Price Takes the Mound in Regular Season Finale

One game. One game that could decide the your postseason fate. Depending on what happens in Baltimore, the Rays could clinch a playoff spot, keep themselves alive for a one game playoff tomorrow afternoon or miss out on the postseason altogether. The man the Rays are entrusting with this pressure packed task, David Price.

David Price, the former number one overall pick in 2007, has disappointed some with his performance this year. He has a losing record at 12-13 after a 19-6 mark last year.

No one questions Price’s stuff. He throws hard and when he locates his pitches he is basically unhittable. That has not been the case far too many times this year. He is winless in his last five starts and has not won at home since July 15. He did pitch well in his last start against the Yankees, however. He went eight innings allowing just one run on six hits. Price will be facing an unknown number of Yankees pitchers with the Yankees looking to save their staff for the playoffs.

It will be up to the Rays offense to produce against the mix and match lineup of pitchers that New York will be throwing at them. B.J. Upton has heated up lately riding a four game hit streak into tonight. He is batting over .400 for his last nine games with 14 hits and six RBI. He’s also come up with three doubles against the Yankees the last two nights. An unlikely source of offense may come from Kelly Shoppach. He has only one hit in the series so far but has three homers in his last five games. One question mark is the health of Casey Kotchman. He was taken to the hospital with chest pains yesterday and his status for tonight is still uncertain.

This is exactly what baseball is about. These teams have been playing for five months, 161 games and are still battling for one final playoff spot. This may not settle it, as a one game playoff is looming depending on the outcomes tonight. One thing is for sure, the Rays just putting themselves in this position is remarkable. Finishing the deal, though, is the only thing on their minds.

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