NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees begin a season-long 10-game, three-city road trip tonight with the first game of a three-game set at Tampa Bay…will also make stops in Detroit (Mon.-Thurs.) and Houston (9/1-3)…went 1-5 on their recent homestand after being swept by Boston in a three-game set and dropping two-of-three vs. Washington.
Have lost 10 of their last 11 games (since 8/12).
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Nationals, 6-5, on Thursday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Michael King (2.2IP, 1H, 1R/0ER, 2BB, 3K, 1WP) made his second start of
the season and allowed just one unearned run in 2.2IP…RF Aaron Judge (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI, 1BB) hit a solo HR in the first inning…2B Gleyber Torres (3-for-5, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) recorded a season-high-tying three hits, hitting a single in the first inning, a go-ahead two-run HR in the third inning and a single in the ninth inning…1B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-3, 1R, 2BB) reached base three times…DH Giancarlo Stanton (4-for-5, 1R, 1 double, 1HR, 2RBI) recorded a season-high four hits, including a solo HR in the eighth inning and an RBI single in the ninth inning…LF Everson Pereira (1-for-4, 1 double) picked up his first Major League hit with a double in the eighth inning…RHP Tommy Kahnle (0.2IP, 3H, 3ER, 2K, 2HR) took his third loss of the season after allowing a season-high-tying 3ER and a career-high-tying 2HR.
STANTON ISLAND: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton recorded a season-high four hits on Thursday, his most in a game since 5/4/21 vs. Houston (also four hits)…hit a single in the first inning, a double in the third inning, a solo HR in the eighth inning and an RBI single in the ninth inning…marked his 13th career game with at least four hits.
According to Statcast, his RBI single in the ninth inning on Thursday was tied for the hardest hit by a player this season at 118.6 mph, matching Matt Olson’s 118.6 mph home run on 4/11.
COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 27th start of the season tonight at Tampa Bay…is 10-4 with a 3.03 ERA (160.1IP, 54ER) and 170K in 26 starts this season… wins the lowest ERA in the American League and the fourth-lowest in the Majors, trailing only San Diego’s Blake Snell (2.73), Chicago-NL’s Justin Steele (2.80) and Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (2.97)…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 19 of his 26 starts this season, tied with San Diego’s Blake Snell for the most such starts in the Majors.
Is also tied for fourth in the Majors in innings pitched (160.1, first in AL) and starts (26, tied for second in AL), ranks sixth in WHIP (1.07, fifth in AL), eighth in strikeouts (170, fourth in AL) and ninth in opponents’ BA (.219, third in AL).
Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 20 of his 26 starts, the most such starts in the AL and the third-most in the Majors, trailing only San Francisco’s Logan Webb (21) and Arizona’s Zac Gallen (21)…has tossed at least 6.0 innings in eight of his last nine starts (since 7/2) and in 13 of his last 15 starts (since 5/28).
Is 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA (68.2IP, 20ER) and 66K in 11 starts on the road this year…has tossed at least 6.0IP and allowed 2R-or-fewer in nine of those 11 starts…owns a 1.98 ERA (50.0IP, 11ER) and 49K in his last eight road starts (since 5/17).
Has recorded double-digit strikeouts in nine of his last 16 starts vs. Tampa Bay (since 3/29/19)…his career 12.88 K/9.0IP ratio vs. the Rays is the second-highest by any pitcher vs. Tampa Bay all-time (min. 50.0IP), trailing only Matt Barnes (14.03)…has recorded at least 10K in six of his last seven starts at the Trop (since 3/29/19).
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu reached base three times on Thursday…is batting .288 (32-for-111) with 10R, 6 doubles, 2HR, 4RBI, 18BB and 1HP in his last 32 games since 7/6)…has reached base safely in 29 of those 32 games.
WALK IT OUT: Yankees batters have recorded 147BB since the All-Star break, the second-most walks in the Majors in that span…trail only Houston’s 149BB.
LOCK AND KEY: RHP Keynan Middleton tossed 1.1 perfect innings of relief on Thursday…eight of his nine appearances with the Yankees (since 8/4) have been scoreless, posting a 0.82 ERA (11.0IP, 1ER) and 14K in that span.
ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge hit a solo HR in the first inning on Thursday…marked his fourth home run within a span of five plate appearances, becoming the third Yankee in the last 53 years (since 1971) and fourth in the last 61 years (since 1963) to hit at least 4HR in a span of 5PA, joining Gio Urshela (4HR in 5PA from 8/7-8/19), Paul O’Neill (4HR in 5PA from 9/9-10/98) and Bobby Murcer (4HR in 5PA on 6/24/70-Games 1 and 2).
Has 4HR in his last two games, 6HR in his last six games (since 8/18) and 8HR in his last 14 games (since 8/8).
Is the second Yankee in the last four seasons (since 2020) and just the third in the last six seasons (since 2018) to hit at least 4HR in a two-game span, joining Anthony Rizzo (4HR in 2G from 4/24-26/22) and Gio Urshela (4HR in 2G from 8/7-8/19)…marks the second time in his career that he has hit 4HR in a two-game span (also 4HR in 2G from 9/24-25/17).
Has homered in back-to-back games five times this season (3G from 5/28-30, 2G from 5/15-16, 5/18-19, 8/18- 19 and 8/23-24)…with a home run tonight, it would mark
the 11th time in his career he has homered in at least three straight games.
Has driven in seven of the Yankees’ last 14R (since 8/23) and 10 of the Yankees’ last 24R (since 8/18).
14 of his 28HR this season have either tied the game (two) or given the Yankees the lead (12).
Nine of his 28HR this year have come in the first inning.
Has reached base safely in 63 of his 73 games this season…has reached base safely in 40 of his last 44 games (since 5/12).
Has 10HR in his last 17 games vs. the AL East (since 5/13).
His 248 career home runs are the most by any Major League player through his first 802 career games (next: Ryan Howard-236HR).
Despite missing 51 games on the injured list this year, ranks fifth in the AL in home runs (28)…is also tied for fourth in the AL and tied for 10th in the Majors with 11 game-winning RBI.
Since being reinstated from the injured list on 7/28, leads the AL with 22BB and is tied with Atlanta’s Matt Olson for the second-most walks in the Majors, trailing only Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber (31).
In his last 17 games vs. the Rays (since 6/22/22), has hit .313/.392/.625 (20-for-64) with 12R, 2 doubles, 6HR, 13RBI, 9BB and 1SF.
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres recorded a season-high tying three hits on Thursday vs. Washington (fifth time: also 4/5 vs. Philadelphia, 7/14 at Colorado, 8/2 vs.
Tampa Bay and 8/6 vs. Houston)…singled in the first inning, hit a go-ahead two-run HR in the third inning and singled in the ninth inning.
His go-ahead two-run HR in the third inning on Thursday marked his 20th home run of the season…has reached the 20HR mark for the second straight season and for the fourth time in his career (also 24HR in 2018, 38HR in 2019 and 24HR in 2022)…is one of eight Yankees in franchise history to record at least four 20HR seasons prior to his age 27 season…joins Mickey Mantle (seven), Joe DiMaggio (six), Don Mattingly (four), Bobby Murcer (four), Charlie Keller (four), Joe Gordon (four) and Lou Gehrig (four).
Has 2HR in his last four games.
Is batting .333/.407/.543 (27-for-81) with 10R, 5 doubles, 4HR, 8RBI, 9BB, 1HP and 4SB in 21 games during the month of August…has hit safely in 16 of those games and has reached base in 18 of those contests.
Has multiple hits in three of his last six games (since 8/18).
NEW YORK GIANTS: OF Aaron Judge and DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton both homered on Thursday vs. Washington…marked the 30th time during the regular season the pair has both homered in the same game… marked just the fourth time the Yankees lost one of those games (are 26-4 in those games).
