Rays Review and Preview

Matt Garza took the hill today for the Tampa Rays in the rubber game of a 3 game season opening series in Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox wanting to prove that his 2008 season was not a fluke. He definitely proved to himself, his team that his '08 season was not a fluke, but maybe most importantly proved to all of Major League Baseball that the Rays 2008 season wasn't a fluke either. Garza went 7 innings, while only allowing 1 run on 4 hits. Tampa begins the season taking 2 out of 3 from one of their arch rivals and most importantly it was at Fenway. Now the Rays head to Baltimore, and if they can continue to pitch the way they did in Boston, their is a possibility they could sweep the Orioles and start the season 5-1. The probable starters are listed below:

Friday Night April 10th

TPA Andy Sonnanstine - Andy is making his 1st start of the year and in his career he is 1-1 with a 3.86ERA at Camden Yards

vs.

BAL Mark Hendrickson - Mark was signed to help out the pathetic O's bullpen, but the projected starters were even worse than the bullpen in spring training, so Hendrickson earns a spot in the O's rotation.


Sat. April 11th

TPA Jeff Niemann - Jeff out dueled playoff hero David Price for the #5 spot in the rotation. Both of Niemann's career starts in 2008 came against the O's - and he won both. Not good news for Baltimore.

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BAL Jeremy Guthrie (1-0, 4.50ERA) Jeremy is the ace of the the O's staff. Would he be the #4 or 5 starter on half of the teams in Major League Baseball. He was lucky enough to beat the Yankees on opening day when CC Sabathia had a rare off day. I don't expect luck to hit twice in a row.


Sun. April 12th

TPA James Shields (0-1, 8.44ERA) Shields was rocked on opening day in Boston, but look for one of the 3 or 4 aces on the Rays staff to bounce back on Sunday. He is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 12 career starts against the Orioles and 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in six career starts at Camden Yards.

vs.

BAL Adam Eaton - How bad is this Orioles staff? Eaton was so bad in spring training that the Phillies cut him even though he is owed $8 million - and they will pay him not to pitch in their organization. So the Orioles staff is so bad, that they picked this guy up and he is immediately thrown into the starting rotation. Not a good sign for the GM or heck, the whole organization.