For a pair of teams in contention at the official midpoint of the season, neither the Tampa Bay Rays nor the New York Yankees are playing like it. The division rivals look to put an end to their troubles at the expense of the other, when they open a three-game set in the Bronx on Friday. It …
Continue reading “The New What Next: Rays vs. Yankees, Part Four — A Series Preview”
The Tampa Bay Rays split their first of two consecutive four-game sets on Sunday, and they’ll welcome the New York Yankees into the Trop on Monday.
Despite a sour start to their most recent home-stand, the Tampa Bay Rays left St. Petersburg on a high-note, sweeping the highest scoring team in the American League in three games. They were also able to finish their most recent nine game home-stand with a successful 5-4 record — giving them a .500 home record for the first time this season. Tampa Bay is now 11-8 and in the midst of a five game win streak. Next stop the Bronx, where the Rays are set to start a three game set against the Yankees on Monday.
The Tampa Bay Rays made their way home on the heels of series win against the Toronto Blue Jays. They are set to welcome the New York Yankees into Tropicana Field, for the final series of the 2014 season. The Rays dropped two of three against the Yankees in the three-game set that directly preceded their excursion north of the border. Tampa Bay held a 4-0 lead into the eighth inning in the finale of that series, when the bullpen collapsed — the relievers allowed five runs in 1-2/3 innings for a 5-4 loss.
The end is nigh. The Tampa Bay Rays will follow their recent 4-6 home stand with their penultimate road trip of the season. First stop New York, where the Rays are set to start a three game series against the Bronx Bummers.
Tampa Bay has been relegated to two roles for the remainder of the 2014 season:
1. Spoilers
2. A team that can finish the final month of play strongly
As it relates to task number one, the Rays took two-of-three from the Orioles this weekend past. However, at 3-4 with a -10 run differential, the Rays haven’t really played that well in September. To be fair, at 3-3 over their last six games, neither have the Yankees — a team who is struggling to stay relevant down the final stretch.
