Rays Host Yanks
A win against the team with the best record in the American League is a nice start. The New York Yankees, however, are going to need a lot more than that to reach the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season.
The Yankees look to boost their slim postseason chances Wednesday night when they continue a three-game series against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Tampa Bay -120 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 64% of bets for this game have been placed on Tampa Bay –120 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
With virtually no shot at catching the Rays in the East, the Yankees (74-64) only route into the playoffs is the wild card. Boston, though, holds a seven-game advantage over New York in that race with less than a month remaining, and Chicago and Minnesota – tied for the Central lead – are both three games ahead of the Yankees.
Needing to put together an impressive run to reach the playoffs, the Yankees rode Mike Mussina’s 17th victory to their fifth straight road win, 7-2 in Tuesday’s series opener.
"We’re just trying to win ballgames any way we can. I’m trying to contribute on my day," Mussina said. "We battled to get out of some situations. We got some big hits we needed."
Alex Rodriguez and Xavier Nady homered for New York, which also faces Seattle and the Los Angeles Angels on its current 10-game road trip.
Rodriguez’s homer was his 30th of the season and 548th of his career, tying Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for 12th on the all-time list.
The Yankees activated Joba Chamberlain from the disabled list before the game and he worked 1 1-3 scoreless innings in his first appearance since Aug. 4. A starter before he went on the DL with shoulder soreness, Chamberlain will be used in relief the rest of the season.
Tampa Bay (84-52) had a five-game win streak snapped as its lead over Boston was cut to four games.
The Rays are 5-8 this season versus the Yankees, one of only two AL teams (Cleveland) they have a losing record against. Tampa Bay plays either the Yankees or Red Sox in 11 of its next 14 games.
"I know they’ve hit a few tough moments this year. But they are the Yankees. They are very talented and they beat us again,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We’ll put it behind us and play them again.”
Carl Pavano (2-0, 3.27 ERA) looks to continue his surprising effectiveness when he makes his third start of the season – and fifth since July 2005 – for New York.
The oft-injured right-hander has been solid in his first two starts after missing most of the last three seasons with assorted injuries. After beating Baltimore by pitching five innings on Aug. 23, he limited Toronto to one run and three hits over six innings Friday in a 2-1 victory.
"It’s good to go out there every fifth game and feel good," said Pavano, who has been limited to 21 starts since signing a four-year contract worth nearly $40 million before the 2005 season.
Pavano won his first three career starts against the Rays, but is 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA in his last three appearances versus them.
Often overlooked in Tampa Bay’s talented rotation, Edwin Jackson (11-8, 3.81) has also proven to be deserving of attention – especially lately. The right-hander went 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA in five August starts, and is 6-1 in his last seven appearances.
He took a shutout into the eighth inning Thursday, holding Toronto to one run over seven-plus innings in a 3-2 victory.
Jackson has pitched very well in three of four starts this season against New York, splitting two decisions while compiling a 2.59 ERA.
Yankees outfielders Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu are a combined 2-for-32 against Jackson.
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