Domingo German To Start The Opener As New York Visits Tampa Bay

On Friday night two teams from the same division will open a three game series as New York visits their American League East foe Tampa Bay.

New York comes into the game with a record of 22-15 and is in second place in the division as they’re 1.5 games back of Tampa Bay who is leading the division and comes into the game with a record 23-13. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

Domingo German will start for New York. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 6-1 with a 2.35 earn run average. In his last start, German limited Minnesota to one run on four hits and three walks as he completed 6 2/3 innings. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he senses swelling confidence in German's fastball, curveball and changeup. He will oppose Tampa Bay right -hander Tyler Glasnow who unlike Domingo German is undefeated on the season with a record of 6-0 with a 1.47 earn run average. Glasnow will face the Yankees for the first time as a member of the Rays on Friday. His last start against the Yankees came on April 21, 2017 as a member of the Pirates. The right-hander allowed just one run over 4 2/3 innings in the outing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game they not only beat Seattle but they won the series while J.A. Happ bounced back from his last start.

J.A. Happ carried a full tank of pent-up frustration, spilling over from his most recent effort on the Yankee Stadium mound. Gio Urshela was brimming with confidence, fueled by his continued success in clutch situations. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Combined, Happ and Urshela sent the Yankees into their weekend showdown against the first-place Rays on a winning note. Happ pitched scoreless, one-hit ball into the sixth inning and Urshela came off the bench to deliver a key hit, powering New York's 3-1 victory over the Mariners on Thursday evening at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

I think I just held some frustration from that last start," said Happ, who lost to the Twins earlier this homestand last Saturday. "Pitching with an edge, whatever you want to call it. I was definitely focused out there, and I think that helped a little bit." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Urshela's two-run, eighth-inning single off Connor Sadzeck provided valuable insurance, a policy that the Yanks cashed when Domingo Santana broke up the shutout with a two-out homer off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth. Chapman polished off the save, sealing the Yanks' 14th win in 19 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

“I’ve been working for this kind of a chance," Urshela said. "What I’m doing right now, I’m trying to get better every day. Confidence is the key for me. I’m trying to have that confidence in every game." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

One night after the Yanks' hitters were stymied by lefty Yusei Kikuchi -- perhaps with the help of a sticky substance affixed to the underside of his cap -- it was the home team's turn to silence the bats. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Sensing better life on his four-seam fastball and using that pitch aggressively, Happ strapped his sinker, slider and change into the back seat as he held the Mariners hitless until Tom Murphy's two-out single in the fifth.

"I think that [four-seamer] helped," Happ said. "We were pitching out there. We were mixing. I had a little better drive and a little more consistency on that four-seamer. I think it allows the other stuff to play better." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Happ's control was not pinpoint in the three-walk, seven-strikeout effort -- he drilled Dee Gordon on the right wrist in the third inning, forcing the infielder to leave the game and prompting his ire -- but it was much improved over his underwhelming results against the Twins. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

"He’s been fighting hard," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I feel like he’s been really grinding. He’s really tried to find that way, and he’s done a good job of making different adjustments at times. To see him go out, throw it like he did tonight and really pound the zone like he did was really good to see. He was pretty intense throughout that game." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Supported only by Cameron Maybin's second-inning RBI double off Mariners starter Mike Leake, Happ barked at home-plate umpire Ed Hickox after getting squeezed on his 94th pitch, a close sixth-inning offering to Dylan Moore that resulted in a walk. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

That prompted Boone to hand the game off to the bullpen, as Happ wondered where the last pitch had been. Adam Ottavino relieved and extinguished a jam, inducing Santana to roll a slow grounder to shortstop Gleyber Torres for a 6-6-3 double play. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

"We haven't had too many nail-biters," Ottavino said. "We've been winning by a couple of runs each time, usually. To have it be 1-0 for that long was a little weird, but we know what we're capable of doing out there. I have all the confidence in everyone who came in after me, and Happ as well. We believe in our guys." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Tommy Kahnle and Zack Britton also fired scoreless frames, setting up another memorable moment for Urshela, who entered the game as a defensive replacement after third baseman Miguel Andújar went 0-for-3. Andujar is hitless in his last 15 at-bats. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

