Open Game Thread 10/9: NYY vs. TBR Game 5

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This one is for all the marbles

All the other league matchups have been settled and only the most interesting remains: the clash of the AL East, the Yankees vs. the Rays. I admit I’m a little bummed more games didn’t go to Game Fives, but the Yankees-Rays contests have been, to me, the best games of the divisional championships, so it will be nice to focus on just one game. Also, remember our primary interest here is whoever can defeat the Astros so, go team that can defeat the Astros! My spidey-sense is predicting that NYY pulls this out with a key late dinger, but if there’s any team that seems to consistently foil the Yankees, it’s the Rays. This should be some good baseball no matter what. I can only imagine if it was the Mariners in one of these positions. I would be chewing my hands off by this point.

Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow are both going on short-ish rest, so this could come down to who has the better bullpen if the starters tire early. In that case, I like Tampa Bay’s bullpen as a unit better, although I think the Yankees are able to deploy more firepower in Chapman + Britton if the game is close late.

The game is on TBS and it starts...now, so make some excuses to get out of work and find a TV somewhere. I’m not exaggerating when I say there might not be a more exciting game this post-season, depending on how the league championships shake out.