Considering the challenge of facing the Astros’ trio of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke in a five-game series, it goes without saying that winning yesterday’s game was very important to the Rays. Yesterday’s starter for the Rays, Tyler Glasnow, although returning from injury, gave the Rays their best chance to flip home-field advantage on the Astros, even though he was going against Justin Verlander. For 4.1 innings, he almost did it, until Jose Altuve, alone among Astros hitters, finally connected with a Glasnow fastball, sending one deep into the Crawford Boxes for a two run homer. After two more unearned runs scored that inning off Glasnow’s relief, Chaz Roe, it seems the Rays almost conceded the game, following Roe with the B-list bullpen staff.
Game 2 ALDS Preview. Rays vs Astros: Blake Snell vs Gerrit Cole
