New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2016 ) NY Yankees 5, Tampa Bay 9

Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays were struggling to find their offense before the former helped the latter even their three-game series with the New York Yankees at one win apiece. Longoria and the Rays look to continue their momentum on Sunday afternoon as the American League East rivals vie for a series victory in the finale of their three-game set at Tropicana Field.

Mired in a woeful stretch (2-for-19, .105), Longoria launched a two-run homer to highlight a four-RBI performance as Tampa Bay nearly doubled its run total from its previous five contests with a 9-5 triumph on Saturday. The Rays (22-25) posted their second win in eight contests to move within one-half game of the fourth-place Yankees (23-25), who fell for just the third time in their last 10 contests. Veteran Carlos Beltran has gone deep in back-to-back tilts to reach the 2,500-hit milestone but is just 2-for-12 (.167) versus Sunday starter Jake Odorizzi. New York will counter with fellow hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who has turned around his season following a disastrous start.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WPIX (New York), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Nathan Eovaldi (5-2, 3.95 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (2-2 3.46)

Eovaldi sputtered out of the gate with an 0-2 record and bloated 6.11 ERA in his first three starts before righting the ship by going 5-0 in his last six outings - with a slim 2.16 ERA over the last four. The 26-year-old's good fortune continued on Tuesday as he scattered two hits over six innings en route to a 6-0 win over Toronto. Eovaldi has struggled in a pair of outings versus Tampa Bay, however, posting an 0-2 mark with a 4.97 ERA while issuing six walks in 12 2/3 frames.

Odorizzi has answered an 0-2 record in his first eight starts by recording back-to-back wins on the road. The 26-year-old overcame a pair of solo homers in a 6-3 victory over Toronto on May 18 before yielding two hits and striking out seven in a 4-3 triumph at Miami. Odorizzi required 107 pitches to finish five innings versus the Marlins, however, and carries a 3-4 career mark and 5.06 ERA against the Yankees into Sunday's tilt.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury is 7-for-20 (.350) in five contests versus Tampa Bay this season.

2. Like Ellsbury, Rays 1B Steve Pearce has recorded multi-hit performances in each game of this series - going 4-for-9 (.444) in total.

3. Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez is just 1-for-13 (.077) with seven strikeouts in three contests since returning from the disabled list.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Rays 3