Yankees at Rays
The New York Yankees needed several role players to step up in order to stay in the race while many of their key offensive players ended up on the injured list the first six weeks of the season, and Gio Urshela has been at the front of the class. Urshela looks to continue producing in the clutch as the Yankees attempt to move into first place in the American League East when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Urshela, who was acquired from Toronto last August, has seven RBIs in the last five games and pushed his batting average to .349 after knocking in the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth inning of New York’s 4-3 win in the series opener Friday. Veteran left-hander CC Sabathia goes after his 249th career win when he takes the mound Saturday while Tampa Bay will have hard-throwing Ryne Stanek open the contest, most likely followed by fellow right-hander Yonny Chirinos in the second or third inning. The Rays could not push across a run with the bases loaded and none out in the seventh inning Friday, but outfielder Austin Meadows returned to the lineup after missing almost three weeks with a thumb injury to record a homer, a double and two RBIs. Tampa Bay’s top two catchers - Mike Zunino (quad) and Michael Perez (oblique) - have landed on the injured list, causing the Rays to make a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday to acquire receiver Travis d’Arnaud for cash considerations and he could be activated Saturday.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.20 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.50)
Sabathia earned his second victory of the year last time out, holding Seattle to three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings along with a season-high 99 pitches. The 38-year-old Californian has only completed more than five innings once in five starts and served up six homers in just 25 1/3 frames overall. Kevin Kiermaier is 5-for-16 with a pair of homers versus Sabathia, who is 17-16 with a 3.67 ERA in 48 starts against the Rays - the most against any team.
Stanek rebounded from his only poor performance in the “opener” role this year by striking out four and allowing one hit over two scoreless innings of Tuesday’s 6-3 win over Arizona. The 27-year-old University of Arkansas product permitted three runs in one inning versus Kansas City in his previous start on May 1, but owns a 1.98 ERA in nine chances at the role (13 2/3 innings). Brett Gardner is 2-for-5 against Stanek, who gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits in 7 1/3 innings versus the Yankees in 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay RHP Tyler Glasnow, the AL Pitcher of the Month for April, left Friday’s game in the sixth inning with forearm tightness.
2. New York INF DJ LeMahieu saw his 11-game hitting streak end Friday, but he is still 20-for-46 over the past 12 contests.
3. Rays SS Willy Adames is 9-for-25 with five runs scored and four walks over the last seven games.