Just two weeks ago, on August 17, the New York Yankees were first in the AL East division holding a 2.5 game lead over Tampa Bay for first place. The Tampa Bay Rays have since won 11 out of their last 13 games, while New York has lost eight of its last 11 games. The Rays now hold a 4.5 game lead in the division entering the final month of the regular season.
The Rays continued their domination over the Yankees on Monday with a 5-3 win. On the season, the Yankees have now lost seven of the eight games against the Rays.
Tampa Bay is the top team in AL
The Rays entered Tuesday night's game against New York on a six-game winning streak and the best record in the American League at 25-11.
Heading into Tuesday, the Rays were averaging 5.2 runs per game, which is 6th in the league and hitting .249, which is 14th. Third baseman Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with a .307 batting average, and Brandon Lowe has been the best offensive player for Tampa Bay this season with 10 home runs and 27 RBI. Willy Adames is batting .297 and has homered four times with 14 RBI. Hunter Renfroe (.161 BA 5 HR 18 RBI) and Yoshitomo Tsuysugo (.188 BA 5 HR 17 RBI) are second and third on the team for Runs Batted In, despite struggling in the average department.
The Rays pitching staff is currently 6th in MLB with a 3.72 ERA. Charlie Morton, who is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA, will be making his first start since August 9 after missing some time with shoulder inflammation. Morton is 4-2 with a 3.99 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP in nine career starts against the Yankees.
Injuries have slowed down the Yankees
The Yankees are 19-14 on the season, currently 2nd in the AL East. The Yankees are 8th in MLB, scoring 4.9 runs per game, and 16th with a .244 batting average.
DJ LeMahieu currently leads the Yankees with a .398 batting average on the season, after hitting .327 with 26 home runs and 102 RBI in 2019. Luke Voit is batting .301 and leads in the power department with 13 home runs, and 26 RBI LeMahieu is expected to miss at least one more week with a sprained left thumb. Giancarlo Stanton, who has hit 311 home runs in his career, is also currently out with an injury. Another Bronx Bomber out with an injury is Aaron Judge, who has nine home runs and 20 RBI on the season and is expected to miss another two-to-three weeks.
As a pitching staff, the Yankees have a 4.30 ERA, which is 12th in baseball. On Wednesday, the team will send Jordan Montgomery, who is 2-1 with a 4.44 ERA, 1.07 WHIP out to start. Montgomery is 1-1 with a 3.54 ERA, and 1.52 WHIP with five career starts against the Rays.
Notable Trends
- Yankees are 0-4 in their last 4 games against a team with a winning % above.600
- Tampa Bay is 11-1 in last 12 games against NY Yankees
- Tampa Bay is 11-3 in their last 14 games against a team with a winning record.
