ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- On the face of it, a pitching matchup between Charlie Morton and Zack Greinke is more than tune-in worthy. Both are outstanding pitchers, among the best in baseball. This season, Greinke tied for fourth in the majors with 18 wins; Morton won 16. Greinke was ninth in ERA (2.93); Morton was 11th (3.04). Greinke ranked sixth in innings pitched (208 2/3); Morton was ninth in strikeouts (240).
That, in itself, is enough reason to watch Morton's Tampa Bay Rays take the field for Game 3 of their American League Division Series against Greinke and the mighty Houston Astros.