The first two games in Tampa Bay showed how the Rays can keep an inning alive by putting the ball in play. That approach travels to the Bronx, where Nick Martinez has already pitched well against New York. With the Rays' main relievers fresh and Aaron Judge still off the Yankees' roster, their pitching plan fits this matchup.
Martinez allowed three runs across two starts at Yankee Stadium this season. Drew Rasmussen worked eight innings in the series opener, while Freddy Peralta and Ian Seymour covered most of the next game, leaving Kevin Cash's usual late-inning arms with little work. The Yankees have scored two runs across those games without Judge.
Max Fried has a strong record against Tampa Bay, but the Rays have a specific way to make his outing demanding. Their contact-heavy lineup helped build a four-run fifth inning in the second game, and MLB projects more right-handed bats against Fried's left-handed pitching. That combination of patient pitching use and pressure on the infield is what makes this slip worthwhile.
