The Tampa Bay Rays played 162 games in the regular season and easily proved they were the best team in the American League. They did this with effective pitching, amazing defense, excellent scouting, well worked at-bats, and fantastic fundamentals.
These are the things that allowed the Rays sweep the New York Yankees in the ALDS and then overcome the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS.
And then these are the things that have eluded the Rays thus far in the World Series against the best team in the National
League, the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers have shown exactly why they are so great.
The hitters will absolutely wear down a pitcher with each at-bat seemingly taking a toll on the unfortunate soul on the mound; when a strikeout does occur, it’s only after an exorbitant amount of fouled off offerings. The Milwaukee pitchers have made quick work of the Rays, either striking them out with ease by expanding the zone or inducing weak contact to perfectly placed fielders. The only thing the Brewers haven’t done is crush the ball out of the ballpark, but there just hasn’t been a need; there have only been two home runs hit this World Series (Frelick and Hicks).
Now the Rays are on the brink of losing their 3rd attempt at a World Series in humiliating fashion, losing all four games, and forced to watch as the Brewers celebrate at Tropicana Field.
It will likely be all hands on deck for the Rays regarding the pitching strategy but Griffin Jax is the probable starter. Over the regular season, Jax had a 3.53 ERA | 3.76 FIP with a 25.3 K% & 7.6 BB% over 112.1 IP. Thus far in the postseason, Jax has a 6.00 ERA | 4.77 FIP with a 23.1 K% & 11.5 BB% over 6 IP. It has been 12 days since Jax last took the mound, taking the loss in game three of the ALCS against Cleveland, allowing three runs on five hits over four innings of work.
The Brewers will have the majority of their pitchers available including the trio of fearsome arms in the backend of their bullpen: Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Aaron Ashby.
Their official starter hasn’t been announced but there are several options. Possibly southpaw Ktlye Harrison, who hasn’t pitched yet this postseason. Milwaukee could also go with Shane Drohan or Dustin May. It will be anyone’s guess as to who Pat Murphy will call upon to try and get the 27 outs needed to secure a World Series title.
First pitch is tonight at 8:08.
Hopefully there will be a first pitch tomorrow.
