New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2012 ) NY Yankees 2, Tampa Bay 5

Suddenly the New York Yankees are in danger of not only losing their grip on the American League East, but on a wild card spot as well. The Tampa Bay Rays are bearing down on the Yankees in the standings and have dominated their division rivals at Tropicana Field, taking 11 of the last 12 meetings under the Dome. New York has fallen into a tie for first place in the East with the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays are 1 1/2 games back of the Orioles and Yankees, who are now also tied for the second wild card spot in the AL. New York’s 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday dropped them out of sole possession of first place in the division for the first time since June 11. The Rays have gone 19-9 since Evan Longoria returned from the disabled list and Longoria was the key to Tuesday’s win, belting a two-run homer in the third that put his team on top for good. New York has dropped 10 of its last 14 games and is struggling offensively, averaging 3.2 runs in that span.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), SUN (Tampa Bay), ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (12-10, 3.04 ERA) vs. Rays LH Matt Moore (10-8, 3.58)

Kuroda has lost his last two starts despite going eight innings or longer in both. The Japanese right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits - two home runs - against Baltimore on Friday. New York has not given Kuroda much support in those starts, totaling two runs. He struggled at Tampa Bay back in April, yielding six runs - four earned - on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to absorb the loss. Matt Joyce homered off Kuroda in that contest.

Moore has surrendered two earned runs or less in eight of his last nine starts but is coming off a loss at Toronto. The 23-year old struck out seven and allowed two runs on six hits in six innings but was on the wrong end of a 2-0 final score. Moore earned a win over the Yankees on July 2, yielding three runs on nine hits in seven innings, and is 2-0 in two career starts against the division rivals.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York has been held to six hits or fewer in five straight games.

2. Yankees RHP Ivan Nova (shoulder inflammation) threw 20 pitches in a workout on Tuesday. A timetable for his return will be decided based on how he feels Wednesday.

3. Tampa Bay has come from behind to beat New York six times this season, including the last two days.