Welcome to the live blog of the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians. It is the A.L. Wild Card Game and only one team will advance to the ALDS after this game concludes. Check out the scoring updates with play-by-play and stats as the Rays and Indians hook up for a one-game playoff.
The Rays will try to prove that they indeed are the best second place team in the American League. After holding the A.L. Wild Card lead until the last Thursday of the season, the Rays slipped Friday and the Indians took control of the Wild Card standings. With the Indians and Rays tied at the top of the Wild Card, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated Tampa Bay, while the Indians were cruising against the Minnesota Twins.
In the end, the Rays and Rangers finished tied for second. The Rays controlled their own destiny against a weaker opponent and they could not close the deal. David Price helped get the Rays past the Rangers in Game 163, pitching a complete-game beauty, picking right off his dominant close at the end of the regular season.
The Indians are a different animal. The Rangers lineup might appear deep on paper, especially with Nelson Cruz's return for Game 163, but the Indians are truly deep, though they are prone to strikeouts. In 2013, the Indians struck out 1,283 times, the ninth most in the majors. However, they also got on base almost 33 percent of the time, posting a .327 on-base percentage, seventh best in the majors. Worse of all, the Indians will keep Rays pitching busy after stealing 117 bases, the sixth highest total in the 2013 season.
The Indians finished the 2013 season on a 10-game winning streak. The Rays had no problem dismissing the Rangers as they were running on a seven-game streak of their own. Can Alex Cobb take advantage of this free swinging Indians team? Will baseball watch a future ace take the hill in Danny Salazar?
Refresh the page and scroll to the top of the article for the latest updates from the A.L. Wild Card Game between the Indians and Rays.
The winner plays the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS.
