MLB: Tigers and Rays Looking for Big Playoff Road Wins

After the most dramatic end to a season in living memory, it’s time to crank it up to the next level. It’s time for the playoffs and first up will be the best of the American League. The Rays head to Texas and the Tigers travel to the Bronx as the 2011 MLB playoffs get under way.

Have you recovered yet?
That’s a legitimate question, not just for Baseball betting fans but for the Tampa Bay Rays as well. After one of the most emotional weeks in the history of any franchise, the Rays now have to keep the momentum going on the road. Think about where this Tampa Bay team came from. They entered 2011 with the label ‘rebuilding’ flatly stamped on them. There was no way this team could make it to the post-season again, not after the losses endured in the off-season. Instead they beat odds of 278 million to 1 to make it to the post-season.

Now they must face a brilliant Texas team. The Rangers won the American League for the first time ever in 2010 and they look more than capable of repeating this season. There’s no Cliff Lee to scare all comers in the playoffs this season but they retain a stout pitching line-up and the bat of Josh Hamilton. I look at this series and the sheer strength of this Rangers line-up and I simply can’t see how Tampa Bay has the energy to stay in it. I like the Rangers to win in 4.

Any pitching concerns?
Have you ever heard so little pomp and bravado out of the Yankees’ fan-base going into the post-season. They know the Bronx Bombers can hit, that isn’t what’s bothering them. It’s the defensive frailty of the Yankees, in particular at starting pitcher, that has fans in New York more muted than usual.

While I don’t expect the Yankees to progress, too much is being made of these apparent pitching woes. This team, in spite of said woes, managed to still win 97 games. You don’t do that without a decent pitching staff. It wasn’t just C.C. Sabathia doing all that work. Ivan Nova, the Game 2 starter, is a good hurler. Unfortunately, the Yankees have drawn arguably the worst possible opponent for a short series. In a best of five scenario, I like the Tigers against pretty much anybody. It may go the distance but I have little doubt it will be Detroit progressing.