Rays at Yankees
The New York Yankees have had trouble generating any consistency in the early part of the season, but some of their big bats may be waking up just in time for a three-game showdown with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. New York salvaged a split of a four-game set in Kansas City behind an offense that finally busted out with three home runs, including a grand slam by Robinson Cano and a three-run shot from Alex Rodriguez. The blast by Cano allowed him to match his homer and RBI totals coming into the game.
Tampa Bay will face three AL East rivals – New York, division co-leader Baltimore and Toronto – on its eight-game road trip. The Rays opened the season with a three-game home sweep of the Yankees and owned a lofty 13-1 record at Tropicana Field until dropping back-to-back games to Oakland over the weekend that snapped a six-game winning streak and a string of 10 straight home victories. James Francis has had his struggles against the Yankees in his career but is seeking to win a club-record sixth consecutive start.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SUN, YES
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH James Shields (5-0, 3.05 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (3-1, 5.58 ERA)
Shields did not factor in the decision in the season opener against the Yankees after giving up six runs in five innings. He’s won his last five starts, although he’s surrendered four runs in each of the last two. Shields is only 5-11 with a 4.39 ERA in 21 career starts against New York. He’s also surrendered five home runs in 34 innings at Yankee Stadium.
Nova had his 15-game winning streak snapped in his last outing, giving up five runs in 6 1/3 innings to Baltimore. It was his first loss since June 3, 2011. Opponents are hitting .341 against Nova, who received 30 runs of support in his first four starts before the Yankees were blanked last time out. He is 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA in four career starts against the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cano has lit up Shields to the tune of a 1.160 OPS, batting .400 with four homers, five doubles, two triples and 11 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
2. Tampa Bay has won seven consecutive meetings between the teams.
3. Yankees CF Curtis Granderson has reach base in a major league-leading 27 straight games.