New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2019 ) Tampa Bay 1, NY Yankees 5

The Tampa Bay Rays' lack of success against the New York Yankees kept them from winning the American League East, and the latter could be a major reason why they find themselves on the outside looking in during the postseason as well. The Rays attempt to hold on to their slim lead for the second wild card Tuesday when they host the opener of a two-game set against the Yankees.

Tampa Bay used a six-run fourth inning to rally from an early four-run deficit for Monday's 7-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox, its fourth win in five games, to maintain its one-half game lead over the Cleveland Indians for the second wild card. Holding that advantage over the next two days may prove to be a tall task for the Rays, who have won only five of the 17 meetings with New York this season. The Yankees (102-55) still have plenty to play for as well, trailing Houston (102-54) by one-half game for the best record in the majors and likely home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. New York, which already has hit a major-league record 298 home runs, took the day off Monday after wrapping up a 4-2 homestand by taking two of three from Toronto.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees TBD vs. Rays RH Yonny Chirinos (9-5, 3.67 ERA)

New York is expected to go with an "opener" in both games of this series, likely choosing between Luis Cessa (2-1, 3.66 ERA) and Cory Gearrin (1-2, 4.08) for Tuesday's showdown. Cessa has allowed a total of three runs (one earned) over his last seven appearances spanning 14 2/3 innings and last pitched a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. Gearrin served as an opener twice this season while with Seattle and last worked on Friday, retiring the only batter he faced against Toronto.

Chirinos, who missed over a month with right middle finger inflammation, will draw his first start since Aug. 4 when he allowed one run over five innings to beat Miami. The 25-year-old was limited to one inning of relief in his return to the big-league mound Saturday, striking out two but giving up a solo homer to Xander Bogaerts. DJ LeMahieu has a pair of homers among his three hits in 13 at-bats versus Chirinos, who is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in five appearances (three starts) against New York this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays have held a lead in eight consecutive games against the Yankees but only won three of them.

2. LeMahieu is batting .415 during a nine-game hitting streak and leads the majors with 60 multi-hit efforts this season.

3. Tampa Bay has allowed the fewest homers in the majors (176). However, New York is responsible for 32 of them in their 17 meetings (144 in 140 games against all other opponents).

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Rays 5