The Tampa Bay Rays are literally one win away from sweeping the ALDS, heading into Game 3 tonight against the New York Yankees with a commanding 2-0 lead. It’s Wednesday night, first pitch at 8 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium, and the Rays are looking to close this thing out after grabbing back-to-back wins at home. This isn’t just another game; it’s a chance to punch their ticket to the next round, leaving the Yankees fighting for their lives.
Rays Go For The Sweep With a Wild Card on the Mound
Tampa Bay is sending right-hander Nick Martinez to the mound, and honestly, it’s a bit of a nail-biter if you look at his recent history. Martinez has had nine days of rest, which is great, but his last start was the regular-season finale and it was brutal. He got lit up for four runs in just 2 2/3 innings, only managing one strikeout before Ian Seymour had to come in for relief in the third. And get this: his last visit to Yankee Stadium, just five days before that regular-season meltdown, also ended with him taking the loss. He gave up five hits and two earned runs, both on a Cody Bellinger homer, over six innings. So yeah, he’s got a 15-6 record and a 3.10 ERA overall, but he’s gotta shake off those last two outings if the Rays want to finish this sweep. Talk about high stakes for a pitcher.
Yankees Turn to Max Fried With Their Season on the Line
For the Yankees, it’s do-or-die, and they’re putting their trust in left-hander Max Fried to keep their season alive. Fried comes into this with a 5-5 record and a 2.80 ERA, and he’s had six days of rest since his last start. That last outing was Game 2 of the AL wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox, where he pitched six solid innings, giving up just one run on three hits (a solo homer by Willson Contreras) and striking out six to earn the win. The Yankees need that guy tonight. They need him to shut down the Rays offense and give them a fighting chance to avoid getting swept on their home turf.
So, who’s going to step up? Can Martinez rediscover his winning form when it matters most, or will Fried deliver for a desperate Yankees squad? You can catch all the action, updates, and highlights on TBS and truTV. Get ready, because this is going to be one intense night of baseball!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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