I guess the main question to be asked here is this: Is there enough gas in the tank for the White Sox? They have had to be pushed to win for three straight days, they get one day off and now they have to do it again. Do they have any staying power?
White Sox: Manager Ozzie Guillen announced that Vazquez will make the Game 1 start for the White Sox, pitching on four days' rest after pitching Saturday on short rest. Vazquez, has a 1-2 record and 3.54 ERA against the Rays this season, along with a 5-9 record and 5.10 ERA on the road.
Javier Vazquez is probably not the ideal choice to start the series. He has a 12-16 record with a 4.67 ERA this season, but has a 5-4 record with a 4.36 ERA in his career against the Rays. In his last start against the Rays, he went seven innings to grab a loss, giving up only 5 hits and a walk, but gave up four runs. The Sox lost that game 5-3. He holds the Rays to a .262 batting average.
The Rays roster is currently 50-213 (.235 BA) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.
Rays to Watch:
- Cliff Floyd: 10-43 (.233 BA) with 2 doubles, a HR, and 3 RBIs
- Carl Crawford: 11-26 (.423 BA) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 RBIs
- BJ Upton: 6-12 with an RBI
Rays: Shields pitched one inning Sunday against the Tigers in a final tune-up before the playoffs and retired the side in order. The 26-year-old right-hander's best pitch has always been his changeup, but he also has a plus fastball and curve, and he's added a cutter that has helped him throw inside to left-handers. Shields enters the playoffs after pitching 215 innings for the second consecutive season, which is a testament to his style of pitching and his competitiveness. Unless something goes drastically wrong, Shields can be counted upon to give the team seven or more innings. Shields is 9-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 starts at Tropicana Field this season.
Shields has three career games against the Sox and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 20 innings. He has given up 26 hits, four for HRs, to Chicago, while walking 4 and striking out 19. Chicago has hit him for a .321 batting average. His last start was no different as they had 7 hits in six innings, but only allowed one run on a solo shot to Ramirez. Tampa Bay won that game in the bottom of the ninth with a solo HR by Floyd, 2-1. That game was back on May 30th.
Sox to Watch:
- Orlando Cabrera: 4-11 (.364 BA) with a double and a RBI
- Jermaine Dye: 4-7 (.571 BA) with a double
- Joe Crede: 3-6 with a double
Other things that are notable is Nick Swisher who is 1-6, but has a HR and 4 RBIs. Alexei Rameriz is 2-2 with a solo HR. Jim Thome is 3-9 with a HR and RBI, but has also struck out 5 times against Shields. The current roster is 25-67 (.373 BA) with 3 doubles, a triple (by Uribe), 3 HRs, and 7 RBIs.
Forecast: I like the Sox in this one, although I am not really sure why. They do have the better hitting, and maybe that could be it. This game is at the Rays house... Vazquez isn't really what I would call a "winning pitcher" either. Still, I think I will go with my gut on this one and call for the upset to start, Sox win it 8-5.
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