Boston Red Sox v Tampa Bay Rays, Game 3: Starters, Start Time, Game Info

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The only LDS series with a possibility of seeing a sweep. After a pair of Red Sox victories (12-2 and 7-4), Boston is poised to take this ALDS series and an extra day or two of rest.

In Game 2, Boston jumped out to a 4-1 lead after three innings as the roughed up Rays ace David Price. Jacoby Ellsbury scored three runs and David Ortiz homered twice off the lefty, including his solo shot in the 8th (VIDEO) which led to a little sniping from Price. All is well now.

Here’s the particulars for tonight’s affair.

Date: Sunday, October 7th
Start Time: 6:00 PM EST
Location: St. Peterburg, Florida
Venue: Tropicana Field
TV Info.: TBS
Live Stream:MLB.tv or the MLB at Bat 12 App.

John Farrell will lean on Clay Buchholz (12-1, 1.74 ERA, 1.025 WHIP) to seal the deal for Boston. Buchholz missed action from June 9 to September 9 due to right bursa sac strain. In his 4 September starts, he was 3-1 with an ERA of 1.88 and WHIP of 1.042 WHIP. In his first appearance back after his DL stint, Buchholz faced the Rays, going 5 innings and not allowing any runs. He surrendered only 3 hits, 1 walk while whiffing 6 Rays batters.

Alex Cobb (11-3, 2.76 ERA, 1.151 WHIP) has the task of keeping the Rays alive in this postseason. Cobb also missed time this season, but it wasn’t exactly the same reason as Buchholz. No where close.

And Cobb has been extremely effective at The Trop, going 7-0 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.140 WHIP in 13 starts. The Rays are 9-4 in games he has started at home; however three of those losses came at the hands of the Red Sox even though Cobb had no decision in any of those games. In four starts against the Red Sox this season, Cobb is 0-1 with a 5.16 ERA and 1.500 WHIP.

Here’s your starting lineups…