Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays: AL wild-card series game one preview

We could not ask for a better matchup to start the playoffs than two young aces at the top of their game. For the Guardians, Shane Bieber went 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA this year, providing consistency and stability at the top of the young Guardians rotation. The Rays will counter with AL All-Star starter Shane McClanahan. While McClanahan has been excellent this year, sporting a 2.54 ERA on the season, health and endurance may be a factor in this game. McClanahan has been dealing with a neck issue and has not thrown more than five innings in a game since August 24.

With a pitching matchup of this caliber, runs will be at a premium. This is the reason that power often wins in the postseason. However, these teams are not built to mash. Neither team is built to win that way, so expect a low-scoring game. This game will likely come down to which offense can string a couple of hits together and run the bases well.

The key player that I’m watching in this game is Wander Franco, the Rays’ young shortstop. Franco seemed on his way to stardom before a hamate injury led to surgery and a prolonged rehab assignment with unexpected setbacks. He returned from the IL on September 9, but did not hit a home run in September. This is not unusual, as wrist injuries are known to sap power.

In the Rays’ second-to-last game of the year against the Red Sox, Franco finally hit a solo shot, breaking his home run drought. He is the type of player who could get hot and transform a postseason by carrying a team. If he is completely healthy and his power is returning, this could be a completely different Rays team than the Guardians have seen previously this season.