The Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays begin the 2022 Major League Baseball playoffs on Friday in the first game of a quadruple-header to kick off the best-of-three wild card series, making its debut this year.
The winner of this weekend’s series advances to the American League Division Series, where they will face the New York Yankees.
The Guardians (92-70) were the surprise winners of the AL Central, dethroning the Chicago White Sox. Pitching was the story (3.46 ERA), but perennial MVP candidate Jose Ramirez got some major help in the lineup from Andres Gimenez and Steven Kwan, ultimately finishing 11 games ahead of second-place Chicago.
MLB PLAYOFFS: One question for every team in the wild card round
X FACTORS: Toronto batsman Alejandro Kirk among WC different-makers
It was an ugly end to the regular season for the Rays (86-76) who lost their last five and eight of 10 to finish in the AL’s third wild-card spot. The Rays had been in the running for home field advantage – and even got within 3 ½ games of the Yankees in the AL East on Sept. 9 – but went 14-19 in September and October.
Here’s everything you need to know for Friday’s game:
Time: 12:07 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Live stream: WatchESPN.com
Starting pitchers: LHP Shane McClanahan, Rays (12-8, 2.54 ERA) vs. RHP Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA)
Betting info: SportsBookWire.usatoday.com
First pitch is scheduled for 12:07 p.m. ET on Friday at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Friday’s Game 1 between the Rays and Guardians will air on ESPN.
The opening game of the wild card series between the Guardians and Rays will be available to live stream on WatchESPN.com and FuboTV.
Lefty Shane McClanahan (12-8, 2.54 ERA) gets the start for Tampa Bay, coming off an impressive regular season that saw him start the All-Star Game for the American League.
2020 AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) takes the mound for Cleveland in Game 1. He posted a 2.04 ERA in his final 13 starts of the regular season.
