Post-season Gameday Thread, #8: One and done

The Rays, unlike the Twins, were able to stave off elimination by their highly-favored opponents yesterday. But they still find themselves dangling over a pit of crocodiles with one broken arm, and an itchy nose. For tonight, they have to face Justin Verlander, who one-hit them over seven innings in the series opener. However, Verlander will be pitching on short rest. He has done so twice before, but once (the 2017 ALDS) was a bullpen outing, and the other, in the 2011 Division Series, came as a result of his scheduled start in Game 1 being suspended after one inning. So this will largely be uncharted territory for him. I suspect A.J. Hinch is using him this way, so that Verlander can pitch sooner in the ALCS.