CC Sabathia Gets The Start In The Opener As New York Takes On Chris Archer, Tampa Bay

New York has now won the last two series they have played and now they welcome Tampa Bay to  Yankee Stadium for a four -game series.

An important American League East series gets underway Thursday at Yankee Stadium when Chris Archer and the Rays take on CC Sabathia and the Yankees in the opener of a four-game set. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

After both the Yankees and Rays won on Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees held a one-game lead over the Royals for the top American League Wild Card spot. The Rays are a game back of Kansas City for the second spot. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

While the Rays haven't been in postseason contention this late in the season since 2013, the clubhouse appears to be embracing the challenge. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

"It's fun," Archer said. "Coming to the yard every day, it's a lot more enjoyable. The camaraderie, the chemistry in the clubhouse -- everything's fun. It's awesome. We're looking forward to it, and we're going to definitely try and make the most of the situation." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

While Archer is enjoying the climate of his team's situation, the right-hander said he would not be treating his start against the Yankees any differently. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

"We all go game by game," Archer said. "We know the situation, but we go game by game. So for me personally, it's not going to be anything different. Just try and go out there and do my job just like everybody else." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

Sabathia will go for the Yankees, who have won six of eight games. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

"It's an important series," Yanks manager Joe Girardi said. "We still have 63 games to go. These are all really important games, especially when they're within your division and you're all close and you're trying to continue to gain on the Red Sox." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

Sabathia is enjoying a nice season, going 9-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 16 starts. He defeated the Red Sox and Mariners to pick up wins in his past two starts. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

"Any time you play a team in your division, it's going to be a tough series," Sabathia said. "It's going to be big games. This will be no different. Four-game set; hopefully, we can come out and win the series." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

Sliders have accounted for nearly two-thirds of Archer's swinging strikes this season, but he was a little more balanced in his last outing. Archer's 22 swinging strikes tied for his second-highest total of the season and only half of those were sliders. Five came on changeups, a season high and tied for Archer's second most in his career. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

 Evan Longoria is hitting .405 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 74 career at-bats against Sabathia. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

 Didi Gregorius has homered in three straight games for the first time in his career. He has an eight-game hitting streak, batting .517 (15-for-29) with five homers, eight RBIs, and no strikeouts. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170726244548464/archer-faces-cc-to-start-al-east-showdown/?game_pk=491626

As for New York's last game, they won a two game set against Cincinnati. 

After winning their first series since the first week of June last weekend in Seattle what better way is there to start off their nine game homestand than to win a  set against Cincinnati? 

Luis Severino continued to establish himself as an ace, Didi Gregorius homered for the third straight game and Clint Frazier contributed a pair of run-scoring hits, leading the Yankees to a 9-5 victory over the Reds on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

Todd Frazier also slugged his first homer as a Yankee, helping New York log its sixth win in eight games. The Reds have lost 11 of 13 since the All-Star break and were stifled over seven innings by the All-Star Severino, who is earning plaudits as the Yanks' top starter. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

"I take the mound every time thinking of going six, seven [innings]," Severino said. "That's my mindset. Every time they give me the ball, I'm trying to pitch a good game. I'm satisfied with the work I'm doing right now." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

Severino seemed uncomfortable with the "ace" tag, saying that he would need to "keep doing this for five or six years" before being considered alongside the likes of Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia. The 23-year-old logged his fourth consecutive quality start, limiting Cincinnati to three hits and two walks over a nine-strikeout performance. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

"That's a term that's thrown around loosely these days, but for what that term is, yeah, he is [the ace]," Sabathia said. "He's been there every start, and that's something that we need. Every good team needs that guy that goes out there every fifth day and has a chance to win. He's been that for us." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

A Gregorius error preceded a pair of unearned runs in the seventh, snapping Severino's streak of 17 scoreless innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

The Yankees peppered Bailey for three two-out singles in both the third and fifth innings, as rookie Frazier drove home Ronald Torreyes with run-scoring hits. Frazier lined a hit to right field in the third inning that produced New York's first run, and he came to the plate in almost the same situation in the fifth, with Torreyes and Brett Gardner reaching ahead of him. Frazier grounded a hard hit into left field to cash the run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

"They're doing everything they can to get on base," Frazier said. "They're running balls out and giving me good opportunities to try to push runs across the board. It's fun to play with a guy like Gardy, who's hustling all the time. And I've just kind of followed his lead. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

