That bullpen is anchored by closer Baker, who's sitting on a 1.54 ERA and a major-league-leading 40 saves — the kind of back end that lets Tampa Bay play from ahead and get away with a beat-up rotation. Yankee Stadium's forecast calls for showers and a stiff wind for the series, which won't help a lineup already missing its middle-of-the-order thump.
Tampa Bay was the first team in baseball to clinch a playoff spot this year, riding the American League's best record into the stretch. That security cuts both ways — there's little left to play for beyond seeding, and how hard Kevin Cash leans on his regulars in the meantime is worth watching.
Both clubs have played well lately, and both did it in blowout fashion at points — Tampa Bay opened its recent stretch with a 14-4 rout of Houston, New York closed one out 9-2 in Arizona. Whether that holds depends on what happens in Boston and the desert before this game even starts.
- 15-Day-ILNewShane McClanahan (SP) — McClanahan (forearm) will not return before the conclusion of the regular season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.09/21
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Cleavinger (RP) — Cleavinger (forearm) is expected to resume mound work Saturday, MLB.com reports.09/19
- 15-Day-ILTyler Wells (RP) — The Rays placed Wells on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right forearm tightness.09/15
- 15-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP) — Rodriguez (back) is expected to join Triple-A Durham for a rehab assignment Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.09/12
- 60-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF) — Lux (shoulder) has resumed full baseball activity, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.09/11
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP) — Uceta (shoulder) is playing catch from 75 feet, per MLB.com.08/15
- 60-Day-ILJonathan Heasley (RP) — Heasley was returned to the major-league roster and placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow stress reaction.06/08
- 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP) — Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILTrent Grisham (CF) — Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Grisham (hamstring) isn't expected to come off the injured list before the end of the regular season but could return for the playoffs, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.09/20
- 10-Day-ILJazz Chisholm Jr. (2B) — Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Chisholm (thumb) could be reinstated from the injured list as early as Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.09/20
- 10-Day-ILAaron Judge (RF) — Judge said Saturday that he didn't know the grade of his calf strain, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. "I gotta talk to the trainers and figure that out," Judge said.09/20
- 15-Day-ILRyan Weathers (SP) — Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Weathers (forearm) likely won't return in time to pitch again in the regular season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.09/19
- 15-Day-ILFernando Cruz (RP) — Cruz (elbow) expects to resume a throwing program by the end of this week, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.09/08
- 60-Day-ILKervin Castro (RP) — The Yankees transferred Castro (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.08/26
- 60-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton (DH) — The Yankees transferred Stanton (calf) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.08/25
The Yankees' injury list is thin in a way it wasn't a month ago: Judge, Grisham, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are all dealing with something, though Boone has said Chisholm should be back for this homestand. Tampa Bay's list is longer but lower-impact — most of it is bullpen and depth pieces rehabbing, not names in the everyday mix.