TB at CLE: 3 things you need to know
Cobb's unlikely dominance
Let's be clear: the only reason pitcher Alex Cobb's dominance is unlikely is because less than four months ago, the right-hander was struck in the face by a line drive.
Somehow, he hasn't so much as flinched at the crack of a bat since.
Missing two months of the season didn't hinder Cobb's ability to become one of the best pieces of the Rays' rotation. At all. Not only did the 25-year-old improve to 11-3 with a 2.76 ERA on the season, he was pivotal in the Rays fight to stay in the playoff race against the Rangers.
In his final three starts, he went 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 23 2/13 innings. He twice struck out at least 10 batters.
For the third outing, Cobb was secondary to Mariano Rivera's farewell party at Yankee Stadium and managed to throw seven scoreless frames. Cobb will have to channel a protective field from the Tribetown energy at Progressive Field Wednesday, and Rivera's crazy party was good practice.
He hasn't faced the Indians since April 6, but is holding Cleveland batters to a .230 average in his career.
Cleveland is ready to go. #WildCard pic.twitter.com/roxBPluNFH
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2013
Getting blanked
The Rays would prefer to see opposing teams struggle to score. Tampa Bay has a club-record 17 shutouts in 2013. One of those? Cobb's first start of the season.
#Rays go with Alex Cobb (11-3, 2.76 ERA). His only start v. #Indians: 7.1 shutout IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 4 H on 4/6. Don't expect runs tonight. #MLB
— Derek J. LaRiviere (@DerekJLaRiviere) October 2, 2013
Strength in (scheduling) numbers
The Indians play host to the Rays Wednesday having won 20 of their last 25 games. Cleveland played just eight of those 25 against teams with winning records -- and went 4-4.
This scheduling is a big part of how Cleveland managed a stronghold in the American League Wild Card chase.
Cleveland maintained a massive winning percentage against teams below .500 (56-18), and its 10-game winning streak to finish the season was against AL basement dwellers in the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.
The Indians have a 30-44 record against winning teams this season, including a 12-21 record against the AL East. Their only winning series records come against the Orioles (4-3) and the last-place Blue Jays (4-2).
Tampa Bay, privy to big doses of its own division all season long, owns a 43-33 record against foes in the Red Sox, Yankees, O's and Blue Jays.
These two haven't matched up since June 2.
But hey, anything goes because it's baseball. One more team's offseason begins in eight hours.