The season is quite over yet for the Tampa Bay Rays but their playoff hopes have taken a major pounding over the past several weeks. After an extended run as the best team in baseball and establishing a solid lead in the Wild Card chase, the Rays have floundered and fumbled their way to their current situation.

Entering play on Monday, the Rays are an even .500 at 53-53, 3 games back of the 3rd Wild Card spot and 10 games back in the divsion. The Rays will now face a challenge as they head to New York where they’ll take on the Yankees in a pivotal four-game set.

The Yankees are 57-48, currently controlling the top Wild Card spot and are 5.5 games back of the Blue Jays. New York just suffered a terrible blow though as Aaron Judge (208 wRC+ | 7.2 fWAR) has been placed on the Injured List.

There are a couple of new faces for the Yankees as well with Ryan McMahon and former Ray Amed Rosario joining their active roster.

Frivolities
The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and Yankees:

Wade Boggs
Johnny Damon
Dwight Gooden
Tino Martinez
Jose Canseco

The Rays best player offensively against the Yankees all-time (min. 25 PA):
Eduardo Perez: .286/.483/.905 with 4 HR over 29 PA
The next four are Dan Johnson, Tony Graffanino, Jonathan Aranda, & Richie Palacios

The Rays most previous transacation with the Yankees:
— 3/27/24: Rays acquire Ben Rortvedt from the Yankees; Yankees acquire Jon Berti from the Marlins; Marlins acquire John Cruz from the Yankees & Shane Sasaki from the Rays.

The Rays first transaction with the Yankees
— 8/7/00: Yankees claim Jose Canseco off of waivers from the Rays
Baseball Reference lists the Yankees purchasing Nick Green off of waivers from the Rays in May, 2006 as the first move made between these two teams.

Probable pitchers are projected by MLB

GAME ONE

Monday, July 28th
7:05 pm EDT

RHP Drew Rasmussen vs RHP Cam Shlittler

GAME TWO

Tuesday, July 29th
7:05 pm EDT

RHP Joe Boyle vs LHP Max Fried

GAME THREE

Wednesday, July 30th
7:05 pm EDT

RHP Zack Littell vs RHP Will Warren

GAME FOUR

Thursday, July 31st
1:05 pm EDT

RHP Ryan Pepiot vs RHP Marcus Stroman