Series Preview: Series 18 vs. Rays
The Rays are back in town for a four-game series. The Rays are also red-hot. Tampa Bay is 9-1 in their last 10 games. The Yankees were just swept by the Tigers. To call this series a desperate one for the Yankees is an understatement. The Rays are in first place and the Yankees are 4.5 games out. The Yanks cannot afford to drop more games, even this early in the season.
Yankees Record: 29-24
Rays Record: 34-20
Season Series: 3-6 (Rays leading)
Lifetime Record: 235-173 (Yankees leading)
Game 1
Monday, May 31 — 1:05 pm — YES Network
Probable Pitchers: Rich Hill - LHP (TB) vs. Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon is pitching on 7 days of rest. His last appearance was last Sunday against the Chicago White Sox, where he threw 5 shutout innings. This is a very important start for Taillon, who has struggled this season. The Yankees desperately need to stop the bleeding after a sweep by Detroit.
Rich Hill and his slow curveball are coming to the Bronx for the start on Memorial Day. The Yankees seem to be a bit baffled by Hill’s ability to change speeds and have not completely knocked him around. You would think a lineup full of righty power swingers would do a little damage against him, but it has not happened yet.
Game 2
Tuesday, June 1 — 7:05 pm — WPIX 11, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Tyler Glasnow - RHP (TB) vs. Domingo Germán - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: (Update: The Yankees announced RHP Domingo Germán as the starter for Tuesday’s game.)
Domingo Germán is the likely starter for the Yankees, but the team has not announced any starters other than Taillon on Monday. Germán’s season ERA is down to 3.06 now, and he needs to keep it that way to give the Yankees a chance against Tyler Glasnow.
Glasnow has a 2.57 ERA this year, but he has been dominating hitters. Toronto knocked him around recently, but the Rays hinted that Toronto either had Tampa’s signs or Glasnow was tipping his pitches. Glasnow is striking out 12.6 batters per 9 innings.
Game 3
Wednesday, June 2 — 7:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Shane McClanahan - LHP (TB) vs. Jordan Montgomery - LHP (NYY)
Game Notes: (Update: The Yankees announced LHP Jordan Montgomery as the starter for Wednesday’s game.)
The Yankees host the Rays on Lou Gehrig Day. Jordan Montgomery is the unofficial starter for the Wednesday matchup. Montgomery is 2-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 2021. He had a superb 7-shutout innings performance against the White Sox, but had trouble missing bats against the Blue Jays (4.2 IP, 1 K).
Shane McClanahan is starting to stretch out to full starts. He has pitched 5 innings or more in each of his last 3 starts, but has not gone further than 5.1 IP. He has a 3.29 ERA on the season after throwing 5 shutout innings against Kansas City last outing. He throws in the upper-90’s and has a nice changeup and slider.
Game 4
Thursday, June 3 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Ryan Yarbrough - LHP (TB) vs. Gerrit Cole - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: (Update: The Yankees announced RHP Gerrit Cole as the starter for Thursday’s game. The Rays announced LHP Ryan Yarbrough as the starter for Thursday’s game).
Neither team has announced a starter for this one, so things can look very different than this projection. Gerrit Cole would be on full rest and could start Thursday, but the Yankees very well could decide to save him for the Boston series. Cole is working on a Cy Young Award campaign (1.78 ERA, 97 strikeouts, 70.2 innings).
The Rays could go with a variety of pitchers for Thursday’s matchup. Michael Wacha, Josh Fleming, and Collin McHugh could all start, or the Rays can call somebody up. A lot will depend on how the other 3 games go. Wacha or Fleming would likely throw a handful of innings, but McHugh is not stretched out to more than inning or two.
Sluggers to Watch
D.J. LeMahieu needs to get it going for the Yanks. As the leadoff batter, the team goes when he goes. Tampa Bay is so great at run prevention, so LeMahieu getting on base is a must to put pressure on the defense. He has not hit for power at all this season, and he needs to tap into some to return to form. The pitching matchups, other than Glasnow, will not be the most difficult in the world, so he needs to step up.
Austin Meadows has been pulling the ball in the air a ton this season. A lot of times, he hits the ball just foul to the right of the foul pole in right field. He will surely be eyeing the short porch all week long.
Injury Report
1B Luke Voit (oblique strain), OF Ryan LaMarre (pulled hamstring), RHP Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), and RHP Darren O’Day (strained rotator cuff), RHP Corey Kluber (right shoulder strain), and CF Aaron Hicks (wrist surgery) are all out for the series. Schmidt has thrown from 120 feet, but has not progressed to mound work.
LHP Zack Britton (arthroscopic elbow surgery) began a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Saturday. He will likely throw 5 or 6 times prior to getting the call back up to the majors.
The Rays have the following players on the 60-day injured list who will not play this series:
RHP Chris Archer (forearm tightness)
RHP Yonny Chirinos (Tommy John surgery)
RHP Nick Anderson (partially torn elbow ligament)
LHP Jalen Beeks (Tommy John surgery)
RHP Oliver Drake (strained flexor)
LHP Colin Poche (Tommy John surgery)
LHP Cody Reed (thumb weakness)
RHP Chaz Roe (strained shoulder)