Yankees at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have turned their fortunes around against the New York Yankees and look to win their third straight between the divisional foes when they continue a three-game series in Florida on Saturday. Six pitchers combined on a five-hitter to help the Rays to a 2-1 win in Friday's series opener.
Tampa Bay was outscored 31-10 in losing the first five meetings between the teams before winning the last two while holding the high-powered Yankees to one run in both games. The Rays' committee approach on the mound paid dividends in both wins and they'll hope for another solid group effort with Wilmer Font getting the start Saturday. Sonny Gray will try to continue his personal turnaround for the Yankees, who had won four straight and seven of eight before being stifled by Tampa Bay on Friday. Brett Gardner was the one New York player with more than one hit as he put forth a solid return after missing five straight games due to a knee injury.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Sonny Gray (5-4, 4.89 ERA) vs. Rays RH Wilmer Font (0-3, 7.56)
Gray held Washington to two runs over five innings while fanning seven to get the win his last time out, improving to 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in four June starts. He also owns a 2.93 mark on the road, limiting opponents to a .228 average and recording more than a strikeout per frame in those seven outings. The one-time All-Star is 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 career starts versus Tampa Bay, but owns a 2.19 ERA in four starts at Tropicana Field.
Font has been with three teams in 2018 and owns a 2.20 ERA in seven appearances with the Rays. He has allowed three runs over 10 1/3 innings spread over three starts with Tampa Bay, lasting a season-high 4 2/3 innings and striking out five in a 3-1 win at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The 28-year-old is 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA in two starts at Tropicana Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays activated INF Daniel Robertson (hamstring) from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Austin Pruitt to Triple-A Durham.
2. Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (hamstring) is expected to have a bullpen session Sunday and may start a simulated game next week.
3. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier is 0-for-13 with four strikeouts since coming off the DL.