After sweeping the Colorado Rockies in three games, the Tampa Bay Rays play host to the bummers from the Bronx in a three-game series, starting Friday. The Yankees, most recently, dropped two of three to the Nationals.
At 78-51 on the season, the Rays enter play 27 games over .500 with 33 games left to play. The Yankees, uhh…snapped their nine-game losing streak.
Tampa Bay is thriving at the moment, winning five of the last series. They scored 23 runs in the series against the Rockies, and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Over the last week, the Rays have slashed .355 BA/.434 OBP/.548 SLG/.982 OPS with a 179 wRC+. In all fairness, they have been very lucky as it relates to BABIP, but after a very unlucky July, let’s enjoy the ride.
The Yankees have had more in common with a shop-vac, in that they have sucked for a while now including the last week, slashing .186 BA/.272 OBP/.404 SLG/.676 OPS with an 85 wRC+. They’ve been able to pop homers, but not much else.
The Rays enter play with an overall 3.89 ERA and 3.88 FIP (3.81 ERA and 3.56 FIP for the starters, 3.99 ERA, and 4.26 FIP for the relievers). Over the last seven days, Tampa Bay regressed to a combined 4.70 ERA and 3.42 FIP (6.31 ERA and 4.01 FIP for the starters, but a 2.66 ERA and a 2.68 FIP for the relievers).
Meanwhile, New York’s pitching staff has performed to an overall 4.07 ERA and 4.43 FIP (4.72 ERA and 4.80 FIP for the starters, 3.20 ERA, and 3.94 FIP for the relievers). They’ve regressed over their season numbers the last seven days, pitching to a combined 4.60 ERA and a 5.18 FIP (5.47 ERA and a 5.34 FIP for the starters, 3.54 ERA and a 4.99 FIP for the relievers).
The Rays are 6-4 against the Yankees this season with a +8 run differential.
Pitching Probables
Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will turn to Zach Eflin (13-7, 3.58 ERA, 3.17 FIP), Tyler Glasnow (6-4, 3.35 ERA, 3.12 FIP), and Zack Littell (2-4, 4.27 ERA, 3.61 FIP). Aaron Boone will counter with Gerrit Cole (10-4, 3.03 ERA, 3.46 FIP), Clarke Schmidt (8-7, 4.68 ERA, 4.38 FIP), and Carlos Rodon (1-4, 6.27 ERA, 7.06 FIP).
Zach Eflin allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters over six innings against the Angels on Saturday. Neither team scored through the first three frames, but the Rays put six runs on the board between the fourth and fifth innings, and Eflin took advantage of the support. The right-hander allowed just one extra-base hit — a Hunter Renfroe homer in the fifth — and logged his 14th quality start of the season. Overall, he boasts a 3.58 ERA and a 3.17 FIP, with a 1.03 WHIP, and a 7.16 K/BB over 138.1 innings.
Gerrit Cole allowed six runs on seven hits and one walk over four innings against the Red Sox on Saturday. He struck out four. Cole unraveled in the second inning, surrendering up back-to-back singles and a walk to open the inning before giving up a grand slam to Luis Urias. The right-hander would last just four innings, marking his shortest outing of the season, while also allowing a season-high six earned runs. He came into Saturday’s contest having not allowed two home runs in a start since May 28. He still maintains a 3.03 ERA and a 3.46 FIP, with a 1.07 WHIP, and a 3.95 K/BB over 160.1 innings. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (10-37, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Yandy Díaz (13-48, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB), Isaac Paredes (4-15, 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Rene Pinto (2-4), Harold Ramírez (6-11, 2B, 4 RBI), José Siri (2-7, 2 HR, 2 RBI)
Tyler Glasnow allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits while striking out seven batters over six innings. Glasnow wasn’t exactly knocked around in the outing — of the eight hits against him, three didn’t leave the infield — but his final stat line still reflected one of his worst outings of the campaign. It was just the second time in 14 starts that he has allowed more than three earned runs, and the eight hits against him area season worst. Glasnow did manage to extend his streak of starts with at least seven strikeouts to 10, and his season ERA still looks good at 3.35 with a 3.12 FIP.
Clarke Schmidt allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Red Sox. He struck out eight. It was an encouraging bounce-back performance from Schmidt after he allowed eight runs in his last outing against Atlanta. Overall, the 27-year-old right-hander maintains a 4.68 ERA and a 4.38 FIP, with a 1.34 WHIP, and a 3.46 K/BB across 25 starts (123 innings). Key Matchups: Yandy Díaz (3-6, 2B, 2 RBI), Brandon Lowe (1-3, 2 RBI), Isaac Paredes (2-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB), José Siri (3-4, 2B)
Zack Littell allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Rockies. He struck out six. Littell induced a second-inning popup by Nolan Jones that landed just inside the left-field foul line, resulting in an unfortunate triple due to miscommunication between Osleivis Basabe and Curtis Mead. Jones would score on a sacrifice fly before Michael Toglia hit a solo homer. Littell conceded two more earned runs in the sixth inning. In five starts since joining the rotation July 30, the righty has posted a 3.54 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 10.5 K/BB across 28 innings.
Carlos Rodon allowed one run on six hits over six innings against the Nationals. He struck out one. Rodon pitched well in his return from the IL while making it through six innings for the first time this season. Through seven starts (33 innings), Rodon is 1-4 with a 6.27 ERA and a 7.06 FIP, with a 1.42 WHIP, and a 1.44 K/BB. Key Matchups: Randy Arozarena (1-2, HR, 2 RBI), Christian Bethancourt (1-4, 2B, BB), Yandy Díaz (3-9, HR, 3 RBI), Brandon Lowe (1-4, 2B, BB)