Rays Name Starter for Wild Card Game
By Michael Luciano
On the back of a deep stable of pitchers and a analytic-driven approach, the Tampa Bay Rays managed to grab one of the two Wild Card spots in the American League.
With so many great starters to choose from, manager Kevin Cash has chosen prized free agent Charlie Morton as his Wild Card starter over 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell or breakout young stud Tyler Glasnow.
No surprise: #Rays will start Charlie Morton in the AL wild card game on Wednesday against the A’s.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) September 29, 2019
In his first season in Tampa following his resurgence as an Astro, Morton went 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA this season, striking out 240 in 192 innings while posting a sparkling FIP of 2.82.
The Rays rotation will be what carries them to wins in these playoffs, and Morton is everything Tampa could have hoped for in a frontline starter. Snell, Glasnow, and Ryan Yarbrough as a playoff rotation is as good as it gets (well, expect for maybe the Astros.
The paint and the hook. ?
— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2019
Good luck against Charlie Morton.
(MLB x @Gatorade) pic.twitter.com/h9TMEQfbra
It remains unclear who the Oakland Athletics will start in this game. Whomever gets the call better bring their A-game against Morton and company.