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If, like me, you’ve been in Zoom calls all day, counting down the minutes until baseball is on tonight...you’re in luck. We have quite an appetizer for you with THREE games on tap.
Game #1: Red Sox (89-70) v. Nationals (65-94)
Why We ROOT: The Red Sox are currently tied with the Mariners, so every loss for the Sawx means a bit more breathing room and lower odds of a one-game playoff just to formally make the playoffs. Plus, it would be hilarious to see the Nats — a team that traded away three of its four best players just two months ago! — beat up on Boston.
Lineups:
For the Red Sox, a lot of familiar names, albeit a strange outfield alignment:
First of three in D.C. pic.twitter.com/pd6lJdAUqo
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 1, 2021
For the Nationals...some less familiar ones:
Nationals starting lineup vs. Red Sox pic.twitter.com/R8XyX7Fm9L
— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) October 1, 2021
Game #2: Rays (98-61) v. Yankees (91-68)
Why We ROOT: Two reasons: We love Jeff Sullivan, and a Rays sweep would greatly endanger the Yanks’ playoff standing. The Bronx Bombers enter tonight’s action with a two-game lead over the Mariners and Red Sox.
Lineups:
You might note that D.J. LeMahieu isn’t starting today, though Joey Gallo (who left Wednesday’s game early) is back and starting in left field.
Yankees/Rays Lineups
— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) October 1, 2021
Yanks can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a loss by either the Red Sox (at WAS) or Mariners (late night vs LAA)
Game at 7 on YES, BP/Pre starting now! pic.twitter.com/MVIPE4cFyg
Game #3: Orioles (52-107) v. Blue Jays (88-71)
Why We ROOT: In the final bird-on-bird series of the year, a nice win or two from the pesky O’s would seriously hobble the Blue Jays’ chances. They already sit one game behind the M’s and Red Sox, so two losses would clinch a tiebreaker game at best, and a single loss would be damaging too. Given their two-game lead over Arizona, Baltimore is likely sitting pretty in the #2 draft position regardless of how the weekend plays out, so why not close with a few wins? Do it for CHAOSBALL, right?
Lineups:
The O’s:
The Orioles will try to do to the Blue Jays what they did to the Red Sox, starting with this lineup: pic.twitter.com/JP2pT6S9GX
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) October 1, 2021
And the Jays, complete with Cavan Biggio starting at first:
#bluejays lineup vs #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) October 1, 2021
1. George Springer (R) CF
2. Marcus Semien (R) 2B
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) DH
4. Bo Bichette (R) SS
5. Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF
6. Corey Dickerson (L) LF
7. Santiago Espinal (R) 3B
8. Danny Jansen (R) C
9. Cavan Biggio (L) 1B