Yankees at Rays
As two members of the powerhouse American League East, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays each have expectations of World Series greatness in 2012. Last season ended in disappointment, as both the Rays and Yankees made the playoffs but failed to advance past the first round. Each team has improved in the offseason, with New York upgrading its rotation through trades and free agency and Tampa Bay doing what it does best by graduating young talent.
The Yankees’ offense is a year older but is still stacked from top to bottom with MVP candidates like Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira taking over as anchors. The Rays have their own star in Evan Longoria but will always rely more on their pitching, which looks like the best in the league as top prospect Matt Moore joins the rotation. Tampa Bay took 10 of the 18 meetings last season, including a three-game sweep in the final series that got it to the playoffs.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2011: 19-8, 3.00 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (2011: 16-12, 2.98 ERA)
Sabathia was on the Cy Young short list again in 2011 and agreed to a five-year, $122 million contract extension in the offseason. The burly left-hander posted a 2.51 ERA and two complete games against Tampa Bay last season but managed just a 1-2 record in four starts. Longoria is batting .333 (10 for 30) with four homers off Sabathia in his career.
Shields led the majors with 11 complete games in 2011 and struck out a career-high 225 batters while posting career lows in WHIP (1.04), ERA and batting average against (.217). The veteran right-hander went 2-3 with a 2.33 ERA in five starts against the Yankees last season. Cano has had the most success against Shields, hitting .386 (22-for-57) with four homers and 11 RBIs.
WALK-OFFS:
1. The Yankees traded for backup C Chris Stewart and optioned C Francisco Cervelli to Class AAA on Wednesday.
2. The Rays placed RH Kyle Farnsworth (elbow) on the disabled list Thursday and recalled RH Josh Lueke.
3. New York RH Michael Pineda (shoulder) has yet to start a throwing program.