Gerrit Cole Is Returning To California, Starting For New York, Opposing Blake Snell, Tampa Bay In Game One Of The American League Division Series

Gerrit Cole grew up in Newport Beach California!

Tonight he will be returning to the state where he was born, raised and where he played collegiality at the University Of Southern California and where he rooted for the team that wears pinstripes as a child.

This time though Gerrit Cole will be pitching for the team he grew up rooting for, the team that wears the pinstripes in California one hour and twenty one minutes away from where he grew up when he takes the mound in San Diego at Petco Park that is home to the San Diego Padres when New York begins the American League Division Series which is a five game series verses Tampa Bay who like them is a member of American League East!

New York comes into the opening game of the five series verses Tampa Bay with a record of 0-0 while Tampa Bay also comes into the opening game of the five game series with a record of 0-0!

As stated above,

Gerrit Cole will start game one of the American League Division Series verses Tampa Bay and he will do so throwing to catcher Kyle Hiashioka who he has been throwing to for a month now. Since throwing to Kyle Hiashioka Gerrit Cole has a 1.32 earn run average in 34 innings that includes his stellar 13-strikeout, no-walk gem in Game 1 at Cleveland. “according to an article by Bryan Hoch on mlb.com He will oppose Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell who unlike him is a left handed pitcher but like him comes into game one of the five game series with a record of 0-0. “according to https://www.mlb.com/probable-pitchers/2020-10-05

As for how New York and Tampa Bay advanced to the American League Division series!

They both swept their opponent in the Wild Card round as New York swept Cleveland while Tampa Bay swept Toronto who like them and New York is a member of the American League East!

In the finale between New York and Cleveland on Wednesday night New York topped Cleveland in the Wild Card Series by a score of 10-9!

Where?

In Cleveland Ohio!

How?

DJ LeMahieu ripped a tie-breaking single in the ninth inning and Aroldis Chapman nailed down the final outs of the longest nine-inning game. “according to an article by Bryan Hoch on mlb.com

However,

That wasn’t the only offense for New York as Gary Sanchez homered and drove in three runs while Gio Urshela hit a grandslam off Karinchak! “according to an article by Bryan Hoch on mlb.com

While Tampa Bay earned a sweep of Toronto on Wednesday!

How?

Tampa Bay  rattled off four singles, including a Manuel Margot RBI hit, in the first inning against Blue Jays ace Hyun Jin Ryu to take an early 1-0 lead. In the second, the offense delivered the knockout punch against Ryu. Kevin Kiermaier led off with a single, and that was quickly followed by a Mike Zunino two-run homer to extend the lead to 3-0. “according to an article by Juan Toribio  on mlb.com

On the mound, Tyler Glasnow picked up right where the pitching staff left off Tuesday. The right-hander opened the game with three consecutive fastballs to Cavan Biggio to record a strikeout. according to an article by Juan Toribio  on mlb.com

Glasnow struck out eight and allowed two runs on six hits over six strong innings. His only mistakes were two pitches to Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, who turned both into solo home runs. Rays pitching has allowed only three earned runs over the past 29 innings, dating back to the regular season. Tampa Bay also improved to 10-2 in games started by Glasnow in 2020. according to an article by Juan Toribio  on mlb.com

First pitch is set for 8:07pm from Petco Park!

The game will be televised on TBS!