New Yank Yankees at Tampa Bay 6:40 ET
Rays over Yankees- New York left-hander Nestor Cortes (4-7, 3.41 ERA) will attempt to end a three-start winless skid when he takes the mound on Thursday. Cortes is 4-3 with a 1.81 ERA in 10 starts at home this season, as opposed to 0-4 with a 5.63 ERA in nine starts on the road. He is 2-4 with a 4.19 ERA in 14 career appearances (nine starts) against the Rays. He tossed seven shutout innings in a no-decision vs. Tampa Bay on April 20 before permitting four runs on five hits -- including two homers -- in 5 1/3 innings during a 7-2 loss to the Rays on May 11. Tampa Bay righty Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50) will provide the opposition in his first start at Tropicana Field since June 28, 2022. Baz returned from Tommy John surgery again throwing in the high 90s. He touched 98 mph on the radar gun in his first start in two years on Friday, a 3-0 setback to the Texas Rangers. Baz will be making his 11th career start and third against the Yankees. He has no decisions and a 2.45 ERA in two previous encounters with New York. Take TAMPA BAY!