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have hit 7HR over their last two games and 11HR over their last four games.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP GERRIT COLE (10-4, 3.03 ERA)
RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 27th start of the season in tonight’s series opener at Tampa Bay…the 32-year-old will start on extended five days’ rest due to Monday’s team off day…last started on Saturday vs. Boston, recording just his fourth loss of the season after allowing a season-high-tying 6R (4.0IP, 7H, 1BB, 4K, 2HR)…is 10-4 with a 3.03 ERA (160.1IP, 54ER) and 170K in 26 starts this season…owns the lowest ERA in the American League and the fourth-lowest in the Majors, trailing only San Diego’s Blake Snell (2.73), Chicago-NL’s Justin Steele (2.80) and Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (2.97)…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 19 of his 26 starts this season, tied with San Diego’s Blake Snell for the most such starts in the Majors…started for the American League in the 93rd Midsummer Classic on 7/11 and retired all 3BF, becoming the 12th pitcher in franchise history (20th time) to start an All-Star Game…was named to his sixth career All-Star team via the player ballot…reached 10 years of Major League service on 5/29…recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on 5/23 vs. Baltimore (Jorge Mateo swinging), becoming the third-fastest pitcher in Major League history to reach the milestone (in terms of games and innings pitched)…his Major League-leading 257K last season were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a single season in franchise history, surpassing Ron Guidry’s previous record of 248K in 1978…the six-time All-Star (2015, ’18-19, ’21-23) has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting five times (second in 2021, fourth in 2020, second in 2019, fifth in 2018, fourth in 2015)…his career 10.44 K/9.0IP ratio (2,100K/1,810.1IP) is the eighth-highest in Major League history (min. 1,000.0IP)…in 101 starts with the Yankees, is 46-23 with a 3.22 ERA (615.1IP, 220ER) and 764K…since 2018, leads the Majors in wins (81) and strikeouts (1,366), ranks second in K/9.0IP (11.96) and innings pitched (1,028.0), third in opponents’ BA (.205), fourth in winning percentage (.711, min. 60 decisions) and WAR among pitchers (26.6 – FanGraphs), fifth in WHIP (1.01) and K/BB (5.19) and seventh in ERA (3.00)…was originally selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft but did not sign and went on to play at UCLA for three seasons (2009-11)… was the first overall pick of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the 15th pitcher (and 11th right-hander) to be chosen first…is the fifth player selected first overall to play for the Yankees, joining Alex Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Foli and Ron Blomberg…signed a nine-year contract extending through the 2028 season with a player opt-out following the 2024 season on 12/18/19.
LAST START: Recorded his fourth loss of the season on Saturday vs. Boston after allowing a season-high-tying 6R (4.0IP, 7H, 1BB, 4K, 2HR)…marked just the fifth time this season that he allowed more than 3R and the seventh time he allowed more than 2R…marked the first time this season he exited the game with the Yankees trailing by multiple runs…his 2HR allowed tied his season high (fifth time)…marked his first game with multiple home runs allowed since 5/28 vs. San Diego…surrendered a grand slam to Luis Urías in the second inning, marking just his second HR allowed this season with multiple men on (also a three-run HR to Christian Bethancourt on 5/7 at Tampa Bay).
2023: Is 10-4 with a 3.03 ERA (160.1IP, 54ER) and 170K in 26GS this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 19 of his 26GS this year, tied with San Diego’s Blake Snell for the most in the Majors.
Ranks fourth in the Majors in ERA (3.03, first in AL), tied for fourth in innings pitched (160.1, first in AL) and starts (26, tied for second in AL), sixth in WHIP (1.07, fifth in AL), eighth in strikeouts (170, fourth in AL) and ninth in opponents’ BA (.219, third in AL) …also ranks fifth in the AL in winning percentage (.714), seventh in HR/9.0IP (0.95) and tied for eighth wins (10).
According to Elias, his 3.03 ERA is the sixth-lowest by a Yankees starter through his first 26 starts of a season in the last 24 years (since 2000), trailing only Nestor Cortes’ 2.67 ERA in his first 26GS in 2022, Hiroki Kuroda’s 2.71 ERA in his first 26GS in 2013, his own 2.78 ERA in his first 26GS in 2021, CC Sabathia’s 2.93 ERA in his first 26GS in 2011 and Hiroki Kuroda’s 2.98 ERA in his first 26GS in 2012.
Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 21-of-26 starts, the second-most such starts in the AL and the third-most such starts in the Majors, trailing only San Diego’s Blake Snell (23) and Minnesota’s Sonny Gray (22)…has allowed 1R-or-fewer in 10 of his 26 starts and has recorded five scoreless starts.
