Yankees - Rays Seires Preview

Yankees - Rays

Yankee Stadium
(2 games)

Before the season began I didn't think the Ray were a contender, but unless the Rays are very good actors, you have to believe that they are for real. They come into this short two-game series against the Yankees winners of 15 of their last 19 and with a MLB best 55 - 33 record. They're 4 games ahead of 2nd place Boston, and 8.5 games ahead of the 3rd place Yankees.

Although they've been struggling, losing 5 of their last 8, the Yankees come into this game after two of the team's biggest wins of the year on Saturday and Sunday salvaging a series split with the Red Sox. They are 47 - 42 and are 4.5 games behind the Red Sox in the Wild Card race.

The two teams have split the first 10 games they've played this season with Tampa winning 3 of the last 4.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (9-6, 4.22) vs. Scott Kazmir LHP (7-3, 2.63)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 1:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Sidney Ponson RHP (5-1, 4.19) vs. Edwin Jackson RHP (5-6, 4.08)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Robinson Cano: After having a terrible April, Cano really hasn't been bad since. In May he hit .295, in June he hit .287, and so far this month he's hitting .391. For the season he's hitting .252 with 6 HR, 37 RBI, and an OPS of .658.

Cano has been somewhat of a Rays killer in his career, hitting .344 with 8 HR, 38 RBI, and an OPS of .910. This season he's hitting .314 with a homer and 3 RBI against the Rays, but has not done well against the Rays' two starters this series.

Cano vs. Kazmir: .077 (1-for-13)
Cano vs. Jackson: .200 (3-for-15)

Rays - Evan Longoria: The rookie of the year candidate struggled a little bit in May but had a fantastic June hitting .300 with 8 HR, and 19 RBI, and has carried his hot hitting into July where he's hitting .474. For the year Longoria is hitting .283 with 16 homers, 53 RBI and an OPS of .889.

He hasn't hit too well against the Yankees so far this season, hitting just .238 with a homer and an RBI, but most of that came in May when he wasn't hitting anyone.

Longoria vs. Pettitte: .200 (1-for-5), 2B, 3 K
Longoria vs. Ponson: NR

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Chien-Ming Wang is out till at least September with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon.
- Phil Hughes is out till at least August, most likely September, with a stress fracture of the rib.
- Brian Bruney is out with an injured foot, but could return after the All Star break. He's begun rehabbing in the minors, and has made several appearances.
- Jonathan Albaladejo is out for the year with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
- Chris Britton has been taken off the DL and is rehabbing in the minor leagues.
- Hideki Matsui is on the 15-day DL with an inflamed left knee. Could take batting practice in the next few days.
- Johnny Damon is on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury.

Rays:
- Al Reyes is on the 15-day DL with biceps tendinitis and will start a rehab assignment at High-A Vero Beach on Tuesday.
- Troy Percival is on the 15-day DL with a hamstring injury.
- Jason Bartlett is on the 15-day with a right knee sprain.
- Rocco Baldeli lives on the DL.
- Chad Orvella is out for the season after have surgery on his right shoulder.