The Tampa Bay Rays are heading into a huge week with the AL East within reach after taking their series against the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. That push has them sitting at 95 wins, and the finish line is now in sight.
Tampa Bay has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball, and now the payoff is close. A division title would also give the Rays home-field advantage as they move toward the World Series, a boost that matters even more because Tropicana Field has treated them so well this season.
That edge will be important if the playoffs line up with either the New York Yankees or the Red Sox in the division round. The Rays won’t be back at home again until October, with their final seven regular-season games all coming on the road.
Their next stop is the Bronx, where they return from a day off Monday to open a four-game set against the Yankees on Tuesday. Two of those games come in the doubleheader, and those first two matchups could decide everything for Tampa Bay.
The Rays are lining up their best two arms for the doubleheader. Nick Martinez is set to start game one, with Drew Rasmussen taking the ball in game two. Both pitchers have ERAs under 3.00 and have been excellent this season.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier after that. The Yankees are expected to counter with Gerrit Cole on Wednesday and Cam Schlittler on Thursday. That makes the first day even more critical for Tampa Bay, especially if it can grab one of the two games and avoid facing both of New York’s top pitchers with the division still hanging in the balance.
If the Rays don’t get the job done in New York, they’ll move on to the road against the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia hasn’t been at its best lately, but those three games could still carry weight as the Phillies fight for position in the National League Wild Card race.
For now, Tampa Bay heads to the Bronx in strong shape and can clinch the AL East with just a split.
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Yankees Division Hopes Took Another Hit After Boones Latest Gamble
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Aaron Boone also made a late bullpen call that did not pay off, turning to Michael Fulmer instead of closer David Bednar in the ninth inning. Fulmer ended up serving up a walk-off two-run homer, and with Tampa Bay stretching its lead, the Yankees are running out of room to make this division race interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Have A New Third Base Name Fans Need To Watch
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What makes Lovich stand out for the Yankees is not just the offense, but the flexibility. He has handled both shortstop and third base, which matters in an organization still sorting out its long-term answer at the hot corner. There are still developmental checkpoints ahead, including a strikeout rate that needs trimming and a Double-A debut still to come, but he has already given the Yankees a third-base name worth tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]