The New York Yankees begin a very big series tonight in the Bronx against a very good and very pesky team in the American League East Division race, the Tampa Bay Rays. Before the season started I don’t think many had Tampa Bay making a serious run at the top heavy AL East Division crown, including myself, but the pitching has carried the Rays to within striking distance in the East, a division the Yankees want to so desperately win for the first time in what feels like forever. It’s going to be a three-team race and a dog fight until the end and that fight continues tonight as the Yankees send CC Sabathia to start this big four-game series with the Rays while Tampa Bay counters with their ace Chris Archer. One word comes to mind when Archer takes the mound against the Yankees inside Yankee Stadium. Ugh. Ugh indeed.
Sabathia will make his fourth start since coming off the disabled list on July 4th and will be looking for his third win in those four starts. Sabathia earned his second win in his last start against the Seattle Mariners tossing five innings while allowing just one run on four hits.
Archer was brilliant in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles but due to lack of run support the right-handed took his fourth loss of the season. To his credit Archer did throw two wild pitches including one that allowed the eventual winning run to score but Archer has made five quality starts and has gone at least six innings in 12 consecutive starts and he has very little to show for it in terms of wins and losses. This is a team game and the Rays offense could do better for Archer, just not tonight please.
The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along in your cars and on the radio by tuning into the WFAN broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and always root for the Yankees! Go Yankees!