Geoff JohnsonThe Tampa Bay Rays face elimination this Monday when they host the Boston Red Sox at 6:07 PM ET at Tropicana Field, in game three of the American League divisional playoffs series.
The Red Sox won both games at Fenway Park; they have won 14 of the last 21 in against American League East opponents.
“That’s been a consistent approach that we’ve taken throughout the course of the year. We haven’t gotten ahead of ourselves,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “We haven’t carried on a thought or a feeling of what has taken place the night or the series before. And I think everyone is eager to get back on the field tomorrow.”
The Rays will have Alex Cobb as their starting pitcher; he’s 1-0 in this postseason with a 4-0 win over the Cleveland Indians in the wildcard game. Cobb had an 11-3 season record with a 2.25 ERA; he also was 7-0 with a 2.81 ERA in 13 starts at home.
“I like our chances here. We played really well down the stretch. I know our home fans will be out in full force, and I think our record speaks for itself. When we’ve had a full house, we’ve played pretty well,” Rays Evan Longoria said.
Bston will have Clay Buchholz on the mountain who was 12-1 this season with a 1.74 ERA. He beat Tampa Bay twice this season and has a 2.41 ERA against the Rays.
The moneyline has both teams listed at -110. The run total is set at 7.
