Even as manager Aaron Boone’s press conferences are filled with injury updates, other aspects of his time are spent discussing some of the unexpected names coming up with big hits for the New York Yankees.
One of those players is Gio Urshela, who helped the Yankees open the 19-game season series with the Tampa Bay Rays on the right foot by hitting the go-ahead two-run single Friday in a 4-3 victory.
On Saturday, the Yankees will get a chance to move into first place in the American League East when they face the Rays for the second game of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“They have guys and depth that continue to find ways,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’re all playing the same schedule and they’re right there in the thick of it, and they’ve been beat up.”
New York heads into Saturday one half-game behind the Rays, who have held the top spot since March 31. The Yankees are 17-6 in their last 23 games since April 16 and Urshela has produced the tying or game-winning hit in their last three wins.
Originally called up to man third base when Miguel Andujar was sidelined with a strained right shoulder on April 1, Urshela is batting .349 with 13 RBIs. He hit the game-tying homer in the ninth inning Tuesday and the game-winning single Thursday before getting the go-ahead hit in the sixth inning Friday.
“I felt like he was in a really good place from the start of spring training,” Boone said. “I know he’s talked about some things that he’s worked on over the winter, to try and improve as an offensive player. To get results when you make some adjustments or some changes, it gives you confidence.”
While Urshela will be in the lineup again, the Yankees could be without Gleyber Torres. Torres hit an RBI single in the first inning but was hit on the elbow in the eight and although he stayed in, he could sit Saturday.
The Rays are 9-6 in their past 15 games and hoping to avoid their second losing streak of three games or more this season. The Rays are also hoping to improve their performance in clutch situations after going 2-for-24 with runners in scoring position in their past two games.
Besides being concerned with producing in clutch spots, the Rays will be holding their breath awaiting the MRI results for pitcher Tyler Glasnow. The right-hander exited due to right forearm tightness in the sixth inning and was headed for an MRI.
“That was tough,” Rays outfielder Austin Meadows said. “He’s leading the AL in ERA. He’s been amazing out there. Seeing him go down, hopefully it’s nothing serious. That’s a tough blow.”
Meadows was acquired along with Glasnow from Pittsburgh last July for Chris Archer. He will be playing his second game back from the injured list after homering and doubling in his return from missing nearly three weeks due to a sprained right thumb.
New York’s CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.20 ERA) will look to inch closer to 250 career wins on Saturday. He recorded his 248th victory Monday when he allowed three runs on five hits in five innings against Seattle.
Sabathia is 17-16 with a 3.67 ERA in 48 career starts against the Rays, including a 10-15 mark with the Yankees. In Tampa Bay, he is 8-9 with a 3.58 ERA in 24 starts.
The Rays will employ an opener and use Ryne Stanek, who will make his 10th start. Stanek is 0-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 14 overall appearances and owns a 1.98 ERA as the opener.
The right-hander last pitched Monday when he fanned four and threw 33 pitches in the first two innings of a 6-3 win over Arizona. He has a 3.48 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Yankees.
Stanek could be pitching to a new catcher if Travis d’Arnaud is activated. The Rays acquired d’Arnaud from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday after losing starting catcher Mike Zunino to a strained left quadriceps for possibly four to five weeks.