Can the Tampa Bay Rays sweep the Yankees in ALDS Game 3 tonight? Rick Stroud (Tampa Bay Times) and Steve Versnick preview Rays-Yankees, then break down Bucs at Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.
The Rays lead the Yankees 2-0 and can book a trip to the ALCS tonight at Yankee Stadium. Rick and Steve explain why the Rays' pressure style has worked all season, from a Yankees lineup with just five hits in the series to the best defensive outfield in the Statcast era. They also react to the New York tabloids' "Errors Tour" headline, talk about Max Fried's wife being due any day while he stays on to pitch Game 3, and dig into what makes this Rays team so fun to root for, including a possible ALCS against the surprising White Sox.
Then it's on to the Buccaneers. After talking with Jalon Daniels and Zach Robinson, Rick lays out how a winless Bucs team on a short week can beat Dak Prescott and the Cowboys (hint: it starts with Rueben Bain Jr.), why Chase McLaughlin's hip and groin injury explains the skipped 65-yard field goal, and why the 0-4 Bucs are still alive in a weak NFC South.
0:00 Rays can sweep the Yankees tonight in ALDS Game 3
1:21 "Errors Tour": the New York tabloids roast the Yankees
2:38 Why the Rays can finish it: Nick Martinez vs. Max Fried
4:02 Max Fried's wife is due any day: would you pitch?
9:07 How the Rays handle a hostile Yankee Stadium
10:51 A pro-Rays crowd at the Trop: "first team to lose two home games on the road"
11:42 Rooting for the team where you live (and the ones you grew up with)
16:27 The Yankees' errors stat that hasn't happened since the Halladay no-hitter
17:31 Why the Rays have the best outfield defense of the Statcast era
19:25 How the Rays put constant pressure on a defense
20:17 How this team compares to the 2008 World Series Rays
21:56 New owners, Stu Sternberg, and the Dungy-Gruden parallel
24:52 A magical season: trade deadline moves and a team with no agendas
26:09 White Sox, the Pope, and the salary cap debate
28:56 Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
30:07 Bucs: Jalen Daniels and Zach Robinson ahead of Thursday night
33:15 Dallas' elite offense vs. its porous defense
35:16 The Bucs' wild card: Reuben Bain Jr.
37:26 Chase McLaughlin's injury explains the skipped 65-yard field goal
39:05 NFC South math: why 0-4 isn't over
42:32 CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and a crowded Tampa Bay Thursday night
43:14 Wrap-up and sponsor
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