Tampa Bay Rays must win Game Two to have chance in series

With the Astros geared with the best rotation in baseball and already a one-game lead, is it a must-win for Blake Snell and the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 in Houston?

The Houston Astros showed how much of a threat they are with their Game 1 win in Houston on Friday over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jose Altuve is not the 2015 version but he still can hit, as he showed that with a two-run home run to help propel his club to a win.

Justin Verlander reminded the world that he is the best pitcher in the American League with his dominant performance.

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Oh, and just to remind you, the Game 2 starter, Gerrit Cole, is about to have a huge payday in the offseason. And then, to top it all off, Zack Greinke is starting Game 3 at the Trop.

That is why Game 2 of their ALDS is a must-win for the Tampa Bay Rays.

I know that Rays fans would say they are confident in Charlie Morton, and I am too, but if he has to take the ball in Game 3 against the Astros down 0-2, there isn’t much hope there that you can go win three in a row against the best team in baseball.

Now with that said, if the Rays win on Saturday to even up the series, I think the momentum could easily shift their way with two home games in a row with Morton and then Glasnow lined up for Games 3 and 4.

So, I think Game 2 is a huge momentum-shifting game because if the Astros win, the series is over but if the Rays win, then you could easily argue that they can take a series lead in Tampa.

And no team wants to go into the Trop to play a playoff game because that dome can influence a ballgame.