The Tampa Bay Rays currently lead the American League East standings and are set to host the New York Yankees in the final game of their series at Tropicana Field
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
New York has now dropped a season-high six straight games after falling 6-5 to Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field last night. “Last year’s gone, man,” pitcher A.J. Burnett commented. “We need to turn the page about talking about last year. This is this year.” The Yankees are now three games behind the Rays in the American League East standings, matching the furthest they have been out of first all season. The club will also be playing just its 15th road game of the year (7-8), which is the fewest for any team in the Majors. New York is 15-13 versus right-handed starters this year and 154-99 over the last three campaigns.
Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova is an even 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) this season and is coming off a forgettable appearance. He suffered an 11-5 home loss to the Royals, giving up eight runs (four earned) and 10 hits in just three innings of work. Nova came into that particular start on a two-game winning streak, with victories over the Blue Jays and Rangers. The right-hander has a 1-1 mark and 3.65 ERA in three road appearances (two starts), as opponents are hitting just .229 against him. In two career starts versus the Rays, he has yet to record a decision, while giving up nine runs (eight earned) and nine hits over 10 1/3 frames.
Tampa Bay picked up its largest come-from-behind victory this season Monday night and also moved its record to 23-9 since April 11. Entering the game, the Rays had started the season by going 22 games at home without scoring more than five runs in a game, leaving the club four games short of the modern record of 26 set by the Brooklyn Superbas in 1908. “It is good because being a historian, I was really concerned about our attempt to surpass the Superbas,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. The club came into the series opener averaging just 2.77 runs per game at Tropicana Field compared to 6.17 on the road. Tampa Bay is 16-8 in night games this year.
Rays starting pitcher James Shields is enjoying a fantastic start of his season, coming in with a 4-1 record and 2.08 ERA in eight starts. Tampa Bay has won seven straight games with him on the hill since dropping his season debut at home versus Baltimore. The right-hander enters with a 1-1 mark and 1.72 ERA in four starts at Tropicana Field, while not allowing a home run in 31 1/3 innings. In 15 career outings versus the Yankees, Shields has posted a dismal 3-8 record and 4.91 ERA, including a 2-1 mark and 3.35 ERA in six starts last year.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Yankees due to their 4-0 record in Nova’s last four road starts, while the Rays are 4-11 in Shields last 15 starts in the series
