_0.jpg?w=2560 "MLB playoffs")
In a battle of teams hunting for their first World Series title, the Milwaukee Brewers have stormed out to a 2-0 series lead, but now the series shifts to Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays went 55-26 during the regular season.
ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta takes the mound for the Rays looking to make it 10 straight games the team has won when he starts, while rookie Robert Gasser gets the ball for the Brewers.
Can the Rays climb back into the series, or will the Brewers put them on the brink of a sweep?
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Freddy Peralta pitched around singles by Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich in the top of the first inning, but he racked up 22 pitches in the process.
He has not reached 100 pitches in any of his 13 starts in a Rays uniform, including his three starts this postseason.
Former Rays manager Joe Maddon was expected to throw out the first pitch, and after hinting at something "very special" for the crowd, fans were treated to "Big Game" James Shields getting the ball instead.
The right-hander spent seven seasons in Tampa Bay and is the franchise's all-time leader in wins (87), strikeouts (1,250) and innings pitched (1,454.2).
Juuuuuuust a bit outside.
The rally towels will be waving in Tampa tonight!
After two games with a fantastic crowd at American Family Field, the bar has been set high for homefield advantage in this series.
The Brewers' relief corps has been arguably the biggest storyline of the postseason, logging a 1.24 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and .169 opponents' batting average over 50.2 innings of work.
No wonder they're chomping at the bit to get into the game.
Milwaukee starter Robert Gasser went four innings in his NLDS start and five innings in his NLCS start, so the Brewers 'pen will be a factor tonight.
With left-hander Robert Gasser taking the ball for the Brewers, the Rays swap Nick Fortes, Ryan Vilade and Ben Williamson into the starting lineup for Liam Hicks (C), Jonathan Aranda (1B) and Richie Palacios (2B).
Vilade has generally been platooning with Victor Mesa Jr. in right field, so starting him at first base will give Kevin Cash a huge weapon off the bench in Jonathan Aranda when the opportunity presents itself against a right-handed pitcher.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
With another right-hander on the mound for the Rays, this is the exact same lineup Milwaukee trotted out for Game 1 and Game 2 of the series.
The Brewers faced their former ace Freddy Peralta back on July 20 when he was still with the Mets, and he was touched up for eight hits and seven earned runs, with Cooper Pratt and Andrew Vaughn taking him deep.
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