The Rangers take on the Rays in Texas with a chance to treat their fans to something they’ve never seen before, Texas clinching a playoff series. Tampa Bay sends Matt Garza to the mound to try to stop Colby Lewis. Garza’s innings increased by 1 2/3 this season, but his strikeouts fell by nearly 40 and his hits were up by 15. His ERA came in slightly lower, however. He was simply tougher than last year with runners in scoring position, dropping his BA allowed in that situation from .214 to .197. Since the start of the 2007 season, Garza owns the fourth lowest batting average allowed in the majors with runners in scoring position (400 batters faced minimum) and the lowest in the American League. He gets in trouble, but he gets out of it. Lewis found himself by pitching in Japan from 2008-2009. After dominating over there, he returned to his original team, the Texas Rangers, and pitched 200 major league innings for the first time in his career. Like Garza he was especially tough with runners in scoring position this season, allowing a .187 BA in that situation. His main problem is the start of an inning, where batters own a .355 OBP with none on and none out. He’s a high K, low BB pitcher in general.

Yankees fans may also get to see something that’s never happened before. In their three previous trips to the playoffs as a wild card team, the Yankees have never won an ALDS. They lost to Seattle in 1995, and to the Indians in 1997 and 2007. Brian Duensing tries to stop Phil Hughes from walking away with the victory. Duensing pitched equally well as a reliever and starter, keeping his strikeouts high and his walks low. He did seem to tire toward the end of the season, giving up nine runs in 11 2/3 innings over his last two starts. Duensing will turn around the Yankees switch hitters but right-handed batters hit him well, posting a .282 BA. His low walk numbers held them to a .335 OBP, and he totally shuts down lefties.

Hughes had two distinct portions to his season. Through June 8th, he held an 8-1 record with a 2.71 ERA. He allowed just four home runs in 69 2/3 innings. After that, however, the home runs started coming more frequently. He allowed seven in his next four starts, and never quite got back to the same place. He was hit up for a 5.15 ERA the rest of the season, with 21 home runs in 106 2/3 innings, yet managed a 10-7 record thanks to the Yankees great offense. If the early Phil shows up tonight, the Yankees will be fine. If the Twins hitters can take him, deep, there might be a game four.

Enjoy!