The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees get set for the rubber match of their final series of the season in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon. The Rays and Yankees have played 18 times thus far this season with the Bombers holding a 10-8 lead in the season series and a 4 1/2 game lead in the AL East Division. The pitching matchup for Sunday will feature an opener and a bullpen game for the Rays while the Yankees will counter with right-hander Domingo German (2-3, 3.27). First pitch is scheduled for 1:35pm EST.
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Sunday will mark the last time this season that the Rays can gain ground on the Yankees without any help. Trailing the Yankees by 4.5 games in the division, a win on Sunday will be crucial to the Rays if they hope for any chance to repeat as AL East Division champions. After defeating the Yankees in the series opener on Friday night, the Rays were the closest that they've been to New York since April. On Saturday, with starter Corey Kluber on the mound, the Rays looked to inch even closer to the Yankees. Kluber, after dominating New York all season, never got out of the first inning as the Yankees pounded him for eight hits and six runs on their way to a 10-3 win.
Back at it tomorrow afternoon pic.twitter.com/u854gN8TZA
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 10, 2022
Saturday's performance was a surprisingly poor one for the Rays pitching staff. Even with the rough performance, Tampa is 9-3 in their last twelve games with a team ERA of 2.86 in that span. The Rays will go to a familiar formula on Sunday with an opener. In last Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Yankees, the Rays went to a similar formula with success. Scott Armstrong made the start in that game and gave the Rays three innings of work and allowed a run on an Aaron Judge home run. The Rays will either turn to Armstrong again or another familiar opener, Ryan Yarbrough. Yarbrough, a left-hander, might be more suited to pitch more innings in this game in the Bronx. He has pitched well against New York this season. He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA against the Yankees this season. Expect to see Yarbrough for an extended stint on Sunday.