“He’s searching for it a little bit right now," Boone said of Andujar. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Urshela sustained a bruised left knee in Wednesday's loss, and Boone had planned to rest him in advance of a weekend on Tropicana Field's artificial turf. But Urshela's contact ability proved timely, and he was inspired when Seattle intentionally walked Torres to load the bases in favor of facing him. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

“That created more confidence for me," Urshela said. "I went up there and tried to do my best. I’m just trying to shorten my swing, and that’s what I did." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

After looking at a pair of called strikes, Urshela did not flinch when Sadzeck's slider sailed outside of the zone. The next pitch was a 98.7 mph fastball that Urshela stroked into right field, chasing home DJ LeMahieu and Brett Gardner with the runs that would provide the Yankees with their happy flight to the Sunshine State. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

"Baseball is hard to predict," Ottavino said. "I know we all try with the projections and all that stuff, but you've got to play the games. There's a lot of games. Sometimes a group can come together unexpectedly, and that's what's kind of happening now." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-beat-mariners-in-finale

Unlike New York, Tampa Bay lost their previous game as they were topped by Arizona.

Despite rallying to tie the game in the ninth inning on an RBI single by Kevin Kiermaier, the Rays were unable to complete the three-game sweep over the D-backs, dropping Wednesday’s finale at Tropicana Field, 3-2 in 13 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

The Rays scored 18 runs through the first two games of the series against the Diamondbacks, but the bats were held quiet on Wednesday by starter Robbie Ray, who allowed just four hits and struck out 11 over 5 2/3 innings of work. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

Tampa Bay had multiple opportunities throughout the game, with the best chance coming in the eighth inning, where the Rays had bases loaded with no outs against the Diamondbacks bullpen. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

Yandy Diaz opened the eighth inning with a walk, which was followed by a Tommy Pham opposite field single to give the Rays a threat. A throwing error by Eduardo Escobar helped Diaz score the lone run of the inning for the Rays and moved Pham up to third base. Yoshihisa Hirano followed the error by hitting Avisail Garcia in the left shoulder loading the bases with nobody out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

Mike Zunino grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning and then D-backs manager Torey Lovullo called on left-hander T.J. McFarland to get the final two outs of the inning and he delivered, striking out Brandon Lowe and getting Willy Adames to line out to end the threat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

“Have to find a way to score, but we just didn’t,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “They made some big pitches and we just couldn’t capitalize. They just made some big pitches. You have to credit their bullpen after Ray came out of the game, those guys really did a nice job of limiting a lot of opportunities for us.”

The Rays also had opportunities in the 11th and 12th inning, but just couldn’t come up with the big hit. Tampa Bay went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

“Impressed with the way we put the pressure on,” Cash said. “Ultimately [Kiermaier] comes up and gets a huge hit and then from there, it seemed like we had some more momentum going, but we just couldn’t quite capitalize.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

The Rays offense also had a tough time putting the ball in play on Wednesday, striking out 23 times, which was just one strikeout shy of tying a franchise record. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

“Just a lot of strikeouts for us offensively,” said Pham, who went 2-for-3 with three walks on Wednesday. “We have to do a better job controlling the strike zone.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

Rays starter Charlie Morton allowed just two runs Wednesday, but the right-hander struggled with his command, tying a season-high with four walks over five innings of work. Morton threw 86 pitches, 52 for strikes, and struck out eight with six of the punchouts coming on the curveball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

“I thought Charlie battled a little bit,” Cash said. “But Charlie has been really good for us and I expect him to bounce back with no problem.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

Tampa Bay is now 0-4 in extra inning games this season, but despite the loss, the Rays came away with their ninth series win of the season and now prepare to host the Yankees for a three-game set this weekend. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

“It’s one of those things where we won another series, which is a good thing,” Cash said. “We’ll get back at it after the off day.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tampa-bay-drops-series-finale-to-d-backs-in-extras

First pitch is set for 7:10pm from Tropicana Field. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Sun, Yes and Major League Baseball Network.