News
Rays-Yanks series not as once scripted
Tampa Bay (82-77) vs. New York (102-57), 7:38 p.m. ET
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
10/02/09 12:19 AM EST
ST. PETERSBURG -- Yankees-Rays at Tropicana Field for the final three games of the 2009 season.When Tampa Bay fans looked at the schedule this spring, there was little doubt that the final three games of the season would have major significance. Maybe the Rays would be in first place, or perhaps the Yankees, but the battle under Teflon roof would in some way determine postseason fortunes. Alas, that's not the way the season played out.
New York compiled the best record in baseball and ran away from the division while Tampa Bay never found the magic it used to win the American League East in 2008.
Reflecting the reversal of fortunes in the AL East was the Yankees' advantage over the Rays this season. Tampa Bay has won just five of 15 against its rivals, including a current five-game losing streak. The last time the teams met in New York on Sept. 7-9, the Yankees swept the Rays in a four-game series.
Friday night's game will mark the 200th time the clubs have met since Tampa Bay joined the Major Leagues in 1998. The Yankees hold a 132-76 advantage, which is the Rays' second-worst record against an AL opponent.
While the weekend series appears to be the perfect opportunity to even the score to some extent, Rays manager Joe Maddon doesn't see it that way.
"Honestly, it's my same old line," Maddon said. "I just want to win each game and play one game at a time. And that's all I'm concerned about. Of course it would be great to win all three. If we can run the table here, we're going to have a decent number of wins, and then you can start looking back and seeing how close it really was to going the other way. Because it is that close."
Maddon said he just likes where the club is at heading into the season's final series.
"I like the attitude," Maddon said. "I like the way we're working the process. ... Of course we'd like to finish strong against the Yankees. But the point is: one game at a time and see how it all works out. I just like where we're at right now and how our guys are going about their business."
Pitching matchupTB: LHP David Price (9-7, 4.60 ERA)
Price did not get the result he wanted at Texas on Sunday, when he allowed five runs on six hits in five innings to take a no-decision. Price has had live stuff in most of his outings this season. Fastball command has been his biggest improvement over the course of the past two months. As a result, he's been getting ahead in the counts more often and walking fewer hitters. Price is 0-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three career appearances against the Yankees; he is 7-3 with a 3.08 ERA in 12 career appearances (11 starts) at Tropicana Field. NYY: LHP CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 ERA)
In what was hardly a postseason tune-up performance, Sabathia struck out eight over seven innings of one-hit ball last Saturday against the Red Sox, extending his otherworldly streak of September success. With the win, Sabathia moved to 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in five starts this month, after going 2-2 with a 2.11 mark last September with the Brewers. A more traditional postseason tune-up will come Friday against the Rays in Sabathia's final start before what should be an ALDS Game 1 appearance next Wednesday. Tidbits
Fandmonium began Thursday night and runs through Sunday's finale, featuring a healthy offering of giveaways, including the annual "Shirts Off Our Back" promotion. ... The Rays have three players with 25-plus home runs for the first time in club history: Carlos Pena, 39; Evan Longoria, 32; and Ben Zobrist, 26. ... Heading into the weekend series, Pena and New York's Mark Teixeira are tied for the AL home run lead with 39. ... Rays hitters walked four times Wednesday night to put their season total at 627, which put them at one more than 2008's total to set a new team record. Tickets
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• Saturday: Rays (Jeff Niemann, 12-6, 3.94) vs. Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 14-7, 4.11), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Rays (Wade Davis, 2-1, 3.45) vs. Yankees (A.J. Burnett, 12-9, 4.10), 1:38 p.m. ET
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
