The eighth game against the Yankees in the past 29 days, the Rays occupied the visiting clubhouse in Yankee Stadium for game one of a pivotal four-game tilt between division rivals.
Blake Snell, with eight days of rest, took the mound for the Rays tonight. The Yankees sent out their left-handed ace James Paxton, who is pitching on seven days of rest.
Leading off this game for the Rays was Travis d’Arnaud, who exorcised the Rays’ demons against the Yankees last Saturday with a walk-off home run, helping lead the Rays to a series split against a team that has had Tampa Bay’s number all season long.