Following a leadoff walk to Clint Frazier, Bailey was chased by run-scoring hits off the bats of Gary Sanchez and Matt Holliday in the seventh, with Price summoning Tony Cingrani. Gregorius greeted the left-hander rudely, slugging his first pitch over the right-field wall for the shortstop's 16th homer of the season and his fourth in the past three games. Todd Frazier followed two batters later with a solo blast, giving New York a seven-run lead at the time. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

The Yankees successfully challenged a call at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Todd Frazier was initially ruled out on a fielder's choice. A review of one minute and 10 seconds showed that shortstop Jose Peraza was off the bag after receiving a throw from first baseman Joey Votto, overturning the original call. The play led to a run on Torreyes' RBI groundout. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244563024/bats-back-luis-severino-as-yankees-beat-reds/

New York improves to 53-46 and is now 1.0 game back of their American League East rival Boston while Cincinnati drops to 41-60 on the season in the national league central.

As for Tampa Bay last game, The long ball was their best friend Wednesday in a win against Baltimore.

Homers and a healthy dose of Alex Cobb led the Rays to a 5-1 win over the Orioles at Tropicana Field. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

The Rays are one game back of the Royals for the second American League Wild Card spot, and they remain 1 1/2 games back of the top Wild Card spot, held by the Yankees, with whom the Rays begin a four-game series on Thursday. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

Trailing 1-0 against Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who struck out a season-high nine, entering the sixth inning, Evan Longoria got the Rays' bats going with two outs and a man aboard. Longoria rerouted a 1-1 fastball 402 feet into the left-field stands, giving him 15 home runs for the season and the Rays a 2-1 lead. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

"I wouldn't call it a mistake because I wanted it inside and it was inside," Jimenez said of the pitch to Longoria. "He looked like he was looking for it, and he just put a good swing [on it]. He's a good hitter." "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

Steven Souza Jr. hit a solo shot off Darren O'Day in seventh to give the Rays some insurance. Then in the ninth, Logan Morrison added an RBI single and Souza's RBI fielder's choice gave the game its final score. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

On the mound, Cobb continues to pitch well for the Rays. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk, striking out six to pick up his ninth win of the season. The only blemish on Cobb's line came when Jonathan Schoop broke up a scoreless tie with his 22nd homer of the season. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

"I have no idea what we'd do without [Cobb]," Cash said. "The way he goes out and performs, we are in every single ball game he pitches." "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the game was "statistically" a letdown, as the Orioles registered just six hits on the afternoon. Baltimore was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

"I know [Cobb's] in the top 10 … in the American League [in ERA], and that's really hard to do, in the American League especially," Showalter said. "That's a convenient excuse, but those are the types of games you'd like a way to scratch out a couple more [runs]." "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

Added center fielder Adam Jones, "We hit the balls hard. We had good at-bats. It's not like they had 12 strikeouts. They threw strikes and we put the ball in play." "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

The Rays trailed 1-0 with two outs in the sixth before Longoria stepped to the plate with a runner on base. The count reached 1-1 when the Rays' third baseman jumped on an 89-mph fastball and deposited it 402 feet into the left-field stands. The barreled ball had an exit velocity of 109.9 mph, Longoria's hardest-hit home run since Statcast™ started tracking hits, with a 25-degree launch angle. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

Souza was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Jimenez heading into his at-bat in the seventh against O'Day. Souza jumped on an 80.6-mph slider and rode the pitch 447 feet to left field. The barreled ball had a 112.3-mph exit velocity with a 28-degree launch angle. It was Souza's 21st home run of the season. "according to http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/244543048/rays-alex-cobb-beats-orioles-ubaldo-jimenez/

Veteran left-hander CC Sabathia will get the start for New York. He has a record of 9-3 with a 3.44 earn run average. Sabathia has won two of his three starts since coming off the 10-Day disabled list on July 4th. His most recent outing came on July 21st against the Mariners, In which he tossed five innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. He will go up against Tampa Bay right -hander Chris Archer who has a record of 7-6 with an earn run average of 3.77. Archer showed electric stuff Saturday against the Orioles but he took his fourth loss after throwing two wild pitches to allow the run to score. Archer has made five straight quality starts and has gone at least six in 12 consecutive starts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rays-vs-yankees/2017/07/27/491626#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491626

Will CC Sabathia pitch as well as he did in his last outing against Seattle? Will Tampa Bay be able to get their offense going against the left -handed veteran? Will New York be able to get their offense going against Chris Archer? 

First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rays-vs-yankees/2017/07/27/491626#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491626