Hiroki Kuroda (10-8, 3.78 ERA) opens up the series with the Rays taking on Chris Archer (8-8, 3.60 ERA). Kuroda tied his season high with eight strikeouts Wednesday against Boston. He held them to four hits without a walk and won for the third time in four quality starts. “Every game we play from now on is going to be a must win for us, so I wanted to shift the momentum,” Kuroda said.
Archer has struggled in his last two starts. In his last outing against Toronto he gave up six runs in six innings. He has pitched well against the Yankees this year despite his recent struggles. In two starts he has allowed three runs in 13 2/3 innings.  “The whole Derek Jeter thing, I mean, we have to play baseball,” Archer said. “Everybody will show him his love, but once the ball’s in my hand, there’s no other thought than just strictly getting him out, or executing whatever pitch I have to execute.”
Dellin Betances has had a fantastic first full season in the Majors. He has a 1.41 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 83 innings. His 63 outings out of the bullpen lead the team. He is only seven strikeouts away from making franchise history as he tries to pass Mariano Rivera‘s single season strikeout record for a reliever. Rivera K’ed 130 batters in 107 2/3 innings in 1996.
Notes on the game
Derek Jeter’s next game will tie him with Mel Ott, formerly of the New York Giants, for most games played with one team all time at 2,730.
Archer  is 4-0 with a 1.51 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees.
7:05 pm on My9.
