New York Yankees (10-7) at Tampa Bay Rays (8-9)
Game 1:
Date: Thursday, April 17th
Time: 7:05 p.m. EDT
Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video/FanDuel Sports Florida
Game 2:
Date: Friday, April 18th
Time: 7:05 p.m. EDT
Broadcast: YES Network/FanDuel Sports Sun
Game 3:
Date: Saturday, April 19th
Time: 4:10 p.m. EDT
Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video/FanDuel Sports Sun
Game 4:
Date: Sunday, April 20th
Time: 1:40 p.m. EDT
Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video/FanDuel Sports Sun
Purchase Tickets via Ticketmaster
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Will Warren (1-0, 5.14 ERA) vs. Taj Bradley (2-0, 3.71 ERA)
Will Warren will be on the mound for the Yankees to kick off this four-game series against the Rays. In his most recent outing, he delivered a confidence builder, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out six. He also walked two and earned his first major league win against a very good Giants offense. On the other side, Taj Bradley will get the nod from the Rays. In contrast to Warren’s steady start, Bradley had a rough first inning against the Braves last Saturday, working into and out of trouble. He managed to escape with just one earned run allowed. Afterward, he settled in and turned in five more strong innings before finishing his day. Bradley struck out seven, walked two, and gave up five hits, pushing him past a career milestone 300 strikeouts.
Game 2: Carlos Rodón (1-3, 5.48 ERA) vs. Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.60 ERA)
Carlos Rodón will be on the hill for the Yankees in game two of the Yankees at Rays series. Unfortunately, his last outing was less than ideal, to put it lightly. Since July 7, 2023, Rodón has allowed a major league-leading 51 home runs over 50 starts. Most recently, Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee hit home runs 50 and 51, taking Rodón deep twice last Sunday. Meanwhile, in one of the stranger storylines this season, Drew Rasmussen will take the ball for Tampa at George M. Steinbrenner Field. In his last appearance against the Braves, the veteran gave Tampa a strong start, allowing four hits over five scoreless innings. He also struck out seven without walking a batter. However, the Braves acted as spoiler, rallying in the ninth to steal a 5–4 win.
Game 3: Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 5.94 ERA) vs. Shane Baz (2-0, 1.42 ERA)
Cookie Carrasco needed a quality start against the Royals on Monday, and that is precisely what he delivered. Carrasco and four Yankee relievers held the Royals to just two hits in their 4–1 win. Looking ahead, he will need a similar performance to take home the win in game three of the Yankees at Rays series. Likewise, Shane Baz turned in a standout performance of his own on Monday, putting up a career-best 11 strikeouts against Boston. In that outing, Baz gave the Rays a dominant 98-pitch performance that produced 17 whiffs while not allowing a single walk and giving up only two hits.
Game 4: Max Fried (3-0, 1.88 ERA) vs. Ryan Pepiot (1-2, 4.91 ERA)
Entering Tuesday’s game, the Yankees had the second-worst rotation ERA in the league (5.17). However, the lone bright spot has been the Yankees’ $218 million co-ace, Max Fried. In Tuesday’s matchup, the former Brave once again delivered a quality start, allowing two runs in the Yankees’ 4–2 win over the Royals. On the other side, Ryan Pepiot finally saw his streak of 17 straight starts allowing three runs or fewer come to an end. In a 7–4 loss against the Red Sox, Boston jumped on him early and never let up. As a result, Pepiot allowed six earned runs on nine hits, tying his career high.
Get your Inside The Diamonds Merch here
Players to Watch
New York Yankees
Paul Goldschmidt has been giving the Yankees the most boring .349/.391/.476 imaginable. Nevertheless, the stoic first baseman has provided Gold Glove defense and steady production all season at a position that’s been a black hole for the Yankees over the past two years. He isn’t flashy, and he doesn’t celebrate big hits, but he consistently shows up and puts in serious work where the Yankees have needed it most.
Tampa Bay Rays
José Caballero was a menace on the bases Monday, stealing two bags against the Red Sox in his first multi-steal game of the season. Additionally, he’s off to a hot start overall, with eight RBIs, three runs scored, five steals, and a home run while slashing .333/.455/.556. Given that, his speed could give the Yankees fits—especially considering Wells’ lackluster pop-time and mediocre arm.
Next Up:
New York Yankees: April 21st-23rd @ Cleveland Guardians
Tampa Bay Rays: April 22nd-24th @ Arizona Diamondbacks
