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The Tampa Bay Rays will host the Boston Red Sox in the American League Divisional Series in the 2021 MLB playoffs. The Sox defeated the Yankees 6-2 in the AL Wild Card game on Tuesday night to advance to the ALDS to meet their division foes. Here we’re going to break down each team and give you the schedule for the ALDS.
The Rays got off to a slow start to 2021 before a stretch of games in which they won 16 of 17 to overtake the Red Sox for first place in the AL East. That happened back in May and Tampa Bay has been in control of the division ever since. Despite losing ace Tyler Glasnow to Tommy John surgery, the Rays’ pitching staff held things together, particularly the bullpen led by Andrew Kittredge and Collin McHugh. Tampa Bay’s lineup is riddled with both power and contact hitters who are good at getting on base and causing havoc. The defending AL champions will be tough to get past this postseason.
The Red Sox advanced to the ALDS with a 6-2 win over the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card game on Tuesday night. Nathan Eovaldi shut down the Yankees for 5+ innings before the bullpen took care of things. Xander Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber both went yard before the game got opened up by Alex Verdugo’s two-run single. Now, the Red Sox will be tasked with defeating their division rival, something that will be difficult with a weak starting rotation and bullpen.
Tampa Bay Rays tied 1-1 with Boston Red Sox
Game 1: Rays 5, Red Sox 0
Game 2: Red Sox 14, Rays 6
Game 3: Rays at Red Sox, Sunday, Oct. 10th, 4:07 p.m. ET, MLBN
Game 4: Rays at Red Sox, Monday, Oct. 11th* (FS1 or MLBN)
Game 5: Red Sox at Rays, Wednesday, Oct. 13th* (FS1 or MLBN)
*if necessary
Game 1 recap — Randy Arozarena was all over the place in Game 1. He scored 3 of the Rays 5 runs in the win, stealing home plate in the 7th inning to give Tampa Bay an insurance run. He had belted a solo HR a few innings before that. Shane McClanahan tossed 5.0 scoreless innings and the Red Sox offense was non-existent.