THE
STORY: The Tampa
Bay Rays are within one game in the American League wild-card race for the
first time since June 29, after winning three of their last four. Now they have
three games left to try and become the first team in major league history to
make the playoffs after overcoming a nine-game deficit in September. The Rays
will have their top three pitchers starting, with James Shields leading off
Monday against the AL-East champion New York Yankees. The Rays are 14-10 this
month. The Yankees are 16-9 in September and 9-6 against Tampa Bay in 2011.
TV: 7:10 p.m. EST; YES (New York),
SunSports (Tampa Bay).
PITCHING
MATCHUP: Yankees RH
Hector Noesi (2-1, 4.14) vs. Rays RH James Shields (15-12, 2.84)
Noesi
made his first major league star Wednesday against the Rays, allowing four hits
and two runs in 2 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old rookie has 44 strikeouts in 54
1/3 innings. He has pitched six innings in relief against Tampa Bay, giving up
three hits and no runs. Desmond Jennings homered off Noesi on Wednesday.
Shields
has lost his last two starts, allowing eight runs in 14 1/3 innings, but he
gave the Rays a chance to win both. Teams are batting just .218 against him. He
is 1-3 vs. the Yankees in 2011, but sports a 2.40 ERA. Shields is 4-11 in his
career vs. New York with a 4.29 ERA in 121 2/3 innings. Robinson Cano is
20-for-53 with three homers and nine RBIs against Shields.
ABOUT
THE YANKEES (97-62):
The Yankees don’t have anything to play for other than pride and 100 victories,
so expect them to spot their regulars. Derek Jeter has been hot of late, with
11 hits in 22 at bats the last six games to raise his average to .300. He has
batted .300 or better 11 times. Jorge Posada has also been trying to solidify
his spot on the postseason roster, going 4-for-9 the last four games with four
RBIs. Rookie Jesus Montero continues impress, going 8-for-11 the last three
games. Mark Teixeira had gone 10 games without an RBI before his two-run double
in Sunday night's 14-inning loss to Boston.
ABOUT
THE RAYS (88-71): Ben
Zobrist has rebounded well after a tough doubleheader in New York last
Wednesday, when he struck out four times and hit into a double play in five at
bats. Zobrist is 6-for-15 his last four games with three homers and five RBIs.
He has four homers in his last eight games after going 39 games without one.
Evan Longoria hit his 29th homer Sunday and is five RBIs short of
his third straight 100-RBI season, despite missing almost 30 games with
injuries. B.J. Upton is finishing strong with 10 hits in 23 at bats the last
six games including his 22nd and 23rd homers.
FINAL
PITCH: Yankees’ ace
C.C. Sabathia will not pitch in the series. He threw 65 pitches in a simulated
game Sunday to prepare for his start in the opening game of the American League
playoffs, expected to be Friday.