Yankees vs. Rays: A Saturday Showdown
Get ready for a cracking MLB matchup! This Saturday, May 3rd, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays face off at Yankee Stadium, promising an exciting game. This article breaks down the key factors influencing this contest, including head-to-head stats and pitcher analyses, helping you understand the potential outcome. We'll look at how the Yankees' hitters fare against Rays starter Zack Littell and how the Rays' bats might perform against Clarke Schmidt for the Yankees.
The Matchup: Yankees vs. Rays
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 1:05 p.m. ET
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
TV: MLB Network, YES, and FDSSUN
The Yankees and Rays have already clashed this season, with New York taking three out of four games in Tampa Bay. This weekend series presents another opportunity for both teams to prove their mettle.
- Yankees Starting Pitcher: Clarke Schmidt (0-1, 5.52 ERA)
- Rays Starting Pitcher: Zack Littell (1-5, 5.03 ERA)
Yankees Hitters vs. Zack Littell
A key factor in Saturday's game will be how the Yankees' hitters perform against Rays pitcher Zack Littell. Here's a glimpse of their past performances against him (data from 2021 onwards):
Name | AB | H | SO | BB | AVG | OBP | HR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paul Goldschmidt | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | .667 | .700 | 1 |
Anthony Volpe | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | .625 | .667 | 2 |
Aaron Judge | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .125 | .222 | 0 |
Oswaldo Cabrera | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .143 | .143 | 0 |
Trent Grisham | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .143 | .143 | 0 |
Austin Wells | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .600 | .600 | 1 |
Ben Rice | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Cody Bellinger | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Max Fried | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Oswald Peraza | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
While some Yankees hitters have shown success against Littell, others have struggled. This historical data provides a valuable insight into potential performance trends. Littell's recent inconsistency, characterized by a 5.03 ERA and a tendency to give up home runs, adds another layer to this intriguing matchup.
Rays Hitters vs. Clarke Schmidt
Conversely, the Rays will be hoping to exploit any weaknesses in Clarke Schmidt's pitching. Let's examine their historical performance against him:
Name | AB | H | SO | BB | AVG | OBP | HR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yandy Diaz | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .417 | .417 | 0 |
Brandon Lowe | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .286 | 0 |
Taylor Walls | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .333 | .333 | 0 |
Jonathan Aranda | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .250 | .200 | 0 |
Jose Caballero | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .667 | .750 | 0 |
Ben Rortvedt | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Daniel Jansen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Travis Jankowski | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .333 | 0 |
Curtis Mead | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
Schmidt's 5.52 ERA suggests potential vulnerability, although his recent outing against the Blue Jays showed some improvement. The Rays' batting averages against him offer another angle for predicting the game's dynamics.
Conclusion: A Tight Contest
The Yankees vs. Rays game promises a close contest. While the Yankees are favored, Littell's inconsistency and Schmidt's somewhat shaky ERA suggest a potential for upsets. The head-to-head statistics offer valuable insights but don't guarantee the outcome. Ultimately, the team that executes better on the field will likely prevail. Enjoy the game!