AL Wild Card Game, 2019

Rays at Athletics, 5:09 PM PDT, TV: ESPN

RHP Charlie Morton starts for the Rays. A former Astro, he was the starter in Game Four of the ALCS last year against the Red Sox and was last seen by the Dodgers closing out Game Seven in the 2017 World Series. Morton had a 0.68 ERA against the As this season and his ERA against them is 2.97 lifetime. His Athletics opposite number will be LHP Sean Manaea, who’s been hot for a month after coming back from shoulder surgery; he went 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA in September. He’s 1-1 with a career 2.70 ERA against the Rays.

Have some managerial rumors to chew on while watching this game.

Lineups when available.
Rays:

Athletics:

27 thoughts on “AL Wild Card Game, 2019

  1. Roster announced:

    Pitchers: (12)

    Walker Buehler
    Clayton Kershaw
    Hyun-Jin Ryu
    Rich Hill
    Kenley Jansen
    Pedro Baez
    Julio Urias
    Kenta Maeda
    Joe Kelly
    Ross Stripling
    Dustin May
    Adam Kolarek

    Position Players (13)

    A.J. Pollock
    Corey Seager
    Max Muncy
    Cody Bellinger
    Justin Turner
    Matt Beaty
    David Freese
    Chris Taylor
    Gavin Lux
    Will Smith
    Joc Pederson
    Enrique Hernandez
    Russell Martin

    Can’t really argue the choices (much), but I am surprised that Sadler didn’t make the cut.

  2. Let’s go! I wonder if the Rays might give the Astros some problems. More than the A’s that’s for sure.

    • Okay – so I hadn’t read all the comments when I posted. Didn’t realize that many were pulling for A’s.

      And to be honest – when I said “more than the A’s” – I meant because the A’s are now eliminated. Obviously that would not be clearly understood!

    • The A’s gave the Minute Maids lotsa trouble, but the Devil Rays probably have better pitching than Oakland. I’m disappointed because no team should have to play any games in Tampa, but I’m still hoping for that 1965 rematch.

  3. Just saw on Twitter that ESPN 2 has the Statcast version of this game. Numbers and explanations, apparently. I think I’ll take a look.

    • So am I, though the hometown doesn’t figure into it all that much. I don’t think mild card teams belong in the post-season, but A’s have lots of interesting players and Devil Rays have baseball’s worst stadium. In the Series, I’d like to see a 1965 rematch (with Dodgers winning again).

      • They want Ryu to pitch at home. Kershaw’s equally good in either setting, but Ryu’s been far better at home, thus probably Kershaw in DC for Game Three.

        • And with Hill going as long as he can in game 4, I think things are set up nicely for us