The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays start a four-game series on Tuesday, which includes a makeup game for a May 23 matchup that was postponed.
The Yankees are still alive in the race to win the American League East, but it will take a miracle. That miracle starts with the Yankees sweeping the Rays this week. The Yankees have Carlos Rodón, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler lined up for this series, looking to keep their hopes of winning the division alive.
However, if the Yankees sweep the Rays, they still need some help in the final three games of the year. Luckily for the Yankees, the Rays will be playing the Philadelphia Phillies after they leave the Bronx, and the Phillies should be playing for seeding.
The Yankees will have three games against the Baltimore Orioles after they finish up with the Rays.
Assuming the Yankees beat the Rays in all four games, they will win the season series against their division rival. After that, they simply need to tie the Rays in the win column in the final three games. The Yankees would be 93-66 going into their final series and the Rays would be 95-64.
The Yankees would need either of the following to happen in the final three games of the season:
- Yankees win 2 of 3 against Orioles AND Rays get swept by Phillies
- Yankees sweep Orioles AND Rays win 1 of 3 against Phillies
Essentially, the Yankees need to go on a seven-game win streak if the Rays win just one game against the Phillies. If the Rays go on a seven-game losing streak, the Yankees have one game of wiggle room against the Orioles.