LEADING OFF: Glasnow, Rays try to win AL East, Bieber ready

A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:

RAYS THE BANNER

Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 4.21 ERA) gets his final tuneup for the postseason when he faces Robinson Canó and the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Glasnow and the playoff-bound Rays hope to make it a special night -- they can clinch their first AL East title with a win, or a loss by the Yankees to Toronto.

“I go into it with maybe a little bit more confidence than I did last year,” Glasnow said. “Just an exciting time.”

Glasnow is pegged to start the second game of Tampa Bay’s best-of-three, first-round playoff series next week, manager Kevin Cash said. Blake Snell is lined up for the opener, and Charlie Morton would pitch a potential Game 3. All three would have two extra days of rest.

“I feel good,” Glasnow said. “It definitely is starting to feel more like, in a rhythm.”

Glasnow is 4-0 in his last five starts.

TUNEUP TIME

Cleveland ace Shane Bieber (8-1, 1.74 ERA) had his start pushed back a day, lining him up to open the playoffs. The Indians clinched a postseason spot Tuesday night when José Ramírez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning to beat the White Sox.

Bieber faces AL Central-leading Chicago and Lucas Giolito (4-3, 3.53 ERA). The Indians star tops the majors in ERA and strikeouts and heads the race to win the AL Cy Young Award.

Cincinnati’s Trevor Bauer (1.80) is third and starts at home against the Brewers in a matchup of NL playoff contenders. Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes (1.77) starts Thursday at St. Louis.

CLINCHING

The Braves and Cubs can start making some playoff plans after sealing their spots in the expanded postseason field.

Atlanta won its third straight NL East title with an...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Glasnow-Rays-try-to-win-AL-East-15589383.php