Two of the biggest questions the Rays have to resolve in setting their roster for the AL Division Series involve the status of relievers Troy Percival and David Price.
With Percival, the only question, according to manager Joe Maddon, is his health. And after getting a series of epidural injections in his back, Percival has felt good and pitched well. Sunday, he needed just 10 pitches to work a 1-2-3 inning, and he was getting close to his dominating early season form.
With Price, the primary issue is whether the big-time starting prospect can handle the transition to the bullpen to be an effective reliever. He worked 1 2/3 innings on Sunday, escaping the two-on, one-out jam he inherited and allowing just a single in the full inning.
The Rays were pleased that he warmed up more quickly, but Maddon expressed some concerns about his lack of fastball command.
RAYS 8, TIGERS 7 (11 innings): The Rays rallied from a 5-0 deficit, blew a ninth-inning lead as Edwin Jackson made an unexpected appearance as the closer, and then won it when Ben Zobrist homered in the 11th. It was Zobrist's fourth homer of the weekend and 12th of the season.
