The surging second-place Tampa Bay Rays (72-57) will host the New York Yankees (79-72) in the opening contest of a three-game series. looking to gain ground in the American League East. The Yankees have won eight out of the 13 head-to-head games this season heading into Friday.
The Yankees dominated the first half of the season, and winning the American League East seemed like a lock when they went into the All-Star break with a 13-game lead over the Rays. Since the break, the Yankees have just a 15-24 record and lead the Rays by only six games with three head-to-head meetings coming up. New York was off on Thursday after losing 3-2 to the Angels in a game that Gerrit Cole started. New York has now dropped four of its last five games, with those contests coming against the A's and Yankees.
Let's go, Oswald! ?? pic.twitter.com/CGn8DJoi3g
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 1, 2022
MVP candidate Aaron Judge leads all of MLB with a 1.062 OPS, 51 home runs and 113 RBI. Judge could use more support, though, as the Yankees are averaging just 3.6 runs per game over their last 10 road games.
New York is 34-32 on the road this season, and Domingo German (2-2, 3.19 ERA) will make the start on Friday. He is 0-2 with a 3.08 ERA in five road starts this season. German has struggled in the past at Tropicana Field with an 8.36 ERA in four appearances there since 2018.