Hosting the Rangers for Game 1 of the first AL Wild Card series, the Tampa Bay Rays had to be expecting more than what they delivered on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a highly disappointing performance from the Rays at Tropicana Field, one in which they failed to produce runs (or even get on base that often) and committed a franchise-high number of errors for a postseason game. Now, they're paying for it with the 4-0 loss, putting them in a 1-0 hole in the best-of-three series against Texas.
The Rays as a whole failed to reach expectations and create runs once again, but these three are probably the most responsible.
Rays most to blame for Game 1 loss, No. 3: Tyler Glasnow
The Rays' starter for Game 1 of the series, Tyler Glasnow didn't look good. The Cillian Murphy doppëlganger gave up too many hits and walks. His struggles in the postseason that have historically plagued him, unfortunately, didn't subside on Tuesday.
Going into this postseason, Glasnow previously started nine playoff games with the Rays. In those nine games, he had a record of 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA, and this will make his 10th start and sixth loss in the postseason.
Glasnow didn't pitch disastrously against the Rangers, but he looked overmatched against a loaded lineup that has been one of MLB's best this season. He only lasted five innings, giving up six hits and five walks. He was able to limit scoring to only four runs with only three earned, but overall, his pitching wasn't at the level it needed to be.
The continuation of playoff woes for Glasnow puts the Rays in a tough spot. The club will now face win-or-go-home scenarios in Games 2 and 3, assuming they can get a victory in the second game on Wednesday. For as good as Glasnow has been in the regular season, the injury absence of Shane McClanahan was sorely felt in Game 1.
Rays most to blame for Game 1 loss, No. 2: Yandy Díaz
Yandy Díaz is the lead-off guy who is supposed to help create runs. He failed to do his job at the plate and, to make matters worse, he submitted a terrible defensive performance as well.
Díaz has never been good defensively, but he makes up for it with his offense. In Game 1, however, he failed to do anything of value, ending the day going 0-for-4 with a strikeout while also making a costly error.
For a guy who led the American League in batting average at .330 while hitting 22 home runs and knocking in 78 RBI, the team and fans expect him to be able to dominate any pitching he faces. Yet, he failed to get on base even once and amplified his negative impact on Tampa Bay with his defense.
He will have to fix something before the next game unless they want to get eliminated in the best-of-three series. The defense likely isn't going to change as he's long been a negative defensive asset. Thus, he needs to pick things up at the plate if he's going to keep the Rays alive in the postseason.
Rays most to blame for Game 1 loss, No. 1: Jose Siri
Jose Siri was largely in this game because of his defense. Unfortunately for the Rays, it was his defense that proved the most costly in Game 1 as an unthinkably bad blunder all but put the contest out of reach for Tampa.
That one play essentially resulted in two errors on the centerfielder. He first misplayed a ball while jumping in the air. Then, instead of throwing it in softly, he decided to try and throw out the runner who was already safe at third. That throw sailed into the stands, handing the Rangers another run. Instead of a bases-loaded situation or even, at worst, just one run scoring, it handed Texas a 4-0 lead.
Siri isn't known as much for his hitting, but he was unable to reach base even once in such a crucial game as well. Siri is a decent player, but he failed to deliver any positive results for a team that has been viewed as a World Series contender often but has yet to see those results. He feels like an example as to why.
When you think of a Moneyball-type of approach that the Rays utilize to build a winning club, Siri is a big part of that. However, if he's not getting on base and making costly defensive errors, that approach is never going to work.
