The Tampa Bay Rays have made available their batting order for Thursday's Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers:
Sean Rodriguez, SS
B.J. Upton, CF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Johnny Damon, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Desmond Jennings, CF
Matt Joyce, RF
Matt Moore, P
The only Rays to have much success versus Rangers starter C.J. Wilson are Joyce (1-for-2), Rodriguez (3-for-9), and Shoppach (2-for-5). Sampling errors likely apply in these cases, but it's mildly encouraging that those three have posted solid numbers against the Texas southpaw. Kotchman, Joyce, and Damon are the only left-handed hitters in the Rays' lineup, which would seem to favor Texas, as righties hit just .227 against Wilson this season.
Tampa Bay sends Matt Moore to the hill for just his second career start at the Major League level.
However, if we learned anything about baseball in September, it's that nobody can predict it. Maybe the righty-heavy Rays will continue to defy the odds Thursday night.