Yankees vs Rays (5/4/14)

CC Sabathia (3-3, 5.11 ERA) will be on the hill for the series finale against the Rays with Erik Bedard (0-1, 5.52 ERA) going for Tampa Bay. Sabathia took a loss his last time out against the Mariners. As is the case with what seems to be every start this year, it was one bad inning that did the big lefty in. He was roughed up for a four run fifth with nine hits over five plus frames total. The last time CC faced the Rays he came away with a win, with the help of his offense, when they roughed up David Price at the Trop. Sabathia has been an All Star and a Cy Young Award winner, but he has struggled against the Rays, carrying a 12-13 record with a 3.71 ERA.

Bedard faced the Red Sox Tuesday in just his third start of the season. He came away with a no decision after allowing one run in five innings. "I feel good," Bedard said. "Threw more strikes. I got ahead of hitters more. I'm stretched out, my pitch count is normal now. I feel fine." The veteran is ready to take on the Yanks, but he is aware of the challenge presented by Yankee Stadium. "Yeah, there's a little bit of a jet stream. I think everybody knows that. You just try to keep the ball down and not hit it over there." In 16 career appearances (15 starts) against the Bombers he is 4-5 with a 4.43 ERA.

Notes on the game

Sabathia's next win will tie him for 24th place on MLB's all time wins list among leftys. It will also move him into sole possession of 20th place on the Yankees' all time wins list, he's currently tied with Tommy John (91 wins). He needs just two more to tie Johnny Murphy and George Pipgras for 18th place with 93.

Bedard is 0-9 in his last 15 starts, the second longest active losing streak behind Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco (0-12). His last win as a starter was June 26, 2013, against the Cardinals when he was with the Astros.

The Rays have two 16 hit games and one 20 hit game against the Yankees this season. They became the first team since the 2000 Tigers with three games of 16+ hits in one season against New York.

First pitch at 1:05 PM on Yes.