Tampa Bay Rays vs Ny Yankees Yankees Picks and Predictions May 12th 2024

Rays vs. Yankees: It All Comes Down to This

St. Petersburg, FL — It’s game time at Tropicana Field! After blasting past the New York Yankees with a 7-2 win, the Tampa Bay Rays are all set to close out the series with a bang in today’s rubber match. Thanks to a major offensive outburst from their key players, the Rays are riding high and ready to take it all.

Stars of the Show: Arozarena and Diaz

Talk about stepping up when it counts! Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz were on fire in Saturday’s game, going 5-for-7 at the plate, including smashing two homers and banging out three doubles. Together, they drove in six runs and scored five themselves. Their explosive performance was just what the Rays needed to get past Nestor Cortes, a pitcher who’s usually had their number.

Pitchers in the Spotlight

Today’s game features a can’t-miss pitching matchup:

• Luis Gil (Yankees): The right-hander is looking to keep his win streak alive after some stellar recent starts. He’s stepping onto the mound with a 3-1 record and a sharp 2.92 ERA. Earlier this season, he showed the Rays just what he’s capable of.
• Tyler Alexander (Rays): The lefty’s taking the ball for Tampa Bay, holding a 1-1 record and a 4.96 ERA this season. He’s faced the Yankees both as a starter and from the pen, maintaining an impressive 2.03 ERA against them.

Tactics on Point

Rays’ manager Kevin Cash is giving props to his team for their strategic hits against Cortes, getting into favorable counts and making the most of them. This approach has been a game changer and they’re looking to keep that momentum.

On the flip side, Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone pointed out how close his team came to changing the game’s complexion, with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto nearly turning deep drives into homers. It’s these tiny margins that have made the series so gripping.

More Than Just a Game

This isn’t just another series; it’s a clash for the top of the AL East. With the Rays clawing back to a .500 record and the Yankees looking to fortify their early May gains, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Conclusion: High Stakes, High Drama

As the Rays aim to cap their resurgence with a series victory, and the Yankees strive to affirm their league dominance, Sunday’s showdown is set to be epic. With top-tier talent on display and pitchers ready to duel, fans are in for a thrilling end to this rivalry showdown at the Trop.