This Rays-Cleveland game was like watching two nearly identical teams face off. Two small market teams MLB is hoping exit the postseason early, and which get the “kids table” time slot when there are multiple games in a day. They pitch well, runs are hard to come by, and they are run by smart managers who work from the same playbook. (Note: it’s so much more fun when the Rays play a team whose manager is likely to do something old school and stupid).
The difference? The Guardians have Jose Ramirez, that’s the difference. Well, the Guardians have Jose Ramirez and someone capable of getting on base ahead of Jose Ramirez, that is really the difference.