N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay 7:10 ET
Rays over Yankees- The Yankees began last month with a 14 1/2-game lead over the third-place Rays. Now the lead is down to six games and second-place Tampa Bay has 33 games remaining while the Yankees have 31. New York held a 15 1/2-game lead following its 12-5 win in Boston on July 8, but since then it is 18-29. The Yankees completed a 10-18 August by producing underwhelming results with a 3-4 record against the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Angels. Domingo German (2-2, 3.19 ERA) will open the series for the Yankees. After allowing two runs, one earned, in 6 1/3 innings on Aug. 22 against the Mets, German gave up three hits in 7 2/3 innings on Saturday in Oakland and he is 3-1 with a 6.32 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against the Rays. The Rays Jeffrey Springs (6-4, 2.76 ERA) went 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in five August starts and is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 10 career outings against the Yankees. His only two starts vs. New York came this year, and he went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. Take TAMPA BAY!