The white-hot New York Yankees (68-59) are headed to Tropicana Field tonight to open a three-game set with the second-place Tampa Bay Rays (72-53) in an American League East showdown. The game can be live streamed here; Yankees fans can hear the action on WCBS 880 AM, while Rays fans can do the same by tuning in to WDAE 620.
The Yankees have gone on a tear, winning five games in a row and eight of their last ten. The current streak was sparked by a thrilling rally against the Boston Red Sox last Sunday, after Ryan Dempster beaned Alex Rodriguez. They took that game in Fenway, then smashed the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, sweeping a four-game series.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said his guys will not be sending any "messages" to Rodriguez in this crucial series. "Vigilante justice and unilateral decisions, I'm not into that stuff," Maddon said. "That is totally separate from the unwritten rules of baseball."
Despite being in fourth place in the AL East, the Yankees are a manageable six games behind the Red Sox and 3.5 games out of a wildcard spot. While a playoff berth is possible, they need to continue winning at this torrid pace.
While Tampa Bay has one of the elite teams in baseball, New York has the perfect pitcher on the mound to keep the good times rolling...Hiroki Kuroda (11-8, 2.41 ERA). Kuroda has been the Yankees' unquestioned ace in 2013, and will look to get the Bronx Bombers off on the right foot in this most important of series.
The Rays counter with hotshot rookie Chris Archer (6-5, 2.95 ERA), who is 2-0 with a microscopic .060 ERA against the Yankees. In 15 innings against the Yanks, Archer has struck out 10, walked just one, and registered a shutout victory.
Prepare for a duel.
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