The New York Yankees will not be in the Bronx to start the week, but the familiar surroundings and reception they expect to get in Tampa may make them feel right at home.
For the second time this season, the American League East club will return to its spring training facility to play the Tampa Bay Rays in Tuesday night’s opener of a two-game series.
Coming off a three-game series sweep at the St. Louis Cardinals that put the Yankees 3 1/2 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild-card spot, manager Aaron Boone’s club has found its winning ways again.
The key in St. Louis was the offense as the Yankees plated two dozen runs, including half of that total in Saturday’s 12-8 victory.
That output was highlighted by Ben Rice’s career-high-tying seven RBIs and Trent Grisham’s career-best four runs scored. Starting pitcher Max Fried won for the 13th time despite surrendering seven earned runs in five innings.
“Just a ton of tough, gritty at-bats,” said Boone, whose squad has earned three straight wins after going 4-8 in August’s first half. “(Grisham) on base five times, puts everyone in a good spot. Puts Benny and the rest of the middle of the order in a good spot, because you’re seeing a lot of pitches, you’re on base, you’re creating problems.”
New York won three of four in its first visit to Tampa in April and is 7-4 overall against the Rays.
Carlos Rodon (12-7, 3.25) has won his past two decisions and will make his 26th start. In nine career starts against Tampa Bay, the left-hander is 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA and earned the victory with six scoreless innings in a 1-0 win on April 18.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said it does not matter who his team is playing or what the out-of-town scoreboard looks like — just win.
“At this point, when you’re behind in the standings like we are right now, you can’t cherry-pick what teams you are more likely to need wins against,” said Cash, whose group is three games below .500. “We need wins against everybody.”
After dropping Sunday’s series finale 7-1 at the San Francisco Giants, the Rays concluded their West Coast road swing by splitting 12 games and head back to Florida looking to improve on their 32-30 home record.
The Rays have struggled to regain the form that sent them to the playoffs for five straight seasons, ultimately snapping that streak in last year’s 80-82 campaign that placed them fourth in the AL East.
Currently fourth in the division, Tampa Bay will open its five-game homestand — two with the Yankees, three with the Cardinals — by sending out Shane Baz (8-9, 4.93), who will extend his career high in starts to 25.
Baz last won on June 26, with eight scoreless innings at the Kansas City Royals in a 4-0 victory. The right-hander then went winless over the next eight starts — losing six times — and recorded a 6.09 ERA over 44 1/3 innings.
Against the Yankees, Baz is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA over five career starts. New York has hit .264 with five homers against him in 18 1/3 innings.
Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) has missed the last two games but is not expected to go on the injured list.
–Field Level Media