Allowed 3R-or-fewer in 11 consecutive starts from 6/3-8/2, posting a 2.33 ERA (69.2IP, 18ER) and 78K in that span.
Has started after a Yankees’ loss 12 times this season…the Yankees are 9-3 in those games with Cole going 6-2 with a 3.13 ERA (74.2IP, 26ER) in those starts.
27 of his 56R allowed have come in five starts: 6R on 5/7 at Tampa Bay, 5R on 5/23 vs. Baltimore, 6R on 5/28 vs. San Diego, 4R on 8/7 at Chicago-AL and 6R on 8/19 vs. Boston.
Has allowed just 9HR in his last 14 starts (since 6/3) after allowing 8HR in his previous five starts (5/7-28)…10 of his 17HR allowed this season have been solo home runs…his seven-start homerless streak to start the season (3/30-5/2) was the third-longest homerless streak of his career (10G from 5/26-8/13/16 and 8G from 7/9-8/20/18).
Has received 3R-or-fewer of support in 18 of his 26 starts…has received 2R-or-fewer of support in 13 of his starts.
Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 20 of his 26 starts, the most such starts in the AL and the third-most in the Majors, trailing only San Francisco’s Logan Webb (21) and Arizona’s Zac Gallen (21)…has tossed at least 6.0 innings in eight of his last nine starts (since 7/2) and in 13 of his last 15 starts (since 5/28).
Has tossed at least 7.0 innings in three of his last five starts (since 7/28), four of his last eight starts (since 7/8) and five of his last 11 starts (since 6/20)…his seven starts of at least 7.0IP are tied for the fourth-most in the AL.
Has left just five of his 26 starts this season with the Yankees trailing…four of those five games were one-run games when Cole left the mound.
IN PINSTRIPES: In 101 starts with the Yankees (since 2020), is 46-23 with a 3.22 ERA (615.1IP, 220ER) and 764K…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 78-of-101 starts…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 67 starts as a Yankee, tied for the most such starts in the AL and tied for the second-most such starts in the Majors in that stretch…has recorded 19 scoreless starts as a Yankee, the most scoreless starts by any AL pitcher in that span.
His 46 wins since 2020 are the most in the AL and the second-most in the Majors over that stretch, trailing only Julio Urías (51-16)…his 764K since 2020 are the most in the Majors and his 11.17 K/9.0IP ratio in that span is the second-best in the AL and the fourth-best in the Majors (min. 400.0IP)…his 615.1IP since 2020 are the most in the AL and the third-most by a Major League pitcher in that span…his 3.22 ERA since 2020 is the fifth-lowest in the AL (min. 400.0IP).
Has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting in two of his first three seasons in pinstripes (second in 2021, fourth in 2020).
His 25 double-digit strikeout games with the Yankees are the most in franchise history…surpassed Ron Guidry’s record (23) on 7/16 at Colorado…Cole has 25 such games in 101 starts with the Yankees while Guidry recorded 23 double-digit strikeout games in 368 games/323 starts with the Yankees.
1010 WINS: Has reached double-digit wins for the ninth time in his career…is just one of three Major League pitchers to record double-digit wins in nine of the last 11 seasons since 2013 (2013-15, ’17-19, ’21-23)…joins Max Scherzer (10: 2013-19, ’21-23) and Clayton Kershaw (nine: 2013-17, ’19, ’21-23)…went 7-10 in an injury-shortened season in 2016 and 7-3 in a 60-game season in 2020.
STRIKEOUT MACHINE: Recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on 5/23 vs. Baltimore (Jorge Mateo swinging)…became the third-fastest pitcher (in terms of games and innings pitched) in Major League history to reach the milestone (278th career game and 1,714.2IP).
VS. TAMPA BAY: Is 3-7 with a 3.72 ERA (109.0IP, 45ER) and 156K in 18 career regular season starts vs. the Rays…has received 2R-or-fewer of support in 13 of his 18 starts against Tampa Bay…as a Yankee, is 3-5 with a 3.78 ERA (83.1IP, 35ER) and 119K in 14 regular season starts vs. the Rays.
