Rays Take on CC
New York, NY – With his big frame and blazing fastball, it’s not a surprise that Tampa Bay Rays rookie David Price has been compared to fellow left-hander CC Sabathia.
Of course, he’s got a ways to go before he can reach the level of the New York Yankees’ ace.
Sabathia seeks to win his fifth straight decision as he meets Price for the first time Friday night in the opener of a four-game series.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook Sports Interaction have made the Yankees -175 moneyline favorites for Friday’s game against the Rays. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 84% of more than 445 bets for this game have been placed on the Yankees -175.
In 2001, Sabathia (5-3, 3.46 ERA) made his major league debut at the age of 20 with Cleveland. The 6-foot-7, 290-pound left-hander has since established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball, totaling 122 victories, and he signed a $161 million, seven-year contract in the offseason with New York (32-22).
That’s the same kind of future baseball observers predict for Price (1-0, 3.00), who got his start in the majors when he starred in last year’s postseason at the age of 23 to help Tampa Bay (28-28) reach its first World Series. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound left-hander, who was recalled from the minors with Scott Kazmir on the disabled list, earned his first career regular season win Saturday when he yielded one run over 5 2-3 innings and struck out 11 in a 5-2 victory over Minnesota.
"It was fun out there," Price said. "Any win you’ve got to look at all the positives. It’s fun to be here. It’s fun to pitch here."
While Price was elated with his win, Sabathia hasn’t lost since May 2. Sabathia improved to 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last five starts Saturday in his return to Cleveland, where he struck out eight and gave up three runs over seven innings in a 10-5 win over the Indians.
"It starts with pitching," Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. "CC had phenomenal stuff. His velocity was up to 98 (mph) with a good changeup."
That changeup is a major difference between the two pitchers, since Price does not throw one. Price also throws a harder slider than Sabathia.
While Price has yet to face New York, Sabathia has dominated the Rays, going 7-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 11 starts.
Sabathia did not pitch against Tampa Bay last season, and may not get his first look at Rays slugger Evan Longoria on Friday. Longoria, who left Tuesday’s 6-2 win over Kansas City with tightness in his left hamstring, has not played in the Rays’ last two games, and said he may not return to the lineup until Saturday.
The Rays are 3-2 against the Yankees this season, including a two-game sweep in New York from May 6-7. Longoria went 4 for 10 with two homers and four RBIs in the two games at the new Yankee Stadium.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter got a day off Thursday in an 8-6 win over Texas. Jeter went 0 for 4 in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss as his 16-game hitting streak ended.
This series pits the two highest-scoring teams in baseball. Tampa Bay has scored 312 runs while New York has 310, including a major league-leading 67 since May 25.
The Yankees have won seven of their last 10 while the Rays are trying to match a season high with their fourth straight win.
Rays center fielder B.J. Upton went 5 for 11 in a three-game sweep of the Royals this week, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning in a 3-2 win Thursday.
"We need to maintain our traction and keep moving it forward," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.
Posted: 6/5/09 6:00AM ET