New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays: Cam Schlittler vs. Griffin Jax

I hate playing the Rays at the best of times, and doubly so when we have to watch games at the Trop. That this series, a four-game set with Tampa enjoying a four-game lead in the AL East, is of outsized importance for the Yankees’ playoff trajectory and is also coming at a time the Yankees are playing so terribly, makes me pretty grumpy before a pitch has even been thrown. If nothing else, at least it’s Cam Bump Day.

Cam Schlittler is still the leading candidate for AL Cy Young, notwithstanding that bizarre start last week against the Tigers, where he gave up four home runs and six men crossed the plate against him overall. That outing raised his ERA half a run, but even in that game he still struck out five against a single walk. Cam hadn’t allowed an earned run in his previous two starts, a combined 22 strikeouts to two walks in those efforts. True to annoying form, the Rays experienced some degree of success in the one time they saw Schlittler this year. Back on April 12, Cam went “just” five innings allowing a trio of runs, but an 8:1 K:BB ratio was promising.

Griffin Jax goes for the Rays, a perfect example of the five-game fughazi franchise and why it drives me nuts. His 3.45 ERA is solid enough, with a FIP more than a run higher and an xERA, which takes into account contact quality allowed, is two runs higher! Griffin Jax should not be preventing runs as effectively as he has, and the Louisville Slugger of irony has clapped me over the head.

The lineup at least is starting to look a little more normal. The top four are all bona fide MLB hitters, even if I need both Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger to get out of their slumps immediately. José Caballero sets up at shortstop with Anthony Volpe on the bench, and Austin Wells bats ninth and is behind the dish.

Win the game, please.

How to watch

Location: Tropicana Field — Tampa, FL

First pitch: 6:40 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES | Rays.tv

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280,  WDAE 95.7 FM, WQBN/1300AM

Online stream: MLB.tv, Gotham Sports App

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