The Tampa Bay Rays and Major League Baseball have announced start times for the first three games of the American League Division Series, that begins in Texas this Friday. The Rays will play two late afternoon/early evening games on Friday and Monday, both at 5:07 pm on TBS. They will also play a primetime matchup in Arlington on Saturday at 7:07, with TNT covering that game.
Times for the if necessary games 4 and 5 have not been announced.
| Game | Matchup | Day | Date | Time ET | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | TB @ TEX | Fri | Sep. 30 | 5:07 PM | TBS |
| Gm 2 | TB @ TEX | Sat | Oct. 1 | 7:07 PM | TNT |
| Gm 3 | TEX @ TB | Mon | Oct. 3 | 5:07 PM | TBS |
| Gm 4* | TEX @ TB | Tue | Oct. 4 | TBD | TBS |
| Gm 5* | TB @ TEX | Thu | Oct. 6 | TBD | TBS |
The Rays as of yet have not officially named their game 1 starter but the buzz around the team indicates that it will be Jeff Neimann taking the bump for the Rays on Friday against the Rangers lefty CJ Wilson. Neimann made two back-to-back starts against Texas in September and allowed a combined 12 runs in 9.2 IP.
The Rays have also announced that the family of former Buccaneer Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon will throw out the first pitch at Monday's game at Tropicana Field. Selmon passed away on September 4th after suffering a stroke in his Tampa Bay area home.