One thing you have to remind yourself is that the Rays won 96 games this year. This isn't a down year where a 90 win team snuck into the WC. The AL is a gauntlet at the top. Was going to be tough to walk all over anyone.
Please get the win tomorrow. Of course would feel great about Cole in game 5 but that means neither JV or Cole would pitch game 1 of the ALCS.
What about changing the batting order around trying to spark some guys? Not sure how given that Altuve is already behind Springer and Bregman is behind Brantley. It just feels like the currently line up has trouble putting hits together against the Rays outside of Bregman-Alvarez-Yuli.
Lets go. This is why we love this game and this team so much. Rays can either go Glasnow on short rest post injury or go full bullpen from the start. Up to the bats to perform.
True, but you should be be able to do: Game 1: Grienke on normal rest. Game 2: Verlander on normal rest. Game 3: Cole on normal rest. If JV was asking Hinch to pitch tomorrow around the 4th inning, that had to be after Miley right? If it was before, makes no sense to go Miley there instead of Urquidy.
JV can spin a gem but gonna have to eventually hit/score at that trash ass stadium. Spoiler 3 runs (L10-3) ------------------- 5 runs (W 5-1) 2 runs (L 4-2) 1 run (L 3-1) 1 run (L 3-1) 2018 1 run (W 1-0) 2 runs (L 2-3) 2 runs (L 2-5) 2 runs (L 2-3) 2017 6 runs (W 6-3) 3 runs (L 6-3) 6 runs (W 6-4 /10 inn.) 2016 3 runs (L 4-3) 4 runs (W 4-3) 0 runs (L 5-0) 2015 1 run (L 3-1) 0 runs (L 3-0) 3 runs (L 4-3) 2014 0 runs (L 5-0) 3 runs (W 3-1) 0 runs (L 8-0) 2 runs (L 5-2) 2013 2 runs (W 2-1) 3 runs (L 4-3) 0 runs (L 5-0)
Looks like Rays are 4-2 when he does starting 1-2 innings bit, but most of wins were against bad teams. He gave up runs in the last 4 of those outings.
I would have preferred using Urquidy to start tomorrow with Verlander coming in relief like he did in 2017 for 2 innings. I think Urquidy has pitched well these last 35 innings.
JV on short rest is a different guy, to win tomorrow we are going to have to put up some damn runs because I don't think a shut out is happening.