The leaders in the American League and specifically the AL East open a four-game series tonight in St. Petersburg when the New York Yankees (49-40) take the field against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (52-35). Tampa Bay enters the night holding a four-game lead over New York in the East and boasting one of the best home records in baseball at 31-12, while the Yankees arrive looking to halt a difficult stretch that has seen them lose 12 of their last 15 games.
Both clubs are coming off disappointing losses on Sunday. The Yankees were handled 6-1 by the Twins in the Bronx, continuing a rough weekend in which Minnesota scored 17 runs over the final two games of the series. New York has now dropped two straight and has struggled offensively of late, scoring just 41 runs during its recent 15-game slide. Tampa Bay was shut out 2-0 by Houston. Even with Sunday's defeat, the Rays have won nine of their last eleven games.
The marquee attraction tonight is the favorite to win the Cy Young, New York’s Cam Schlittler (8-5, 2.08 ERA). He’ll take the mound opposite converted Rays’ starter Griffin Jax (4-5, 3.45 ERA). Schlittler enters the series leading American League starters in ERA while ranking among the league leaders in strikeouts. Through 104 innings, he owns a sparkling 0.96 WHIP and 123 strikeouts. Schlittler’s last start, however, was less than Cy Young-worthy. It was easily his worst of the season. Against Detroit last week, he was tagged for six runs including four home runs over just four innings in a 9-3 loss. For Tampa Bay, Jax has quietly been a dependable arm despite a 4-5 record. His 3.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP reflect solid mid-rotation production, although the biggest concern has been the long ball; he has surrendered 11 homers in 60 innings. Oh by the way, the Yankees lead all of baseball with 128 home runs.
The Yankees’ primary issues during this recent but extended run of poor play have been hitting and defense. As noted earlier, they are averaging less than three runs per game over the past three weeks. Couple that with atrocious defense - 20 errors and 29 unearned runs over the last 15 games (most by a Yankees’ team in any 15-game span since 1935) and the result is obvious; they have fallen out of first in the East and are far enough behind Tampa to make this series crucial.
The Difference of late for the Rays has been Junior Caminero who has homered ten times in his last ten games.
Both clubs are coming off disappointing losses on Sunday. The Yankees were handled 6-1 by the Twins in the Bronx, continuing a rough weekend in which Minnesota scored 17 runs over the final two games of the series. New York has now dropped two straight and has struggled offensively of late, scoring just 41 runs during its recent 15-game slide. Tampa Bay was shut out 2-0 by Houston. Even with Sunday's defeat, the Rays have won nine of their last eleven games.
The marquee attraction tonight is the favorite to win the Cy Young, New York’s Cam Schlittler (8-5, 2.08 ERA). He’ll take the mound opposite converted Rays’ starter Griffin Jax (4-5, 3.45 ERA). Schlittler enters the series leading American League starters in ERA while ranking among the league leaders in strikeouts. Through 104 innings, he owns a sparkling 0.96 WHIP and 123 strikeouts. Schlittler’s last start, however, was less than Cy Young-worthy. It was easily his worst of the season. Against Detroit last week, he was tagged for six runs including four home runs over just four innings in a 9-3 loss. For Tampa Bay, Jax has quietly been a dependable arm despite a 4-5 record. His 3.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP reflect solid mid-rotation production, although the biggest concern has been the long ball; he has surrendered 11 homers in 60 innings. Oh by the way, the Yankees lead all of baseball with 128 home runs.
The Yankees’ primary issues during this recent but extended run of poor play have been hitting and defense. As noted earlier, they are averaging less than three runs per game over the past three weeks. Couple that with atrocious defense - 20 errors and 29 unearned runs over the last 15 games (most by a Yankees’ team in any 15-game span since 1935) and the result is obvious; they have fallen out of first in the East and are far enough behind Tampa to make this series crucial.
The Difference of late for the Rays has been Junior Caminero who has homered ten times in his last ten games.
22 days ago
