The Rays have a score to settle with the Texas Rangers. A big one.* After losing to the Rangers in last season's ALDS, the Rays got beat two games to one the first time they faced the Rangers this season. If the Rays want to win the season series against the Rangers -- or at least tie -- they need to come into Arlington like a thunderstorm this week.
Actually, a thunderstorm might be welcome down in Texas right now. The high in Arlington today is 107 degrees, and it looks like the temperature will crack 100 degrees each day of this series. This series is going to about endurance, which team can gut out the ridiculous heat the best.
This series is full of three great pitching matchups, Scott Feldman is the weakest link of the three starters the Rangers will send to the hill, as this will be his first start of 2011, but otherwise the Rangers are sending two of their aces to the mound in Wilson and Ogando. The Rays have three of their hottest pitchers going for them, so on paper at least, these games promise to be entertaining.
*Actually, for all I know, the players may not care at all about the results of the ALDS by this point. In all likelihood they don't; what's done is done. But at the very least, the Rays can help make it difficult for the Rangers to reach the postseason, as they're only leading their division by 3.5 games.
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Tuesday, 8:05 PM: Jeremy Hellickson vs. Scott Feldman
Wednesday, 8:05 PM: James Shields vs. Alexi Ogando
Thursday, 8:05 PM: Jeff Niemann vs. C.J. Wilson
Watch On: Sun Sports, WDAE 620