The Yankees took first place last night, and they’ve got an opportunity to hold onto it if they can take this series against the Rays. To do so, they’re running back a pitching matchup that went in their favor the last time these two teams met up: the consistent Masahiro Tanaka against the Cy Young winner Blake Snell. The score got blown out late in that outing, but the two delivered on a pitchers’ duel then and will look to repeat that performance today.
The Yankees’ lineup against Snell this time will be bolstered by the additions of Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks.