but i am thinking James Shields will get the ball. The Rangers will throw C. J. Wilson in front of the home crowd.
These two pitchers have been on fire over their last 10 starts. Shields is 6-3 while Wilson is 6-2. Each pitcher has faced the other team twice in their last 10 starts and won both times. Wilson has the edge pitching at home and with his offense.
Rays Key to win:
1. Silence Rangers Bats = The Rangers are simply hot. Seven of their regular nine starters are batting over .300 over the last 10 games. Led by Micheal Young(.410) and Adrian Beltre(.381)
2. No Long Balls = Over the last 10 games Beltre has hit seven homeruns while Mike Napoli(4), Ian Kinsler(3) and Josh Hamilton(3) also have hit the long ball.
3. No Letdown= After storming back to overtake the Red Sox. The Rays need to stay focus and not have a let down.
Rangers Key to win:
1. Get to Shields Early = If the Rangers can get to Shields early then the Rays will go to their tired bullpen.
2. Keep ball in the Park = Just like the Rangers the Rays love the long ball. Ben Zobrist(4), Kelly Shoppach(3), Evan Longoria(3) all have shown the can go deep.
3. Use Home Crowd = The Rangers need their crowd to support them and feed off their energy to keep home field advantage in this divisional series.
Prediction for Game One
I like the Rangers to win this game by three runs are more. It has to be taxing on the Rays what the have done just to get in the playoffs. Look for Beltre to keep his bat hot with a HR. Rangers win 6-3 with Wilson picking up the win.
Prediction for Series
Again i like the Rangers in the series. What Tampa Bay did was great but the Rangers are hot also. Rangers in four C.J Wilson ALDS MVP
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