Has recorded double-digit strikeouts in nine of his last 16 starts vs. Tampa Bay (since 3/29/19)…his career 12.88 K/9.0IP ratio vs. the Rays is the second-highest by any pitcher vs. Tampa Bay all-time (min. 50.0IP), trailing only Matt Barnes (14.03).
Is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA (17.0IP, 9ER) in three starts vs. the Rays this season…faced the Rays earlier this month at Yankee Stadium on 8/2 and earned the win after allowing just 2ER in 7.0IP (4H, 2BB, 8K, 1HR)…also faced the Rays on 5/7 at Tropicana Field (5.0IP, 8H, 6R/5ER, 2BB, 6K, 2HR) and 5/12 at Yankee Stadium (5.0IP, 5H, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, 2HR) and did not record decisions.
Is 1-3 with a 3.54 ERA (48.1IP, 19ER) and 75K in eight career starts at Tropicana Field…has recorded at least 10K in six of his last seven starts at the Trop (since 3/29/19).
ROAD RULES: Is 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA (68.2IP, 20ER) and 66K in 11 starts on the road this year…has tossed at least 6.0IP and allowed 2R-or-fewer in nine of those 11 starts…owns a 1.98 ERA (50.0IP, 11ER) and 49K in his last eight road starts (since 5/17).
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
RAY REPORT — Winners of four straight for the first time since a six-game winning streak from 6/3-9, the Rays continue a six-game homestand against Colorado and New York-AL with tonight’s series opener against the Yankees…the Rays are 16-8 in their last 24 games, including wins in six of seven and nine of their last 12, following an MLBworst 5-15 (.250) stretch from 7/1-26…they currently occupy the first AL Wild Card spot, leading both Houston and Seattle by 6.0 games…Tampa Bay sits 2.0 games behind firstplace Baltimore in the AL East after spending 111 consecutive days atop the division from 3/30-7/19…the Rays are 27 games over .500 for the first time since 7/2 (57-30), sitting just two games shy of their season-high watermark (29G, last: 57-28 on 6/30).
The Rays are 7-1-1 in their last nine series on the heels of a 2-7-1 performance in series play from 6/12-7/23…they are coming off their eighth series sweep of the season over the Rockies and first since 6/6-8 over Minnesota…the eight sweeps are tied with Baltimore and Texas for the most in the AL.
Tampa Bay is in the midst of a stretch of three straight series against clubs below the .500 mark, having gone 4-1 against Los Angeles-AL and Colorado thus far…the Rays 42-19 (.683) record against below-.500 teams is tied with the Dodgers (42-19) for second best in the majors behind the Braves (40-18, .690).
The Rays have recorded three consecutive comeback wins for the first time since a five-game streak from 8/4-10, 2021 (Elias)…on the season, their 27 comeback victories are tied with the Tigers for fifth fewest in the AL, outpacing only the Royals (17), Yankees (21), Athletics (21) and Guardians (26).
The Rays have scored first in each of their last seven games…it ties their second-longest such streak of the campaign (7/30-8/6), trailing only a nine-game stretch from 5/12-20…the Rays are 15-3 over their last 18 games in which they scored first.
Tampa Bay is 10-1 (.889) when donning its throwback Devil Rays uniforms, which debuted on Opening Day and have since been worn at all Friday night home games.
The Rays 43-22 (.662) home record is the best in the AL, ahead of Texas (42-24, .636).
OPENING STATEMENT — The Rays are 29-12 (.707) in series openers, including 16-5 (.762) at home — both marks lead the majors…they have won nine consecutive series openers, their second-longest streak of the season behind an 11-game run from 4/21-5/26…the Rays starting rotation has turned in a 3.22 ERA (240.0IP, 85ER) in series openers, the second-best mark in the majors behind Seattle (3.19).
BIG MOMENTS, BIGGER PLAYS — The Rays are batting .386 from the eighth inning on over their last 11 games since 8/12, the highest mark in the majors during that span, ahead of Boston (.360)…Tampa Bay has led entering the eighth inning just once in its last five games, but it has gone 4-1 in those contests, outscoring opponents 16-3 (+13) from the eighth frame on…during that stretch, Yandy Díaz is 6-for-8 (.750) in the eighth or later while Randy Arozarena is 6-for-10 (.600)…on the season, Tampa Bay’s +44 (137-93) run differential from the eighth inning on ranks third in the majors behind Seattle (+49) and Atlanta (+45)…the Rays have scored the winning run in their last at-bat in four of their last five victories.
