ALDS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS: RANGERS VS RAYS

The Texas Rangers will be making their first playoff appearance since 1999. The Rays will be making their first since 2008 when they went to the World Series. On paper this looks like a mismatch. But then again games aren't played on paper. Home field will be huge in this series as the Rangers have a losing record on the road this season and were a combined 0-12 against the three playoff teams (Rays, Yankees, Twins).

In the first game at the Trop we have a battle of lefties in playoff hero Cliff Lee of the Rangers going against young stud David Price. Last year Lee went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA with the Phillies in his first postseason ever. He struggled mightily in his three starts against the Rays this season going 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA. The Rangers as a team have lost their last 9 LDS games and are the only team in the majors to have never won a playoff series. I expect the Rays to win the first game and continue their momentum throughout the playoffs.

The Rays I believe have the most complete team in the majors. They play great fundamental ball (some would say National League ball) and they have outstanding pitching and their defense is top notch. Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford are two superstars who will shine. Crawford is the best left fielder in the game defensively and will be the top free agent target this offseason. I'm not saying he is going to have a Carlos Beltran type postseason with a contract on the line but I think he will definitely have a memorable postseason before he is wearing the pinstripes next year. If the Rays do have one weakness it is their hitting which can go cold (only team to be either no-hit or 1 hit 5 times this season) but I don't think the Rangers have enough pitching or defense to beat the Rays with 3 of the 5 games in the Trop.

Prediction: Rays in 4.