Gavin Williams is the only current starting pitcher remaining in the postseason that is going into his fourth appearance of the playoffs. I don’t expect the fluid outings we saw against a divisional opponent in the White Sox in the ALDS. Yet, Williams deepest outing of the regular season against an American League team against the Rays. He went 7 2/3 innings and was not charged a run. The bullpen backs up Williams and the Guardians move to 2-1 in the series.

Patrick Bailey has been making a big impact for the Guardians lineup. He has a run in both games in the ALCS. He also has a multi-hit game in three out of his last four starts, which included two huge home runs. Look for Bailey to be the bat that gets things going for the Guardians with a hit in his first or second plate appearance. He clears his combination line once again.

The Cleveland Guardians shocked everyone in game one, as the Rays thirteen game win streak with Drew Rasmussen on the mound came to an end. They also currently have a playoff best four game win streak. Yet, I look for Tampa Bay to bounce back tonight. Freddy Peralta is a pitcher Cleveland has not seen this year, and collectively the Guardians are hitting .184 against him. In six out of his last seven starts opponents have scored two runs or less. Tail the Rays.

Playoffs with series in sports, there tends to be a pattern with teams that pull off an improbable series comeback. Often times they will steal game one in the next series off the momentum they have. I’m looking for that to occur with the Cleveland Guardians. The Rays come in off a series sweep over the Yankees, where Drew Rasmussen pitched a one hit gem in game one. The one run scored by the Rays in Rasmussen’s playoff start was a problem in the regular season against the Guardians. Both starts by Rasmussen the Rays scored just one run, including his first loss of the season in April. Tail the Guardians.

One of the strengths for the LA Dodgers being back to back World Series champions, is their playoff road record against National League teams. They have won eight out of their last nine road playoff matchups, including both games one and two at Milwaukee last season. A series the Brewers scored just one run in all four games, and were swept. Look for Milwaukee to show their team growth behind Jacob Misiorowski, as they take game one over the Dodgers.

The Guardians and White Sox are the only series in the divisional round that made it to a fifth deciding game. Gavin Williams showcased his arm on Monday where he struck out eleven batters of the White Sox. Still, the production the Guardians showed in game three and four at the plate, has not been there with Williams on the mound. The Guardians have lost four of his five starts this season against the White Sox. Chicago avoids the big inning of runs from the Guardians in this one and advances to the ALCS.

Luis Garcia’s only playoff game with a hit came last Wednesday against Boston. He went 3 for 4 with a home run. Garcia also cleared his combination line exactly two Wednesday’s ago against the Tampa Bay Rays. Look for Garcia to get his first hit in the series as he clears his combination line with an RBI/or run.

Luis Garcia’s only playoff game with a hit came last Wednesday against Boston. He went 3 for 4 with a home run. Garcia also cleared his combination line exactly two Wednesday’s ago against the Tampa Bay Rays. Look for Garcia to get his first hit in the series as he clears his combination line with an RBI/or run.

The Braves are heavy home underdogs today against the LA Dodgers. A bat that will get an opportunity is Mike Yastremski, who has seen just two starts in the playoffs. In fact, he has not had a hit since his first at bat in the playoffs against Philadelphia in game one of the Wild Card round. This is a spot older veterans tend to raise their game with the Braves season on the line. Looking for three plate appearances for they 36 year old Yastrzemski as he gets at least one hit.

Xander Bogaert’s has had a hit in nine out of his last twelve games. That came to an end in Sunday’s loss to the Brewers, as well as a six game streak of scoring at least one run. Dustin May of the Brewers has had strong success this year against the Padres. He had his only complete game of the season on June 15th where he gave up just one hit, and in his second start with the Brewers gave up just one run to the Padres in seven innings on August 12th. The one run was a solo shot by Bogaerts. Strictly a combination line play here in game three with Bogaerts.

Miguel Rojas delivers the clutch home run in game seven last season against the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. In game two against the Braves he had just one at bat but was able to get a double. He also does have a recent hit against Chris Sale on August 27th. Sale delivered a complete game gem, but Rojas had one of the Dodgers five hits. Look for Rojas to get at least one hit tonight, as he clears his combination line.

Just six days ago Cam Schlittler put on a show as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox 9 to 0, and Schlittler gave up just two hits with ten strikeouts. Following up that performance can be difficult, especially with the pressure to avoid the Yankees falling to 0-2 in the series. Schlittler also left trailing against the Rays in his final regular season start on September 24th. Take the Rays as they get one game closer to the ALCS.

The New York Yankees bats ignited in their wild card series win over the Boston Red Sox. Now they’ll have the difficult task of facing another divisional opponent in the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees nine runs in both playoff games equal the amount they scored when Gerrit Cole last pitched on September 23rd against the Rays. Yet, road play in the postseason brings a different element. Take the Rays as they find a way to win game one.

JT Realmuto ended the regular season going 1 for 37 at the plate. Now in two playoff games he has produced a hit, including his only triple of the season on Tuesday. Since September 1st, Realmuto has ten total hits, eight of those have come at Atlanta. Take Realmuto to clear his combination line and get a hit in a third straight game for the first time since August 26th.

Matt Olson has not had the start to the postseason that he would of liked. He is just 1 for 8 at the plate, but in a close out game I expect Olson to show up. He has 5 career home runs off of Aaron Nola, along with three doubles. This included a first inning home run the last instance he saw Nola on September 11th. Take Olson over on his combination line.