Game 160: Rays at New York Yankees — Pregame News and Notes
Updated 4:50 p.m. After a 3–2 loss to the Astros on Thursday, the Rays now are in New York to meet the Yankees for the final series of the regular season. Tampa Bay (98–61) already has clinched home field for the AL playoffs, while New York (91–68) has all but wrapped up one of the two wild card spots.
Here’s the Rays lineup for tonight with Yandy Diaz back in there after not starting the past two games due to left rib discomfort. Wander Franco will try to start a new streak tonight after his 43-game on-base streak was halted yesterday:
Arozarena LF
Franco SS
Cruz DH
Diaz 3B
Choi 1B
Margot RF
Wendle 2B
Mejia C
Kiermaier CF
The Yankees now have a two game lead over Boston and Seattle and three on Toronto with three to play after yesterday’s win over the Blue Jays. A New York win and a loss by the Red Sox or Mariners would allow the Yankees to clinch this evening. Tampa Bay (9–7 against New York) can clinch the season series with a victory. The Rays need two wins in this set to get to 100 victories for the first time. Tampa Bay already has set a regular season mark with 98 wins.
Shane McClanahan (10–6 3.44) will make his final tuneup before the postseason. McClanahan last pitched in the team’s clinching game on September 25th, when he battled through five innings, allowing just a single run against the Marlins. McClanahan has faced New York twice, both 4–3 defeats. On July 27th at Tropicana Field, he allowed three runs over six innings, while giving up four runs in 3.1 innings at Yankee Stadium on June 2nd. Here’s the lineup he’ll face:
Torres 2B
Rizzo 1B
Judge RF
Stanton DH
Gallo LF
Urshela SS
Gardner CF
Higashioka C
Odor 3B
Nestor Cortes (2–2 2.85) will make his 14th start for the Yankees. On July 28th Cortes threw five innings at Tropicana Field, allowing a run in a 3–1 victory. Cortes gave up two runs in 4.1 innings at Boston on September 25th in his last start. Cortes has given up more than three runs just once (August 10th at Kansas City).
On the injury front, Matt Wisler came off the IL yesterday and threw a scoreless inning against the Astros. He’s expected to make one more appearance this series and the Rays will determine if he’s ready to be on the postseason roster.
Meanwhile Wander Franco will try and start a new streak tonight. Franco went 0-for-4 and his 43-game on base streak ended. That tied Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for the longest streak by a player 20 years of age or under.
On the minor league side, Durham is the one affiliate playing:
Durham (84–43) routed Orioles affiliate Norfolk 8–0. Durham, which already has won the league title, is 7–0 in the Triple-A “Final Stretch” 10-game tournament, and has won nine straight overall. Tommy Romero threw five shutout innings, while Garrett Whitley and Mike Brosseau homered.
Montgomery (62–55) fell in the championship series to the Mississippi Braves three games to two.
Bowling Green (82–36) won the league, beating Greensboro, a Pirates affiliate, three games to two.
Charleston (82–38) defeated Rangers affiliate Down East, three games to two to take the title.
Rays (42–15) ended the season with the best record in the FCL.
Coverage on the Rays Radio Network begins at 6:30 p.m. and Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 7:10. Join us at Coppertail Brewing in Tampa for a Rays Watch Party.
