PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* AL Game of the Day - 101-71-2 All Sports Run!
(MLB) Tampa Bay vs. NY Yankees,
Money Line: -108.00 Tampa Bay (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -108.00 Tampa Bay (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Rays visit Yankees Stadium Friday for the opening of a three-games series. Tampa Bay resides in the basement of the AL East at 46-67 (18 games back) and the 58-56 Yankees reside in fourth-place but are 11 1/2 games better than the rays. Tampa Bay has dropped out of postseason long ago and while New York remains in striking distance (31/2 games out of the second wild card spot), the team's trade deadline player ‘dump' leaves few believing anyone in the front office has moved on to future seasons. Friday's game will be notable for one and only one reason. A-Rod will be making his last appearance for the Yankees in front of a crowd that will include his mother and two daughters. The Yankees made that official last Sunday when they announced Rodriguez would be released and join the team as an advisor in the 2017 season.
The pitching matchup: Tampa Bay's Chris Archer (6-15, 4.26 ERA) will take on New York veteran C.C. Sabathia (6-9, 4.18 ERA). Archer is 5-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 11 career starts against New York (Rays are 7-4) and I'll also note that he owns a 3-1 (2.18) record at Yankee Stadium. However, how does one overlook the fact that Archer is MLB's biggest ‘money-burner' among starters in 2016, with the Rays going 7-17 or minus-$1217 in his 24 starts here in 2016. Sabathia's season has been heading ‘south' as of late, going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts (Yanks are 2-3) all seaosn long he's struggled at Yankees Stadiium. It's hard to fathom that this once dominant pitcher is 1-6 with a 4.82 ERA in nine home starts (Yanks are 3-6) in 2016.
The pick: Unlike the farewells to Derek Jeter in 2014 and Mariano Rivera the previous year, Rodriguez's career is concluding quietly. Although he will be honored with a ceremony before the game, the mood does not figure to be celebratory. Yes, archer has had a poor season but he ws an All Star last season and few who follow MLB believ this guy is ‘done.' Note that since the all Star break, while Archer is just 2-3, he owns a 2.94 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings in five starts! In stark contrast, Sabathia has registered just one quality start in his last nine outings, going 1-5 (team is) in that stretch. 10* play on Tampa Bay.
The pitching matchup: Tampa Bay's Chris Archer (6-15, 4.26 ERA) will take on New York veteran C.C. Sabathia (6-9, 4.18 ERA). Archer is 5-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 11 career starts against New York (Rays are 7-4) and I'll also note that he owns a 3-1 (2.18) record at Yankee Stadium. However, how does one overlook the fact that Archer is MLB's biggest ‘money-burner' among starters in 2016, with the Rays going 7-17 or minus-$1217 in his 24 starts here in 2016. Sabathia's season has been heading ‘south' as of late, going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts (Yanks are 2-3) all seaosn long he's struggled at Yankees Stadiium. It's hard to fathom that this once dominant pitcher is 1-6 with a 4.82 ERA in nine home starts (Yanks are 3-6) in 2016.
The pick: Unlike the farewells to Derek Jeter in 2014 and Mariano Rivera the previous year, Rodriguez's career is concluding quietly. Although he will be honored with a ceremony before the game, the mood does not figure to be celebratory. Yes, archer has had a poor season but he ws an All Star last season and few who follow MLB believ this guy is ‘done.' Note that since the all Star break, while Archer is just 2-3, he owns a 2.94 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings in five starts! In stark contrast, Sabathia has registered just one quality start in his last nine outings, going 1-5 (team is) in that stretch. 10* play on Tampa Bay.
