Tampa Bay Rays (54-35) at New York Yankees (57-32)
4 :10 PM ET on FOX
FREE Expert MLB Picks
Starting Pitchers
TB: J. Niemann (7-2, 2.77)
NYY: A. Burnett (7-7, 4.75)
On a night filled with tears and cheers, the Yankees paid the ultimate tribute to late owner George Steinbrenner by beginning the second half of the 2010 season by rallying for a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Nick Swisher’s two out game-winning single in the bottom of ninth.
It was a huge night for Swisher, who finished the game 3-for-5 including a game-tying home run in the eighth, after the Rays had taken a 4-3 lead in the seventh against on an RBI groundout by Ben Zobrist. The All-Star is 11 for 25 with three home runs in his last six games and 7 for 19 with two homers against the Rays this season.
Now the teams with the best records in baseball will get set to go at it again on Saturday in game two of a three game set. The Yankees and Tampa Bay have split six games this year and will play each 12 more times this season; so each meeting will be significant as the season progresses.
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The Yankees will try and put some distance between them and Tampa when they call on A.J. Burnett as he tries for a third straight strong outing. After posting an 11.35 ERA in his previous five appearances, the veteran right-hander seems to be back on track lately, posting a 1.32 ERA over his last two starts. Burnett recorded his first victory since May 30 with a 6-2 win at Oakland on July 7. He is 12-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 23 starts against Tampa Bay, but surrendered six runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 10-6 home loss to the Rays on May 19.
Despite Friday’s loss, the Rays have won 10 of 13, and have fallen behind by three games to the division leading Yankees.
In an attempt to cut New York’s lead, the Rays will summon their most consistent pitcher Jeff Niemann. The right-hander did make an early exit in his last start due to back stiffness, but is supposedly on target to go on Saturday. He will make first start against the Bronx Bombers this season, a team that he has very little experience against. He is 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA in three starts against New York.
The Yankees love the second-half of the season, so this is the Rays need to prove themselves if they want to keep pace. Letting New York increase their lead in the standings by even just a single game could prove costly down the stretch.
Rays offensive leader Carl Crawford has not been 100 percent, which has slowed him down; going 2-for 4 with a pair of singles in game one, and outfielder BJ Upton has been disappointing.
As for the Yankees, Mark Teixeira is on fire, but was held hitless with a pair of walks in Friday’s opener.
The odds makers have the Yankees as –1-½ – favorites with a run total of 9 ½.
Neimann is a more stable bet than Burnett, but if for some reason he cannot make the start due to his back or AJ is bringing the heat this could easily reverse. The safe bet it the Yanks and the OVER.
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