The Cleveland Indians are the surprise team in this year's American League playoffs, and they will host the Tampa Bay Rays at 8:07 p.m. tonight in a one-game playoff to see who advances to face the Boston Red Sox. Live stream the game here; Rays fans can hear the action on WDAE 620, while Indians fans may do the same on WTAM 1100. Tonight's wildcard game is also being broadcast on TBS.
Much will be made about the possibility of Cleveland making it to the American League Divisional Series and pitting manager Terry Francona against the Red Sox, with whom he won two World Series titles, ending an 86-year drought. They will need to keep their eyes on the prize tonight, though, against Alex Cobb and the Rays, who have been in this spot before.
"I'll tell you what," said Rays manager Joe Maddon, We've already played this wild-card game a couple times. We did it in Toronto a couple days ago. We did it yesterday in Texas, and we're going to come here tomorrow and do it again. I don't know if there's a battle-tested component to that, if you get immune to whatever that pressure is and you go play."
Meanwhile, the Indians have the luxury of playing relatively free from pressure. Outfielder Nick Swisher acknowledged how few people actually thought the Indians could reach the postseason. "This team wasn't expected to do anything," Swisher said. "Just to be where we are right now is awesome, man."
The Indians will pitch 23-year-old Danny Salazar tonight, a big stage for a rookie pitcher. Francona expressed the utmost confidence in his ability to get the job done.
"Believe me, we wouldn't pitch him if we weren't confident in him giving us the best chance to win," Francona said. "Danny has done nothing to make us think he can't handle this. He's so poised. If I had stuff like him, I'd be poised, too. But there's a difference between throwing 100 mph and being able to get major league hitters out. Danny can do that."
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