Rays Against the Machine: Tampa Bay Challenges Evil Empire

After being bludgeoned by stingy pitching and bunt base hits at Tropicana Field in April, New York knows more about Tampa Bay’s game and should play accordingly. Every series against a divisional rival comes with huge implications, but with the Yankees, it’s magnified.

They’re easily the biggest threat in a relatively weak American League, where only they and the Rays have come out of the gate in grandiose winning style. The Evil Empire will also welcome back one of their most well-paid and longtime weapons in Gerrit Cole as he makes his first start since Tommy John surgery in March of 2025 for the series opener.

The scouting report on facing the juggernaut Yankees usually centers on neutralizing Aaron Judge first and foremost. This year, that isn’t the case as he has been joined by a stacked cast of co-stars that have helped this Yankees lineup become one of the best in baseball.

It’s a multi-faceted collection of dangerous hitters that can beat teams in various ways. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has looked like one of the best pickups in trade hindsight, blossoming into a five-tool talent with power geared for Yankee Stadium and range to play top-notch second base.

He plays alongside a fully actualized Ben Rice, who makes manager Aaron Boone look more foolish every day for trying to platoon him. Cody Bellinger is well in All-Star form, veteran Paul Goldschmidt is finding new life in his thought-to-be-waning bat, and most painfully for Tampa Bay, Jose Caballero is playing his best baseball.

Reliever matchups will be more important in this series than in others. The Rays’ playbook last time out was shutting down would-be big Yankee innings with arms that specialized in particular handedness.

Ian Seymour particularly shone last series against them with multiple zero-run innings and nasty at-bats that had hitters out in front of his changeup. Kevin Kelly, too, came into big spots against righties with ice in his veins and put out fires before they began.

Those two arms excel against same-handed hitting, especially, and could see more heavy usage than others.

A point of comfort will be missing the electric arm of Cam Schlittler. His recent form and metrics are indicative of a breakout like we haven’t seen in a while.

How will Yankees counter Rays style of play?

There’s nothing this young righty can’t do right now as his blend of pinpoint command with a high-octane fastball can’t be touched. Leading all pitchers in fWAR, the tale of Schlittler’s ascent seems to be reaching new heights.

There’s not much new to say about Tampa Bay’s lineup. Yandy Diaz is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch on the hand, which bruised him up. He has been integral as the best hitter in this Rays’ lineup that feeds off of his table-setting when he leads off. Otherwise, Junior Caminero and Aranda have steadily kept mashing behind him while the rest of the lineup has admirably supported the big three.

Richie Palacios’ at-bats seem to be improving every day, whether it’s through clutch hits or by not biting at pitches outside the zone. Ryan Vilade has found his niche as a quintessential Rays-type player feeding on lefties and playing an assortment of different positions. And even Hunter Fedducia is finding his way into more extra-base hits than ever.

It’s all about momentum for Tampa Bay currently. The Yankees will be looking to stop them dead in their tracks, but with the Rays’ best starting pitchers on the horizon, they’ll have a tall task.