New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 5, NY Yankees 6

The red-hot New York Yankees look to match their longest winning streak of the season when they begin a three-game series at the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. After a dramatic win in the series finale in Boston on Sunday, New York swept four straight from Toronto to continue its climb into the thick of the playoff race. The Yankees reside 3 1/2 games behind Oakland for the second wild card spot in the American League and six games behind the first-place Red Sox in the AL East.

Tampa Bay took two of three in Baltimore to begin the week, pulling within one game of Boston in the AL East race. The Rays have won six of eight since a six-game losing streak and have taken 18 of their last 23 games at home. They've held seven of their last eight opponents to four runs or fewer.

TV: 7:10 p.m., MY9 (New York), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RHP Hiroki Kuroda (11-8, 2.41 ERA) vs. Rays RHP Chris Archer (6-5, 2.95)

Kuroda is coming off one of his rockier outings of the season in a 6-1 loss at Boston on Saturday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and a career-high 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 38-year-old, who has yet to face Tampa Bay in 2013, is 4-6 with a 3.09 ERA on the road.

Archer rebounded from a rare rough performance to shut down Toronto through seven solid innings Sunday. He allowed one run and four hits, making it the fifth time in 15 starts that he has lasted at least seven frames and given up one run or fewer. Archer is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kuroda has a 6.11 ERA in three starts against the Rays in his career, all three taking place last year.

2. New York has won four consecutive series.

3. Rays LH Matt Moore (elbow) is slated to pitch a simulated game Saturday.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Yankees 3