Tampa Bay has posted a .357/.423/.532 clip with runners in scoring position this month, pacing the majors in RISP average and on-base pct. while ranking fifth in slugging pct…the Rays slashed .197/.258/.312 with RISP during July.
On the season, the Rays lead the AL with a .293 batting average in high-leverage situations, per FanGraphs…Díaz is hitting .475 (19-for-40) in such scenarios, third-best in MLB (min. 20AB) behind TEX Corey Seager (.524) and SF Joc Pederson (.519).
BRINGING THE BATS — Tampa Bay has scored 5+ runs in seven straight games for just the 10th time in club history, including the first since a club-record-tying eight-game streak earlier this season from 4/1-9…the Rays are averaging 8.86 runs per game during the streak and have combined for a .345/.413/.566 slash line with 15 homers.
Tampa Bay has plated 62 runs over its last seven games, its most over any seven-game span since 8/6-13, 2021 (65R)…the club has collected 125 hits over its last 10 games, its third most over a 10-game stretch in franchise history; the Rays record for such a span stands at 127 hits (7/24-8/3, 2005).
The Rays offense is averaging 6.30 runs per game in August, the second most in the majors behind Atlanta (6.59)…it would mark the third-most runs per game in a single month in club history, behind only March/April 2023 (6.72) and August 2021 (6.74).
THE J-LOWE SHOW — Josh Lowe is batting .365 (19-for-52) with five extra-base hits, 12 RBI and a 1.004 OPS over his last 13 games, hitting safely in 12 of them…he is batting .455 (10-for-22) against fastballs during the run (since 8/6) after entering the stretch hitting .243 (34-for-140) vs. heaters…Lowe swiped his 25th stolen base of the season on 8/23 vs. Colorado, becoming the sixth player (11th instance) in Rays history to post a 15+ homer, 25+ steal season and the eighth in MLB to accomplish the feat this season.
PAREDES POWER — Isaac Paredes has homered in consecutive games for the third time in his career (last: DH on 7/2/22) and has gone deep in three of his last four games overall, going 8-for-18 (.444) at the plate in those contests with five extra-base hits…Paredes has recorded an extra-base knock in a career-high-tying four straight games (also 6/21-26, 2022), matching BOS Adam Duvall for the longest active streak in the majors…it also ties the longest streak by a Rays hitter this season (6x, last: Luke Raley, 6/29-7/2).
Paredes 26 homers are tied with KC Bobby Witt Jr. for second most among AL infielders, behind only BOS Rafael Devers (29HR).
He has posted an 18.9 pct. whiff rate this season — his 26 home runs are the most by any AL hitter with a whiff rate below 20.0 pct., ahead of HOU Kyle Tucker (25HR).
YANKEE DOODLE — The Rays and Yankees conclude a 13-game season series this weekend at Tropicana Field…Tampa Bay, which is 6-4 against New York on the year, can clinch its third season series victory over the Pinstripes in the last four seasons with a win tonight…the Rays are 4-1-1 in their last six series against the Yankees…the two clubs have split their last 44 matchups (22-22) dating back to 4/17/21 despite the Rays holding a +39 (189-150) run differential in that span…the Rays and Yankees have played in five straight one-run games at Tropicana Field, with Tampa Bay going 3-2.
Yankees outfielder Jake Bauers broke into the big leagues with the Rays in 2018 after being acquired in 2014 via an 11-player, three-team deal with San Diego and Washington that also featured Trea Turner…Bauers remains the youngest first baseman in Rays history to hit a home run (22 years, 248 days on 6/11/18 vs. TOR).
Rays manager Kevin Cash received a World Series ring from the Yankees in 2009 after appearing in 10 games for New York in mid-May.
Bally Sports Sun play-by-play announcer Dewayne Staats served as the Yankees lead play-by-man man from 1990-94…YES Network analyst John Flaherty started at catcher for the Devil Rays in the franchise’s inaugural game on 3/31/98… Flaherty spent five seasons of his 14-year playing career with Tampa Bay.
