If the Tampa Bay Rays count on to hold with the Los Angeles Dodgers within the World Sequence, they’re going to must take this vital lesson from Recreation 1: Be extra just like the Tampa Bay Rays.

In an odd twist we did not see coming, the Rays appeared to lose their identification in Tuesday’s 8-Three series-opening loss. Slightly than being the aggressors and creating advantageous pitching matchups — a Rays hallmark — supervisor Kevin Money as an alternative rode starter Tyler Glasnow till the wheels fell off, and Tampa Bay might have misplaced Recreation 1 due to it.

Gamble on Tyler Glasnow backfires

On one hand, it is comprehensible that Money would have supreme confidence in Glasnow. The 27-year-old right-hander has thrust himself into the ace dialogue since his arrival from Pittsburgh previous to the 2019 season. Since then, he is additionally logged a number of vital innings for Money within the common season and postseason.

In Recreation 1, Glasnow began robust, holding the Dodgers scoreless via three innings with 5 strikeouts. Then Cody Bellinger launched a fourth-inning two-run residence run and every thing modified.

What had beforehand seemed comparatively simple out of the blue was a battle for Glasnow. His pitch depend was climbing shortly, and it appeared the extra appears to be like the Dodgers bought, the extra injury they had been capable of do. That led to a four-run fifth-inning rally that primarily sealed the sport for Los Angeles and put Money’s determination below the microscope.

In complete, Glasnow was charged with six runs over four 1/Three innings. He struck out eight, which is sweet, however allowed three hits and 6 walks, which is each a testomony to how affected person the Dodgers are and the way tough it’s to idiot their lineup two or thrice round. Maybe most notably, Glasnow threw a career-high 112 pitches. He was stretched into territory not acquainted to him, and his declining effectiveness was expedited by the vast majority of these late pitches coming below irritating circumstances.

Given the result, it’s clear Money made a tactical error. Within the second, although, the Rays supervisor had full confidence that he attributed to Glasnow’s strikeout prowess. Notably when it got here to a key matchup with Max Muncy throughout the decisive fifth inning.

“The at-bat with Muncy proper there. Simply hoped that he was the perfect man to get a strikeout.” Money advised reporters following the sport. “We wanted a strikeout after we weren’t capable of maintain the runners. Once we bought to second and third, it felt like Glas together with his stuff was outfitted to get a strikeout however ended up getting a floor ball. Yandy (Diaz) made an amazing play however Mookie (Betts) simply had an amazing soar.”

Ah, sure, Mookie Betts. We should acknowledge his game-changing efficiency. With out Betts’ aggressive baserunning stealing a run and lengthening that fifth inning, it’s doable we’re having a completely completely different dialog. However that’s what nice gamers do. They alter the dialog. The Rays had no solutions on Tuesday.

Supervisor Kevin Money’s late hook for Tyler Glasnow caught viewers without warning and will have value the Rays Recreation 1 of the World Sequence. (Photograph by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photographs through Getty Photos)

Extra

Why Kevin Money’s determination shocked us

It is simply not the Rays approach to be two or three steps behind. They’ve maintained a excessive stage of success over the past 12 years by being two or three steps forward, even when these steps appear pointless.

This is identical Rays group that primarily created the opener — a pitcher that begins, however is restricted to at least one or two innings — to cover flaws and chase even the slightest benefit. In reality, Money is identical supervisor who simply final week pulled Blake Snell, a former Cy Younger Award winner, and Charlie Morton, his most trusted postseason starter — in Recreation 7, no much less — sooner than most viewers felt was essential.

An awesome be aware on this column from my pals at @StatsBySTATS:

Earlier than Blake Snell, no *wholesome* Cy Younger had ever been pulled from a recreation within the fifth or earlier, when…

*He was engaged on a shutout

*And successful

Earliest earlier than Snell: Justin Verlander (5.1 IP) within the 2018 ALDS https://t.co/JRuyvkvDg7

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 17, 2020

Story continues

In fact, these strikes finally labored. In any other case the Rays wouldn’t be within the World Sequence.

The principle level is we not often, if ever, see Rays pitchers put in weak positions, and particularly so if the circumstances permit for flexibility. Recreation 1 of the World Sequence, with a rested bullpen, ought to have been when Tampa Bay was most versatile.

There’s nonetheless a whole lot of collection left to be performed and a whole lot of key choices left to be made. It is going to be fascinating to see how the result influences Kevin Money’s choices shifting ahead. Notably with Snell beginning Recreation 2.

Extra from Yahoo Sports activities: