The Yankees are staring at a near-impossible climb, and Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Rays could settle the AL East before the sun goes down in the Bronx.
New York trails Tampa Bay by six games with seven left, which leaves the Yankees needing a four-game sweep and a whole lot of help to pull off a division title. If the Rays take even one game in today’s twin bill, they’ll lock up the AL East for the first time since 2021.
The Yankees also have to do it without Aaron Judge. Their captain is out on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain he suffered on Sept. 16, and he’s expected to miss the rest of the regular season. His postseason status remains up in the air, with the Yankees looking increasingly headed for a best-of-three AL Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox.
It’s a long day at Yankee Stadium, with Game 1 set for 1:05 p.m. and Game 2 following at 7:05 p.m.
Game 1 will air on YES Network in-market, while Game 2 will be on YES Network in-market and TBS out-of-market. Fans can also stream the doubleheader on the Gotham Sports App in-market.
Here’s how the pitching lines up for both games:
Game 1: Yankees Carlos Rodon (6-3, 2.95 ERA) vs. Rays Nick Martinez (15-4, 2.94 ERA)
Game 2: Yankees Max Fried (5-4, 2.63 ERA) vs. Rays Drew Rasmussen (15-5, 2.72 ERA)
BetMGM listed the Yankees as 1.5-run favorites in both games. For Game 1, the over/under is 7 and the moneyline sits at Yankees (-125), Rays (+105). For Game 2, the over/under is 6.5 with the Yankees at (-135) and the Rays at (+110).
Prediction for the doubleheader: Rays 3, Yankees 1 in Game 1, then Yankees 5, Rays 3 in Game 2.
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The Yankees are already weighing lineup changes for the postseason, preparing for a version of October that might have to function without their franchise anchor. Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger and Heliot Ramos are among the players expected to take on bigger roles if Judge cannot make it back in time, and that turns the focus from one superstars status to how much depth the roster can truly supply. It is the kind of problem the Yankees never expected to be managing now, and one they may have to solve on the fly. [Read more 🡒]