The Texas Rangers will finally play in a World Series game tonight. The American League champion Rangers will take on the San Francisco Giants tonight in Game 1 of the 2010 World Series.
Cliff Lee will have the honor of being the first Rangers pitcher to start a World Series game. His postseason heroics are well documented - through three starts this year in the playoffs, Lee has gone 3-0 in 24 innings while striking out 34 and walking only one batter. Lee hasn't pitched in over a week when he defeated the Yankees in Yankee Stadium to give Texas a 2-1 ALCS advantage.
San Francisco will counter with their own ace, strikeout master Tim Lincecum. Lincecum is the reigning two-time National League Cy Young winner and he went 16-10 with a 3.43 ERA for San Francisco this year while leading the National League in strikeouts for a third consecutive season. So far in the playoffs, Lincecum is 2-1 with 30 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. He made an appearance out of the bullpen in Game 6 of the NLCS, pitching only a third of an inning, striking out one and allowing two hits. His last start game on October 21 in San Francisco during Game 5 of the NLCS when fielding gaffes led to a loss for Lincecum and the Giants.
Since the game is in San Francisco, National League rules will apply. No designated hitter will be used in Games 1 and 2 - nor 6 and 7 (if necessary). Ron Washington has stated that regular designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero will start in the outfield for at least one of the games in San Francisco. Guerrero has been a declining defender and right field is very tricky in AT&T park with McCovey's Cove and triples alley so his defense may be something to watch in this series.
For the first time in the postseason, the Rangers games can be found on FOX. First pitch is slated for 7:57 p.m. Eastern time, 4:57 p.m. PDT.