Yanks @ Rays Series Preview

Yankees @ Rays
@ Tropicana Field
(3 games)

Even though they should have won yesterday's game and swept the Royal, the Yanks trip to KC was still a successful one. They now take their 3-3 record down to Tampa to face off against the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, who are also 3-3.

This is the Rays' opening series back at Tropicana Field since last year. A lot of people are picking the Rays to not only repeat as AL champs, but to win the World Series, and I can see why. They have pretty much their entire roster back from last season's pennant winner and have added some new parts over the offseason. Their main offseason acquisition was former Phillie Pat Burrell. Oh, and lucky for the Yanks, BJ Upton, who had missed the team's first six games, is coming off the DL today.

The Yankees won last year's season series 11-to-7.

MATCHUPS

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:08 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Chien-Ming Wang RHP (0-1, 17.18) vs. Scott Kazmir LHP (1-0, 1.50)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:08 p.m. | TV/Radio: MY9, WCBS 880
A.J. Burnett RHP (1-0, 3.38) vs. Matt Garza RHP (1-0, 1.29)

Game 3: Wednesday @ 4:08 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (1-0, 1.29) vs. Andy Sonnanstine RHP (0-1, 9.64)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

YANKEES: Robinson Cano - Cano has started out the year red hot, hitting .409/.500/.591 with a homer and four RBI. And it also seems like he's really embraced the idea of being patient at the plate, which is great to see.

He has outstanding career numbers against the Rays, hitting .332/.359/.508 with 8 homers and 40 RBI in 63 games. 33 of those games were at Tropicana, where he's hitting .317/.351/.524 with 6 HR and 22 RBI. Last year Cano had a solid year against the Rays, hitting .281/.292/.375 with a homer and five RBI, most of the damage was done in Tampa where he hit .323/.344/.452.

Cano vs. Kazmir: .118 (2-for-17) with a RBI and 7 strikeouts
Cano vs. Garza: .455/.455/.545 (5-for-11) with a 2B, and 2 RBI.
Cano vs. Sonnanstine: 0-for-9

RAYS: Evan Longoria - Last year's rooking of the year is looking more like an MVP at the start of the new season. He's hitting a robust .481/.481/1.185 with 4 doubles, 5 home runs and 10 RBI through the first six games. That's nine extra base hits in six games - not bad. Last year against the Yankees he hit .263/.349/.395 with 1 homer and 4 RBI.

Longoria vs. Wang: 0-for-3.
Longoria vs. A.J. Burnett: 1-for-10 with five strikeouts.
Longoria vs. Pettitte: 1-for-8 with a double and a walk.

INJURY REPORT

YANKEES
- Alex Rodriguez, 3B: 15-day DL with a torn labrum in right hip. He is headed to Tampa today to continue his rehab at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa. He's expected back in mid May.

- Mark Teixeira, 1B: Has a sore left wrist and is day-to-day.

RAYS
- B.J. Upton, CF: He is expect to return from the DL today.