Persistent Tampa Bay Rays aim to maintain supremacy against New York Yankees in ALDS
The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees are set to face off in the 2020 American League Division Series (ALDS), with the first game scheduled for Monday night at 8:07 p.m., broadcast on TBS.
Both teams have been preparing for this highly-anticipated matchup. Aaron Boone, the Yankees' manager, has stated that their focus is on playing their best baseball against the Rays, emphasizing, "We're up against a really good opponent and we just have to play well."
The Rays, on the other hand, are known for their ability to win games, as evidenced by their 96 wins in the 2019 season, the second-best record in baseball. They are also renowned for their strategic approach, which confused the Yankees during the regular season.
While the Yankees boast a strong offensive lineup, the Rays have excelled with a more balanced approach. Tampa Bay's combined ERA between starters and relievers is the third-best in baseball, and their pitching strength has been a key factor in their success against the Yankees.
In the 2020 regular season, the Yankees struggled against the Rays, with a slash line of 218/.301/.383 and striking out on 27.8% of their at-bats. The Rays, however, have not been overly reliant on home runs or overwhelming power. Instead, they have demonstrated an ability to manufacture runs effectively.
The Rays' success in the ALDS will likely hinge on their continued emphasis on pitching and defense. Key relievers like Pete Fairbanks and Manuel Rodríguez have played crucial roles in preserving leads, even in games where their offense was less dominant.
The Yankees, economically similar to many other powerhouse teams, have traditionally relied on their powerful hitting to drive wins. However, their struggles against the Rays' pitching during the regular season suggest that a different approach may be necessary in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Center Fielder Kevin Kiermaier believes a strong showing in the ALDS confirms the Rays' status as an elite AL team. A victory in the series would further solidify the Rays' reputation as a team that can play with and beat any team, regardless of the opposing team's fame or large payroll.
As the ALDS gets underway, fans can expect a closely contested series between two evenly matched teams. The Rays' focus on pitching and defense, combined with their ability to manufacture runs, could give them the edge they need to advance to the next round.
[1] Tampa Bay Rays' pitching strength key to success against Yankees
[2] Tampa Bay Rays' strategy of manufacturing runs and strong pitching confounded Yankees during regular season
[3] San Francisco Giants' offensive woes continue in surprising close loss to Rams
[1] The Rays' success in the ALDS will likely hinge on their continued emphasis on pitching, with their combined ERA between starters and relievers being the third-best in baseball.
[2] During the regular season, Tampa Bay's strategic approach of manufacturing runs effectively and confounding the Yankees with their pitching strength was evident, as demonstrated by their struggles against the Rays' pitching.
