The Top Two Teams In The American League East Meet For The Final Time In The Regular Season As New York Heads To Tampa Bay
The two teams who finished first and second in the American League East this season will open a quick two game series Tuesday night as New York visits Tampa Bay.
New York is the American League East champion while Tampa Bay meanwhile finished second the division 9.5 games back. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings and is currently second in the Wild Card Standings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/standings/wild-card
The starting pitcher for New York has yet to be decided. However, Tampa Bay has decided to start right -hander Yonny Chirinos who comes into the game with a record of 9-5 with a 3.67 earn run average. Chirinos will be making his first start since Aug. 4. The right-hander returned from the injured list on Saturday and allowed one run and struck out two in one inning of work against the Red Sox. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
New York comes into the opening game with a record of 102-55 while Tampa Bay comes into the opening game of the two game series with a record of 93-64. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
As for New York’s previous game,
They last played on Sunday against Toronto in the Bronx where Luis Severino made his second start of the season.
Severino’s electric arsenal produced nine strikeouts over five scoreless innings on Sunday afternoon, concluding the Yankees’ regular-season home slate with an 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-strikes-out-9-in-second-start-of-2019
Severino scattered three hits and hit a batter with an 0-2 offering in his 80-pitch effort, running his season tally to nine scoreless innings after having his debut delayed by injuries to his right shoulder and right lat. Severino is expected to join James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka and possibly J.A. Happ in the rotation for the American League Division Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-strikes-out-9-in-second-start-of-2019
With the win, the Yankees secured home-field advantage for the American League Division Series. They are continuing to battle the Astros for the AL’s best record, which would provide home-field advantage throughout the AL Championship Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-strikes-out-9-in-second-start-of-2019
As for the offense,
Aaron Judge hit his 26th homer and Brett Gardner cracked his career-high 27th in a four-run first inning against Toronto opener Wilmer Font. Gardner’s homer was a three-run blast. DJ LeMahieu added his 26th homer in the second inning, a two-run shot off Trent Thornton, who permitted four runs over five innings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-strikes-out-9-in-second-start-of-2019.
Like New York, Tampa Bay won their previous game as they defeated Boston who like them and New York is a member of the American League East.
It wasn’t looking good for the Rays. The Red Sox had jumped out to an early four-run lead and, through three innings, the offense was unable to record a hit against Boston starter Jhoulys Chacín. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
The early deficit appeared to take some of the energy out of the building, but as they’ve done multiple times during their run at the postseason, the Rays bounced back to score six runs in the fourth behind three long and loud home runs en route to a 7-4 win over the Red Sox on Monday at Tropicana Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“Big hit after big hit,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “That was awesome. That was maybe the most exciting inning of the year.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
With the win, the Rays take a half-game lead over the Indians (who were off on Monday) for the second AL Wild Card spot with five games left in the regular season. The Rays are now 1 1/2 games behind the A’s (who were also off) for the top spot. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
Blake Snell struggled with his command in his second start back from the injured list and needed 52 pitches to get through just 1 2/3 innings of work. Snell allowed one run, but the Red Sox offense was able to tack on one run off Peter Fairbanks and two off Austin Pruitt to jump out to that four-run lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
In the bottom half of the frame Austin Meadows singled, which marked the first hit of the night for Tampa Bay. The hit seemed to break the seal for the Rays’ offense. Travis d'Arnaud followed Meadows with a base hit to set up a two-on, one-out situation for Ji-Man Choi, who has been one of the hottest hitters in the Rays lineup over the last 10 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
Choi didn’t disappoint in the big spot, launching a three-run home run off Chacín to cut the deficit to one. The home run served as a momentum shift for the Rays.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“I thought my homer changed the momentum of the game,” Choi said, through translator Ha Ram (Sam) Jeong. “I came back in the dugout and I told guys to never give up in the game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
But the Rays’ offense didn’t stop there. Brandon Lowe, who returned to the Rays lineup on Sunday, had the loudest dinger of the night as he crushed a 441-foot home run off Chacín to even the score at four. Lowe’s home run had an exit velocity of 110 mph. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“That felt good,” Lowe said. “I definitely missed the feeling of that, so I’m glad to be back.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
Just two batters later, Willy Adames turned on an 88 mph fastball from Bobby Poyner to cap off the six-run inning with a two-run home run, giving the Rays a two-run lead. With 20 home runs this season, Adames set a new franchise record for home runs hit by a shortstop in a single season. He also became the youngest Rays player to hit 20 home runs in a season since 23-year old Evan Longoria hit 33 in 2009. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“That means a lot,” Adames said. “I’m happy how everything has turned out. It makes me happy that I’m helping the team win. That’s the most important thing. If we win, I’m happy, and even more if I help the team win.””according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
The Rays got an insurance run in the sixth inning on an Avisaíl García RBI double, and that’s all they needed as Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, Emilio Pagán and Colin Poche shut the door over the last three innings against the Boston offense. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
Rays players -- most of them without the experience of a close postseason race -- have talked about the importance of playing their best down the stretch. They continued to be resilient with Monday’s series-clinching win over the Red Sox. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“I just feel like we’re a really good baseball team right now,” Lowe said. “We’re dangerous one through however many guys, including the bench. It’s just, everybody has faith in the guy before him and the guy after him to get the job done and it’s a dangerous team to play right now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
With only five games left in the regular season and their slight lead in the Wild Card race, the Rays will control their own destiny as they host the Yankees for a two-game series starting Tuesday before traveling to Toronto for a three-game set to finish the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“They have a good team,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “They have New York for two days, and I don’t know where they go after that but it seems like they’re getting healthy at the right time, too. Tyler Glasnow, Snell, and Charlie Morton is throwing the ball well. It’s a complete team. They have a good bullpen and obviously they’ve been playing solid the whole time.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
The Rays got an insurance run in the sixth inning on an Avisaíl García RBI double, and that’s all they needed as Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, Emilio Pagán and Colin Poche shut the door over the last three innings against the Boston offense. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
Rays players -- most of them without the experience of a close postseason race -- have talked about the importance of playing their best down the stretch. They continued to be resilient with Monday’s series-clinching win over the Red Sox. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“I just feel like we’re a really good baseball team right now,” Lowe said. “We’re dangerous one through however many guys, including the bench. It’s just, everybody has faith in the guy before him and the guy after him to get the job done and it’s a dangerous team to play right now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
With only five games left in the regular season and their slight lead in the Wild Card race, the Rays will control their own destiny as they host the Yankees for a two-game series starting Tuesday before traveling to Toronto for a three-game set to finish the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
“They have a good team,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “They have New York for two days, and I don’t know where they go after that but it seems like they’re getting healthy at the right time, too. Tyler Glasnow, Snell, and Charlie Morton is throwing the ball well. It’s a complete team. They have a good bullpen and obviously they’ve been playing solid the whole time.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-lead-indians-second-al-wild-card-spot
First pitch is set for 7:10pm from Tropicana Field. The game will be televised on Yes and Fox Sports Sun.