New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 6, NY Yankees 7

Matt Moore of the Tampa Bay Rays is displaying the potential to be mentioned among baseball’s top young pitchers. Moore will go for his fourth straight victory against one of the league’s best in CC Sabathia when the Rays host the New York Yankees for the first of a three-game series Monday. The 23-year-old Moore has given up two runs in his first three starts. Sabathia, a winner of three consecutive contests, faces a Tampa Bay offense which has produced 33 runs the last six games.

The Rays are coming off a three-game sweep of Oakland and the Yankees have won nine of 12 after a 1-4 start. New York, without injured Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez, is still batting .273 as a team with 27 homers – both among the major-league leaders. Newcomers Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner have picked up the slack with five homers each.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (New York), SunSports (Tampa)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (3-1, 2.57) vs. Rays LH Matt Moore (3-0, 1.00)

Sabathia has been brilliant since losing his opener to the Boston Red Sox. The left-hander has allowed four earned runs in 23 innings during the three victories. Sabathia walked four in his first start and only four since, striking out 24 overall. He is 10-9 with a 3.19 ERA lifetime against the Rays, including a 3-5 mark at Tropicana Field. Evan Longoria is 14-for-39 against Sabathia with five homers.

Moore has struggled a bit with his control, but has been impressive overall in his first three starts without finding his best velocity. The left-hander has 20 strikeouts and 11 walks over 18 innings, allowing eight hits. Moore finished his longest outing Wednesday, giving up two runs in 6 2/3 innings against Baltimore. He is 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA in four starts against the Yankees, losing a pair last September.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano has 22 career home runs against Tampa Bay, the second most against any team, and 15 at Tropicana Field.

2. Tampa Bay has homered in seven consecutive games, belting 13 overall, after producing only four the first 11 games.

3. New York 1B/3B Kevin Youkilis missed Sunday’s 8-4 loss at Toronto to rest a tight back, but could be ready for Monday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 3, Rays 1