René Pinto’s father, René Sr., spent seven years in the Yankees minor league system from 1994-2000.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (13-7, 3.58)
TONIGHT’S START — The right-hander makes his 25th start of the season, including his 15th at home, in tonight’s series opener vs. New York-AL… ranks among AL leaders in wins (T1st, 13), baserunners allowed per 9.0 IP (1st, 9.37), fewest pitches per IP (1st, 14.4), WHIP (1st, 1.03), SO/BB ratio (2nd, 7.16), BB/9.0 IP (2nd, 1.24) and opp. OPS (5th, .651).
LAST TIME OUT — Earned the win in game two of the doubleheader on 8/19 at LAA…worked 6.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
Registered his 14th quality start of the season, matching his career high set in 2019 with Philadelphia.
Has allowed one run or fewer in each of his last two road starts (0.75 ERA – 12.0IP, 1ER) after allowing two or more in each of his first eight road starts (5.36 ERA – 43.2IP, 26ER).
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND — In four career starts opposite the Yankees, Eflin is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA (23.0IP, 4ER)…in those starts, he has 25 strikeouts against four walks while limiting opponents to a .217 (18-for-83) average… tonight marks his first career start vs. New York-AL at Tropicana Field.
In two starts this season at Yankee Stadium, Eflin is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA (12.0IP, 4ER), striking out 14 batters against just one walk.
In 17 appearances (15 starts) against the AL East, Eflin is 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA (87.2IP, 39ER)…this includes going 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA (32.0IP, 9ER) against the division this season.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME — Eflin has gone 10-3 with a 3.05 ERA (82.2IP, 28ER) in 14 starts at Tropicana Field this season…it marks the fourth-lowest ERA through a pitcher’s first 14 home starts with the Rays, trailing Jeremy Hellickson (2.24 from 2010-2011), Charlie Morton (2.62 in 2019) and Matt Garza (2.74 in 2008).
On 7/21 vs. Baltimore, Eflin became one of four pitchers in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to earn a win in 10 of his first 11 home starts with a club, joining NYY Orlando Hernández (10-1, 1998-99), CHC Rick Sutcliffe (10-0, 1984-85) and SF Billy Pierce (11-0, 1962).
Min. 65.0 IP, Eflin ranks among AL leaders at home in wins (1st, 10), walk rate (2nd, 2.8%), SO/BB ratio (2nd, 9.56) and WHIP (T4th, 0.94).
DIALED IN — He has six starts this season in which he has recorded 7+ strikeouts without issuing a walk (last: 8SO on 8/8 vs. STL)…he is tied with SEA George Kirby for the most such starts in the majors, one ahead of TOR Kevin Gausman…prior to this season, his most such starts in a single season came in 2021, when he did so twice.
He is tied with Shane McClanahan (2022) for the second-most such starts in a season by a Rays pitcher in franchise history, trailing David Price’s seven outings in 2014.
QUALITY CONTROL — Eflin’s 7.16 SO/BB ratio ranks second in the majors behind SEA George Kirby (9.36)…in Rays history, the only qualified pitcher with a higher mark over a full season was David Price in 2012 (8.22)…Eflin has issued one or zero walks in each of his last 10 starts, the longest such streak of his career.
He has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last 27 starts since 6/14/22, tied with CLE Noah Syndergaard for the longest active streak in MLB…Eflin has issued two or fewer walks in 60 of his last 61 starts dating back to 8/29/2020.
Since the beginning of 2021, his 3.8 pct. walk rate is the lowest in the majors (min. 1,100BF), outpacing KC Zack Greinke (4.4%).
TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT — He is holding left-handed batters to a .208 (54-for-259) average, compared to a .262 (69-for-263) mark against righthanded batters…min. 250 batters faced, his .208 opponent average against left-handed hitters is second lowest in the AL behind only LAA Shohei Ohtani (.197).
FIRST HALF REVIEW — Eflin’s 105 strikeouts were his most before the AllStar break in any season of his career, ahead of his 2021 campaign (94SO)… his 102.1 innings were also the most he had ever thrown before the AllStar break, surpassing his 2021 season (102.0IP).
He became the first pitcher in franchise history to record 100+ SO and 15 or fewer walks in the first half of a season.
