The upcoming four-game series between the Yankees and Rays, which could have been a thrilling division-deciding battle, has lost much of its urgency after the Yankees dropped two of three games to the Diamondbacks. Now, New York must sweep the Rays just to stay alive in the AL East race, relying heavily on a highly unlikely Tampa Bay collapse in their final games to keep their playoff hopes faintly alive. Despite this, the series serves as a potential early preview of a future ALCS matchup, ensuring both teams will come out strong. Today’s first game in the doubleheader is a makeup from the May 23rd rainout.
Carlos Rodón surprisingly finds himself on the edge of the postseason pitching rotation. With Cam Schiltter and Max Fried appearing as definite picks, Rodón likely faces a showdown against Gerrit Cole for the last spot on a three-man postseason rotation. Rodón walks nearly three times as many batters as Cole but allows only about half as many home runs per nine innings. He is a solid option against the Rays, boasting a 3.69 ERA and 31.3% strikeout rate in 31.2 innings over six starts against Tampa Bay this season. Overall, Rodón’s 2023 stats include a 6-3 record, a 2.95 ERA (142 ERA+), a 3.69 FIP, and 83 strikeouts in 76.1 innings over 15 starts.
The Rays have a knack for turning overlooked players into rotation standouts, exemplified this year by Nick Martinez. After serving as a swingman for San Diego and Cincinnati, Martinez leads all qualified starters with the lowest walk rate at 3.5%. He relies on deception and pinpoint control to induce weak contact, typically pitching with a sinker, changeup, cutter, and four-seam fastball. His record this season is an impressive 15-4 with a 2.94 ERA (142 ERA+), 3.98 FIP, and 101 strikeouts in 171.1 innings across 29 starts.
The Yankees’ lineup, missing Aaron Judge due to IL, remains relatively set for the rest of the regular season. Young outfielders Heliot Ramos and Spencer Jones are expected to get substantial playing time, and both recently showcased their power by homering off former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. José Caballero starts at third base over Ryan McMahon and is motivated to make an impact against the team that traded him to New York last year.
The Rays’ lineup balances their powerful top hitters with speed lower down the order. Junior Caminero ranks third in MLB with 41 home runs, marking consecutive 40-HR seasons. Chandler Simpson leads the league with 46 stolen bases and is third in batting average at .309, despite being the only qualified hitter in MLB without a home run this year.
How to watch:
- Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
- First pitch: 1:05 pm ET
- TV: YES Network, Rays.TV
- Radio: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (Yankees); WDAE 95.7 FM, WQBN/1300 AM (Rays)
- Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)
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Fan Take:
This series is a fascinating clash of well-rounded teams with strong pitching and dynamic lineups, offering a glimpse into what could become a gripping postseason rivalry. Baseball fans should pay close attention, as the strategies and performances here might shape the narrative and excitement of the AL playoffs for years to come.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
