The Texas Rangers are one win away from their first ever playoff series victory and will send right hander Colby Lewis to the mound today in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Rays looking to complete the sweep.
Texas won the first two games of the ALDS on the road in Tampa, winning behind Cliff Lee in Game 1 by a 5-1 margin before C.J. Wilson and the bullpen combined on a 6-0 shutout in Game 2. Saturday's game in Arlington will be the first home playoff game for the Rangers in 11 years.
Tampa Bay will give the ball to Matt Garza in Game 3. Garza went 15-10 with a 1.25 WHIP, 3.91 ERA and struck out 150 in 204.2 innings of work in the regular season for the Rays this year. The Rays will need a better effort out of Garza than they received out of Game 1 and 2 starters David Price and James Shields if they are to extend the series. Price gave up five runs in six and two thirds innings of work while Shields could not escape the fifth inning, surrendering four runs in four and a third innings.
The Rangers, who have scored 11 runs in the first two games, will be adding a bit of a boost to their lineup today. Ron Washington said on Friday that outfielder David Murphy will start in left field for Texas against Garza. Murphy, who has been sidelined with a groin injury, tested his groin on Friday's off day and declared himself at 90 percent health.
Colby Lewis will try to pitch the Rangers into the ALCS today. He was extremely effective this year despite his sub-.500 record, which simply goes to show how irrelevant win-loss records for pitchers are. Lewis was 12-13 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and struck out 196 batters in 201 innings of work.
First pitch is slated for 5:07 EDT and 4:07 local time. Televised coverage can be found on TBS.