ALDS: Rays vs. Rangers

[ShaneDawg85]

Game 1 @ Tampa Bay: Lee vs. Price

Game 2 @ Tampa Bay: Wilson vs. Garza

Game 3 @ Texas: Davis vs. Lewis

Game 4 @ Texas (if necessary): Shields vs. Hunter

Who've you got?

[Crazysilver03]

Lee hasn't looked that impressive, but Price is pure gold.

It will be an interesting storyline if Hamilton is vocal on getting the Rangers to the ALCS.

[backwardsk]

Lee hasn't looked that impressive, but Price is pure gold.

It will be an interesting storyline if Hamilton is vocal on getting the Rangers to the ALCS.

Good call. Forgot about the Tampa connection. Then he may end up seeing the Reds in the WS.

[ShaneDawg85]

Tampa's offense doesn't excite me. But than again, after Lee, neither does the Texas pitching staff. I think experience wins out here. Rays in 4.

[Boy Howdy]

Ex-Oriole Ron Washington, Vlad & company get my vote

[Sports Guy]

The key is Lee...The Rays have owned him this year. He is likely going to have to win 2 games in this series.

I give the edge to Tampa because of the depth in their rotation but this is going to be a very good series IMO.

[Sanfran327]

By far (I think) the most intriguing of the division series matchups. I can't say who I think is a clear winner, though I have to lean towards Tampa based on rotation matchups. I think Lee will really confuse this team in his starts, but I don't know if Texas' team is healthy enough to pull it out. What is the latest on Hamilton? Cruz and Kinsler are dinged up. Vlad and Young are old. I kinda want Texas to win, but I think Tampa prevails in the end of a five-game series.

[Crazysilver03]

David Price will start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Rangers. James Shields will follow in Game 2 and Matt Garza will take Game 3. If a Game 4 starter is necessary, Wade Davis will probably take the hill.

[CharmCityLights]

I am looking forward to this series. We should see some good pitching and some good offense. I think that you have to give the edge to Tampa with their younger team and recent playoff experience the last couple of seasons.

[ShaneDawg85]

I would hope that the Tampa fans will finally show up to the ballpark now that the postseason has arrived. Than again if they advance and play the Yankees it will probably be mostly Yankee fans in the stands.

[Scrat1]

Lee is unimpressed.

[Moose Milligan]

I like the Rangers, always kinda have. Back in the day with JuanGone/Raffy/Sierra/Pudge...and Tettleton, too. Rusty Greer was awesome. And now Josh Hamilton, how can you not like that guy?

While I hope they beat the Rays, ultimately the thing for me is who is the team that can beat the Yankees, as I don't see Minnesota beating them. I'm not sure the Rangers are that team.

[Moose Milligan]

Cliff Lee goes 7 IP, while striking out 10 and walking no batters. This is the THIRD postseason game he has pitched at least 7 IP with no walks and at least 10 K. No other pitcher has even done that more than once. Even better... Only THREE OTHER pitchers have posted a line of 7 IP, 0 BB and 10 K in postseason history: Tom Seaver 1973 NLCS Game 1, Don Newcombe 1949 World Series Game 1 and Deacon Phillippe 1903 World Series Game 1.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=301006130

[Scrat1]

Lee doesn't even make it seem historic since he does it so casually.

I'd love to see Lee face off against the Phillies in the finals.

[OrangeJerseys]

I for one am rooting for Hamilton.