The New York Yankees returned from the All-Star break and were impressed by Juan Soto’s standout performance, aiming for another strong showing against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon as they continue their four-game series.
Despite a recent uneven stretch with a 9-18 record over their last 27 games since hitting their 50th win on June 14 in Boston, the Yankees have shown signs of improvement with a 4-2 record in their last six games, including a convincing 6-1 victory in the series opener on Friday.
While Juan Soto did not drive in runs, his exceptional play stole the spotlight as Anthony Volpe’s bases-clearing double contributed significantly to the Yankees’ four-run third inning. Soto’s performance included a 4-for-4 effort with a walk, scoring three runs himself. His contributions featured a bunt single and a double in the fourth inning, where he capitalized on two Rays errors. This marked Soto’s second four-hit game with the Yankees and his MLB-leading 31st game reaching base at least three times. Over his last six games, Soto has maintained a remarkable .462 batting average, going 12-for-26.
Reflecting on Soto’s prowess, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole praised his teammate’s abilities, noting his discipline and effectiveness in crucial situations. Cole highlighted Soto’s versatility, exemplified by his ability to hit to all fields and his strategic use of bunting to exploit defensive weaknesses.
The Rays, meanwhile, have maintained a competitive stance with a 15-11 record in their last 26 games, yet they faced challenges in their recent outings. A trio of defensive errors, including one by Randy Arozarena and another by Richie Palacios during Soto’s pivotal double, marred their performance in Friday’s game. Despite Brandon Lowe’s home run, Tampa Bay struggled significantly with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-8 and continuing a trend of offensive difficulties, scoring only seven runs and managing just one hit in 41 opportunities with runners in scoring position across their past four games.
Manager Kevin Cash expressed disappointment over the team’s recent lapses, emphasizing the need for a rebound in their upcoming games to restore their competitive edge.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup, Nestor Cortes takes the mound for the Yankees. Cortes, who has displayed notable discrepancies in performance between home and away games this season, holds a 4-8 record with a 3.67 ERA. His performance at Yankee Stadium has been particularly strong with a 4-3 record and an impressive 1.81 ERA across 10 starts. In contrast, Cortes has struggled on the road, posting a winless 0-5 record accompanied by a 6.04 ERA in 10 starts away from home. His most recent outing against the Rays on July 11 resulted in a 5-4 loss, where he conceded five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Cortes has faced the Rays frequently throughout his career, accumulating a 2-5 record with a 4.59 ERA in 15 appearances, including 10 starts. Notably, he has encountered challenges in his recent encounters with Tampa Bay, going winless with a 0-4 record and a 6.12 ERA in his last six starts against them.
Opposing Cortes is Taj Bradley of the Rays, sporting a 4-4 record and a 2.90 ERA this season. Bradley has excelled recently with a flawless 3-0 record and an impressive 0.97 ERA in his last six starts, including a standout performance against the Cleveland Guardians on July 12, where he struck out eight batters over seven innings while allowing just five hits in a 2-0 victory.
Bradley’s sole start against the Yankees this season resulted in a solid outing, where he limited them to one run on four hits across six innings, albeit in a losing effort.
As the Yankees and Rays prepare for their Saturday clash, both teams are motivated to capitalize on key players’ performances and shore up areas of weakness, setting the stage for an intense and strategic battle on the field.
