Yankees back in action against Rays

When and where to see

Tonight: Coverage on YES and the YES app begins at 6:00 p.m. with the pregame show.

Tomorrow: YES & the YES app will air the postgame show after the game on Prime, where coverage begins at 6 p.m.

Thursday: Coverage on YES and the YES app begins at 6:00 p.m. with the pregame show.

Pinstripe Pulse

Congratulations to Clay Holmes, who was voted an All-Star in 2024 for the second time in his career! He will be one of the Yankees’ representatives on the American League team in Arlington next week, joining Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, both of whom were voted to the club’s starting lineup. Holmes’ award was announced Sunday when pitchers and reserves were announced, and other Yankees could potentially be added to the roster as replacements. Ben Rice has a .310 batting average in his last eight games — more on him below. Tim Hill has two wins and a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings as a Yankee. Luke Weaver’s ERA is 2.12 in his last 17 IP. Gerrit Cole is averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings in his first four starts of the year.

How about that

Saturday was a day Ben Rice will never forget! In his 17th major league game and 13th start, Rice became the first rookie in Yankees history to hit three home runs in a game! With a leadoff drive as the Yankees’ first batter in a 14-4 victory over Boston, followed by two three-run blasts, Rice posted the 39th three-home run performance in franchise history, counting the postseason. He is the 27th different player to hit a home run, and he also became just the fourth Yankee since the start of the 1995 season to hit three home runs and seven RBIs in a game, a group that includes our own Paul O’Neill.

Know the enemy

The wild card is likely Tampa Bay’s only way to make the postseason this year. At 44-46, the Rays are 5.5 games under the playoff cut but 13 games out of first place in the AL East. Kevin Cash’s team enters the Yanks having been beaten by the Rangers in three games after the Rays had previously won 10 of 14 games. After having just a .174 batting average in his first 68 games of the season, Randy Arozarena has a .294 batting average in his last 19 games. Jose Caballero leads the AL with 24 stolen bases. Former Yankee Ben Rortvedt has a .346 batting average in 52 AB since June 11. Isaac Paredes is the club’s best player with 14 home runs, including three in his last 11 games. Yandy Díaz posted a franchise-record 20-game hitting streak from June 7-28.

Possible starters

Carlos Rodón will start today’s opener against Ryan Pepiot. Marcus Stroman is scheduled to take the mound tomorrow against Zach Eflin. Nestor Cortes is slated for Thursday’s finale, while Tampa Bay is expected to counter with Shane Baz, making his second start since his Tommy John surgery. He got off to a good start against the Rangers on Friday in his first MLB appearance since July 2022, a year in which he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow six months before Tommy John surgery in September of that year.

Major League Cricket with MI New York

The 2024 season of Major League Cricket kicked off last week! Reigning champions MI New York split their first two matches, beating the Seattle Orcas in a rematch of last year’s title game on Friday and losing to the Washington Freedom in a match shortened due to bad weather on Saturday. MI New York will return to action on Friday with a match against the Texas Super Kings at 3pm and you can follow the action live on the YES app.

Swing For The Fences Auction

How about a cooking class with Anthony Volpe or a game of MLB The Show against Nestor Cortes? How about a private tour of Yankee Stadium? Maybe dinner at RAO’s or tickets to Saturday Night Live during the 50th Anniversary season? This is just a small sampling of the great experiences that are up for grabs along with some rare collectibles at the Swing For The Fences auction benefiting the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. You can bid now at https://Hope48.givesmart.com and the auction will be a focal point of YES’s coverage on Friday while the Yankees are in Baltimore.