The Yankees walk into the afternoon needing to stop a slide before it deepens, and the challenge in front of them is about as stiff as it gets. Tampa Bay has already taken two straight from New York, and another loss would push the gap in the division to six games.
That pressure is magnified by the setting and the opponent. The Rays have been baseball’s best home team at 33-13, and they are back at Tropicana Field with Drew Rasmussen on the mound, a pitcher who has handled the Yankees better than almost anyone else.
Rasmussen’s edge against New York
This will be Rasmussen’s 10th career appearance against the Yankees, and the numbers have been lopsided. He has allowed only five earned runs across 50.2 innings, good for a 0.89 ERA that stands as his best mark against any team.
| Pitcher | Opponent Track Record | Notable Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Rasmussen | Yankees | 0.89 ERA in 50.2 innings, 5 earned runs allowed |
| Paul Blackburn | Rays matchup | Leads New York’s pitching effort in a difficult road test |
For the Yankees, that makes Paul Blackburn’s assignment especially demanding. The club is also trying to navigate a recent offensive slump, which raises the burden on a bullpen tasked with limiting a Rays lineup that has thrived in St. Petersburg.
What New York has to lean on
There is at least one familiar bat that has made some noise against Rasmussen. Trent Grisham is 5-for-14 with a home run against the right-hander, the only Yankees hitter with a meaningful sample size of success.
New York is also making a small lineup adjustment, with Cody Bellinger starting at first base and Max Schuemann in left field. Those changes are part of an effort to find enough offense to support a pitching staff facing one of the league’s toughest home environments.
How to watch
The game is at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, with first pitch set for 1:10 pm ET. YES and Rays TV will carry the broadcast, while radio coverage is available on WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, WDAE 95.7 FM, and WQBN/1300 AM.
Fans can also stream the matchup on MLB.tv, as the Yankees try to keep the standings from slipping further against a Rays team that has been as difficult to beat at home as any club in baseball.
