Tampa Bay @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 3, 2025 ) Tampa Bay 3, NY Yankees 2
The New York Yankees prevented the Tampa Bay Rays from getting their running game going Friday, but struggled in that area Saturday and it all but cost them the game.
A day after allowing six stolen bases -- including three in the eighth inning when the Rays took the lead for good -- the Yankees will attempt to avoid losing their third home series this season when they host the Rays Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of their three-game set.
The Yankees held the Rays to one hit and no steals in Friday's 3-0 win -- allowing only Jose Caballero's fifth-inning single and three other baserunners. On Saturday, the Rays eked out a 3-2 victory by stealing their most bases since getting seven steals on August 18, 2024, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Tampa Bay swiped three bases in the eighth to key its two-run rally. Chandler Simpson scored the tying run on a base hit by Curtis Mead after stealing second and third while Brandon Lowe scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error by shortstop Anthony Volpe after stealing second.
"They got some first moves off us," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about the Rays, who have 39 stolen bases this season. "Obviously a double steal there, that adds up. That's who they are when they get especially the right matchups, they're able to do that a little bit. So, try to control that as best we can and overall been doing a good job in that."
The Rays' rally snapped a four-game losing streak during which they stole no bases, scored three runs and batted just .164 (21-for-128). Saturday's rally also earned just their third win in 18 games this season when scoring three runs or fewer.
"It was huge to come back there in the eighth," said Tampa Bay starter Zack Littell. "It was fun to watch and definitely a much-needed win."
Besides stealing six bases, the Rays also kept the Yankees from getting big hits in limited opportunities.
Aaron Judge hit his 11th homer, extended his on-base streak to 29 games and pushed his hitting streak to 13 games -- during which he's hitting .500 (26-for-52). However, with two runners on in the eighth and a chance to reverse the Rays' lead, he grounded out to end the inning.
After getting seven strong innings from Littell, the Rays hope to see similar results from Taj Bradley (2-2, 4.58 ERA) on Sunday.
Bradley went 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in his first three outings, but has gone 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his past three starts. The latter numbers are inflated by the six runs he allowed in 5 1/3 innings on April 17 against the Yankees. Bradley allowed two runs or fewer Tuesday for the third time this season when he gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
The 24-year-old right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against the Yankees. He got the win in New York on July 20, 2024, while allowed only one hit in seven scoreless innings of a 9-1 win.
After using Ryan Yarbrough as a spot starter Saturday when Clarke Schmidt was scratched, the Yankees will send Will Warren (1-1, 5.63) to the mound on Sunday. Warren earned his first career win April 12 against the San Francisco Giants and is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in his past three outings. That includes Monday at Baltimore when he allowed four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Warren has yet to pitch past the fifth inning. When he was matched up against Bradley and the Rays on April 17, he lasted 1 2/3 innings. He allowed one run on four hits and was pulled after 53 pitches.
--Field Level Media