Ivan Nova (4-3, 3.66 ERA) takes on Chris Archer (5-3, ERA) this afternoon as the Yankees hope to get some dignity back after last nights beating. Nova has been very solid since returning to the Yankees’ rotation in late June. He took a hard luck loss on July 22 at Texas, allowing three runs in seven innings, but has a 2.72 ERA and .214 opponents average in five outings since June 23.
Archer picked up his fifth win on Sunday at Toronto after allowing just one run in seven innings. He has now won his last three starts and has allowed just three earned runs over his last 28 1/3 innings pitched over a span of four starts.
The Rays are in sole possession of first place in the American League East for the first time in 13 months. The red hot Rays have lost only three games in July as they climbed out of last place. They 6-1 on its current 10 game road trip, with every game coming against a division opponent. “Those games, where those teams are at the top of the division, are really important for us to make some headway,” Ben Zobrist said. “Just an opportunity to gain a full game, no matter what. That’s why we’ve got to certainly be ready to play those games.”
The Yankees’ lineup Archer faced in June and the one he will see Saturday are slightly different, since New York traded for Alfonso Soriano on Friday. Derek Jeter, eligible to come off the DL on Saturday, will likely not return until Sunday.
Friday’s game was not a debut in the truest sense of the word for Soriano as he played in New York from 1999-2003 to begin his Major League career. Nonetheless, Soriano had a chance to be the hometown hero in his first game back with the Yankees when he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded and his team trailing by five and again in the ninth. He flew out to right field to end the third, the second of three plate appearances in a debut that culminated in an 0-5, one-RBI performance.
Notes on the game.
In the last 24 starts for Archer, David Price, Matt Moore and Jeremy Hellickson, the Rays are 23-1.
Friday’s loss leaves the Yankees trailing their season series against the Rays 5-6.
Game kicks off at 1:05 PM (EST) on Yes
