News
Rays head home for key Yanks series
Tampa Bay (54-45) vs. New York (60-38), 7:08 p.m. ET
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
07/26/09 4:00 PM ET
TORONTO -- Joe Maddon recently remarked that the Rays are not playing for a Wild Card spot in the postseason. In other words, Tampa Bay's manager expects the defending American League champions to focus on repeating as division champs. After a successful road trip, the Rays return to Tropicana Field to begin a three-game set against the Yankees. Should Tampa Bay find success against New York this week, it would serve as a nice start toward achieving Maddon's goal. The Yankees series begins a nine-game set at Tropicana Field, where the Rays hold a 30-15 (.667) record -- the fifth-best home record in baseball. Since the start of the 2008 season, Tampa Bay is 87-39 at home (.690), which is the second-best home record in baseball, behind the Red Sox. The Rays will play 18 of their next 24 at home, and 36 of their final 63 at the friendly venue. Meanwhile, the Yankees come to The Trop in first place in the AL East for the first time since September 2006, and it will be their first visit to St. Petersburg since April 13-15, when they took two of three games. The season series is tied at four games apiece. After Monday night's opener, the two teams will play nine more times this season. "We have a nice homestand coming up, but again, it's about that night's game," Maddon said. "I want our guys to only think about that night's game. That's the attitude I want us to have. Obviously, we can impact it head-to-head coming up. It's not a make-or-break kind of thing; I don't believe in that kind of thing this early. It will be an interesting series. But the goal is to win the division, not to win the Wild Card."James Shields will start for the Rays, and while he always makes a nice accounting for himself -- which explains his spot at the top of the rotation -- he is especially good at Tropicana Field, where he has a 24-10 record with a 3.20 ERA in 55 career starts.
"It's going to be a big series," said Shields. "I think this whole homestand is going to be big for us. First, it's good to be back home after this 10-day road trip." Shields and Maddon would each like to see the fans start coming out to Tropicana Field in bigger numbers for the remainder of the season. "When our place is filled up and they are Rays fans, it makes all the difference in the world to us," Maddon said. Added Shields: "We're in contention; we need their help. I think we thrive off having big crowds. So if they can come out and cheer us on, it would be great." Pitching matchupNYY: RHP A.J. Burnett (9-4, 3.74 ERA)
Burnett rattled off another impressive outing on Wednesday, allowing two runs in seven innings against the Orioles and picking up the win in the Yankees' 6-4 victory. Since his disappointing 2 2/3-inning performance in Boston on June 9, he has been nothing short of dominant. The right-hander is 5-1 with a stingy 1.82 ERA in his past six starts. TB: RHP James Shields (6-6, 3.70 ERA)
Shields threw his 13th quality start in 21 outings this season on Wednesday against the White Sox, but, as has been the case for much of the season during the righty's starts, his team couldn't pull out a win. The Rays are now 10-11 when Shields starts, even though he boasts a respectable 3.70 ERA. Shields lasted 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks. But he walked his final batter of the game on his 111th pitch in the seventh inning, and the bullpen couldn't hang on. Lifetime against the Yankees, Shields is 1-6 with a 5.73 ERA in eight career starts. Tidbits
When B.J. Upton got thrown out attempting to steal in the eighth inning of Saturday afternoon's game, it marked the 10th time he's been thrown out in 42 attempts this season. ... Carl Crawford entered Sunday's game leading the Major Leagues in stolen bases with 47, which gives him more steals than six teams in the Major Leagues this season. If he reaches 50, Crawford will become the 16th player since 1900 with five 50-steal seasons. If he reaches 50 by Aug. 5, he would be the eighth to have five 50-steal seasons before his 28th birthday, joining Rickey Henderson, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Vince Coleman, Tim Raines, Bert Campaneris and Cesar Cedeno. ... Jason Bartlett is sporting a new fashion on the left side of his head, as the barber in Toronto shaved into place what Bartlett described as a "zig-zag." Thinking his wife might disapprove, he texted her a photo, and she told him, "I kind of like it." In the clubhouse, Upton, who currently sports three strips shaved on his head, also approved of the new fashion -- particularly since Bartlett got the winning hit Saturday after incorporating the new look. Upton said he might follow suit. Meanwhile, Scott Kazmir said he will not, and he hopes that the look doesn't catch on. "We don't need to bring back Vanilla Ice," Kazmir said. J.P. Howell didn't think too much of the look either. "That's NBA," Howell said. ... Lefty Brian Shouse (left elbow strain) has passed all tests and should be activated before Monday night's game. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Rays (Scott Kazmir, 4-6, 6.69) vs. Yankees (CC Sabathia, 10-6, 3.67), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Rays (Matt Garza, 7-7, 3.68) vs. Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 6-2, 3.86), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
