Yankees at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are back over .500 for the first time in almost a month and can complete a three-game sweep when they host the American League East-rival New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon. Corey Dickerson homered twice in Saturday’s 9-5 victory and has gone deep five times while recording multiple hits in four consecutive games for the Rays, who have won four straight and six of eight.
Evan Longoria is also 6-for-9 in the series after belting a solo blast Saturday as Tampa Bay pushed its run total to 45 over the last six games and evened the season series against the Yankees at 4-4 - winning four of five at home. Chris Archer looks to rebound from his worst outing of the season when he takes the ball for the Rays in the series finale against veteran left-hander CC Sabathia. Aaron Judge extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games and launched his 15th homer of the season Saturday for New York, which lost for the first time in 13 chances when its 25-year-old slugger has gone deep. Jacoby Ellsbury and Starlin Castro will also bring seven-game hitting streaks into Sunday’s contest for the Yankees.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (3-2, 4.93 ERA) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (3-2, 3.70)
Sabathia recovered from a rough stretch to allow five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory at Kansas City last Tuesday. The 36-year-old California gave up 22 runs and 30 hits over 20 2/3 innings in his previous four outings after starting the season strong, including five scoreless frames against the Rays. Longoria is 30-for-73 with seven homers, 14 walks and 16 RBIs in his career versus Sabathia, who is 15-14 with a 3.76 ERA in 42 games against Tampa Bay.
Archer managed just one victory over his last six starts, but strung together three quality starts before getting pounded for seven runs (six earned) over five innings at Cleveland last Monday. The 28-year-old North Carolina native is 2-0 with a 2.94 in five starts at home and boasts 65 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings overall. Ellsbury is 9-for-37 with two homers against Archer, who improved to 6-5 versus the Yankees with seven innings of two-run ball on April 2.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York C Gary Sanchez, who was rested Friday, belted his fourth homer Saturday and has hit safely in five consecutive games (9-for-20).
2. The Rays were struck out nine times Saturday to snap a franchise-record of seven straight games with 10 or more.
3. The Yankees are 20-0 when leading after seven innings and 21-0 with a lead after eight frames.