Drew Rasmussen and Rays Aim to Overcome Guardians in ALCS Game 1

Drew Rasmussen's Strong Form Gives Tampa Bay Rays a Major Edge Over Cleveland Guardians and Foster Griffin in ALCS Game 1

Jacob Misiorowski reacts to the Brewers' Game 1 win over the Dodgers in the NLCS

Jacob Misiorowski reacts to the Milwaukee Brewers' win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Series.

There are some series that feel like they are over before they start. I'm not sure it always works, but there are times when it does. It's like a series that's more formal than anything else.

The Rangers and Rays are playing in the American League Championship Series, and it feels like the Rangers will be significantly matched up.

The Rangers have won three games in a row, which is how they got into this series in the first place. They lost two straight to the White Sox, then found a way to break the bats in Games 3 and 4 in Chicago. That sent them back to Cleveland for Game 5, where they were lights out and the hitting was enough for them to secure the win. They just don't seem nearly as good as the Rays.

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Monday night, they send Foster Griffin to the mound. I'm going to go on the record and say that I thought Griffin should have started in the Chicago series. For whatever reason, he wasn't.

He started in just Game 3, allowing one earned run over 2.2 innings and striking out seven batters. Griffin did not start that game. He is now in full rest for the starters to open the series. He didn't face the Rays at all this season, but he has faced two Rays hitters in his career, Jonathan Aranda and the walk Taylor Walls.

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The Tampa Bay Rays have been the best team in the American League this season, and it looked like that in the Division Series against the Yankees. When they needed to stifle the Yankees' bats, they did. When they needed a big hit, they got it. They took advantage of defensive mistakes and shut New York down. Game 2 was where the Rays found a way to work against a lot of questionable plays from New York. They took a big hit in Game 3.

In Game 1, there was none of that. Tonight's starter, Drew Rasmussen, was a masterpiece. How good was his first game? He went eight innings, walked two batters, allowed one hit and struck out 10 batters without allowing a run. His season was outstanding, finishing with a 16-5 record, 2.67 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He faced guards twice this season. On the road, he went five innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits. At home, he allowed one hit and one walk over seven scoreless frames.

Not only in this series, but in this game, in my opinion, Guardian has no chance. Of course, there may be a factor of rest versus rust. There might be a game here from the Rays that they just can't hit. However, Rasmussen is a real ace and that is a major advantage. Griffin can be a very good starter and give guards a chance. I just don't see it here. Give me the Rays on the run.

The money line is too juicy for me and I think Tampa will win by two or more.

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