Tampa Bay @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2018 ) NY Yankees 2, Tampa Bay 3

The New York Yankees may have taken an unexpected detour in their make-up game against their cross-town rivals, but they have found themselves right at home when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Bronx. New York (74-44) has won five of six home contests this year against the Rays (60-58) as they open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.

Miguel Andujar launched a two-run shot in Monday's 8-5 setback to the New York Mets, improving to 7-for-20 with three homers, eight RBIs and seven runs scored during his last five games. Fellow infielder Didi Gregorius had an RBI single versus the Mets to give him nine hits in his last seven outings for the Yankees, who are 6-2 in their last eight contests. Willy Adames had a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning on Sunday as Tampa Bay fell for just the second time in six outings with a 2-1 loss versus Toronto. The 22-year-old Dominican is 11-for-23 with six runs scored during his six-game hitting streak, although he is just 8-for-36 against the Yankees this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.91 ERA) vs. Yankees LH J.A. Happ (12-6, 4.07)

Wood will receive his second look at the Yankees after allowing one run on two hits in two innings of a no-decision on July 23. The 25-year-old, who started that contest, has grown accustomed to the Rays' pitching philosophy in which he has made nine relief appearances among 15 trips to the mound this season. "It's actually a lot different," Wood told reporters of starting games. "I just do a regular starter routine since I've been a starter my whole career (in the minors) until mainly this year, so I have a pretty good routine down."

Happ, who is in line to start on Tuesday, has endeared himself to his new team while winning back-to-back starts after being acquired from Toronto late last month. The 35-year-old allowed just a solo homer among three hits in a 6-3 win over Kansas City on July 29 before returning from hand, foot and mouth disease with a strong six-inning effort in Thursday's 7-3 triumph versus Texas. Happ struggled in his first start this season at Tampa Bay with four walks in 5 2/3 frames of a 6-2 setback before yielding just one hit over five scoreless innings in a no-decision on June 13.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier is 2-for-24 in his last six outings overall and 5-for-33 versus New York this season.

2. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that RHP Luis Cessa is expected to be called up after LHP CC Sabathia was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right knee inflammation on Monday.

3. Rays RHP Chaz Roe (left knee) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Rays 3