Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
No matter how long you have known about Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore, you probably know he is very important to their chances in the post season. Not many would have picked Moore to be the key starter down the stretch but he has proven to be the most consistently dominant starter over the course of the season. His stay on the disabled list just makes it even more important that he come back healthy so that he can help the Rays take the American League East.
I think the Rays might be able to take down the Boston Red Sox with the team they have right now. A lot of things are going right for them but it is going to be a tough fight. With or without the healthy return of Moore to the starting rotation, they have a fight to the finish. The fact that Moore is not there right now and they are still barking at the door of the Sox just shows that he could be the factor that pushes them over the top to take the division for good.
Elbow pain in a pitcher is nothing to be relaxed about either though. As important as Moore is to this season, he would be a terrible loss all of next season if they push the elbow too far. What the Rays and Moore have to do is find the right balance and ensure that no matter what the situation in the pennant race, they do not bring Moore back before he is ready. When he is ready and healthy however, he will be a major game changer for the division race.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
