The Yankees and Rays will have a rubber match on Sunday, and it could have profound playoff implications. This will be the last time these teams see each other in the regular season, so each of them would love to gain one game in an AL East race that could come down to the wire. Let’s dive into our Rays vs. Yankees predictions for Sunday, Sept. 11.
German Remains Consistent
The Yankees’ incredible start to the season is why they haven’t given up the lead in the division. In the first couple of months, the offense and pitching staff were one of the best in the league at 56-21 through June, but the team as a whole has been on the decline and is 28-35 since.
Injuries have been a significant reason with Giancarlo Stanton missing games. The same is true for DJ LeMahieu, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortez, Aaron Hicks, and Aroldis Chapman — leaving Boone to cut and paste together a lineup daily.
Domingo German will take the mound, and after an awful first start, he’s pitched much better with a 2.62 ERA in his last nine starts. The Yankees are 1-1 in his starts against the Rays, and he was good in his last outing allowing two earned in six but got no run support in the loss. German has been their most consistent starter during this rough time for the team, and he’s probably suited for a game like this where the Yankees need to build a cushion, and he will give them a chance.
Domingo Germán, 83mph Breaking Ball and 93mph Two Seamer, Overlay https://t.co/XLN1sw8J8e pic.twitter.com/of9n7uJBwW
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 18, 2022
The Rays Solid Rotation
It’s just another year of the Rays being the Rays — having a balance of good hitting and pitching, while putting together a winning team, even though talented players like Austin Meadows leave. They have been able to take advantage of the Yankees struggling as they’re 24-10 since August 2nd and have gained 11.5 games in the American League East.
The pitching has been its most vital asset this season with Shane McClanahan, an American League Cy Young candidate for most of the season, Drew Rasmussen, and Jeffrey Springs, all having sub-3.00 ERAs this season.
Luis Patiño will make a start as he’s replacing McClanahan, who was recently placed on IL. He had a good enough start last week against the Red Sox going five innings and allowing three in the Rays 4-3 win. This will be his first start this season against the Yankees, but he saw in two starts, and a relief appearance and, in fact, is going into today’s game with an eight-inning scoreless streak against them.
Rehabbing @RaysBaseball righty Luis Patiño hurls three scoreless frames for the @DurhamBulls. pic.twitter.com/nE3EBkyw5Y
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 3, 2022
Rays vs. Yankees Predictions
The Yankees would love to use the momentum from yesterday’s game, where they put six up in the first, and try to finish this series on a good note as they are going into the end of the season with a favorable schedule.
No one expected German to be someone the Yankees depended on in this rotation, but with injuries and some inconsistencies, he’s been a guy the team likes to see on the mound every fifth day.
Patiño pitched well against this team last year but will not see that same lineup in this matchup. This might be even better, as the Yankees have injuries throughout the lineup.
This will be a close pitcher’s duel in a pivotal game, so run with the under.
Pick: Under 8.5 total runs | -105 at PointsBet
