MLB Standings: Tough Weekend Drops Rays 5 Games Behind Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays had a tough weekend, dropping two out of three games to the New York Yankees, one of the teams they're chasing in the AL East. The Rays now sit five games behind the Yankees for the division, and 3.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics for the Wildcard. The Rays are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, and will need a strong effort in their final 16 games to make the playoffs.

The good news for the Rays is that they have a seven game home stand this week against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Chicago White Sox have a 2.5 game lead on the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, and the Texas Rangers are only 2 games up on the A's in the AL West. Here is a complete look at the current MLB standings, courtesy of Sports Illustrated.

For more on the Tampa Bay Rays, check out DRays Bay. Also, don't forget to check out Baseball Nation for all your MLB coverage needs.

Rays Vs. Yankees Game Preview: Schedule, TV Info And More

The Rays look to break the series tie with the Yankees in Sunday's rubber match at Yankee Stadium. This is a critical game for Tampa Bay, as the teamchases both the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in the American League East Division standings.

Matt Moore (10-10, 3.68 ERA) will take the mound for the Rays in his first appearance at Yankee Stadium since last September, which went well. The Rays need him to pitch well enough keep the Yankees at Bay. Moore hasn't been at his best since August, compiling a 4.41 ERA in losing his last three starts to match the longest skid of his brief career.

Moore faces Hiroki Kuroda (13-10, 3.17 ERA) in the pitching duel.

Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 16, 1:05 p.m. ET

TV: SUN, YES

Online streaming: MLB.tv

Stay with this StoryStream for more information on the Rays-Yankees series. For more on the Rays, head over to DRays Bay. For more information about the Yankees, please visit Pinstriped Bible.

Rays Vs. Yankees Final Score: Yankees Top Rays 5-3

The Tampa Bay Rays failed to gain more ground on the New York Yankees on Saturday, falling in a 5-3 contest in New York. With the loss, the Rays fall four games back of the Yankees in the AL East race, and 3.5 games behind the Orioles and Athletics for the wildcard.

James Shields went 6⅓ innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four. However, Shields' and the Rays' undoing were the back to back home runs hit by Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez in the third inning. Ivan Nova turn in a good effort for the Yankees, pitching six innings and allowing only two runs while striking out eight batters. Rafael Soriano earned the save.

Evan Longoria chipped in with a solo home run in the sixth inning, but other than a two run Luke Scott pinch hit single in the seventh inning, the Rays were never able to string together enough hits at a time.

Game 3 gets started at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Stay with this StoryStream for more information on the Rays-Yankees series. For more on the Rays, head over to DRays Bay. For more information about the Yankees, please visit Pinstripe Bible.

Rays Vs. Yankees Lineups: James Shields To Take The Mound For Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees are set to play the second of their three-game weekend series from Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Rays defeated the Yankees on Friday, 6-4, to bring themselves within three games of New York and the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East standings.

Both teams have released their lineups for Saturday, so first up, the home Yankees who will start Ivan Nova on the mound:

1. Ichiro Suzuki (L) LF
2. Derek Jeter (R) DH
3. Robinson Cano (L) 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez (R) 3B
5. Raul Ibanez (L) RF
6. Nick Swisher (S) 1B
7. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
8. Eduardo Nunez (R) SS
9. Chris Stewart (R) C

And now the lineups for the visiting Rays who will start James Shields on the hill:

1. Desmond Jennings (R) LF
2. Ben Zobrist (S) SS
3. Evan Longoria (R) DH
4. B.J. Upton (R) CF
5. Jeff Keppinger (R) 3B
6. Matt Joyce (L) RF
7. Ryan Roberts (R) 2B
8. Carlos Pena (L) 1B
9. Jose Molina (R) C

First pitch from Yankee Stadium will take place at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage from the Rays vs. Yankees series. For more insight and analysis, check out Rays blog DRays Bay, and for the perspective from New York check out Yankees blog Pinstripe Bible.

Rays Vs. Yankees Game Preview: Tampa Bay Looks To Keep Gaining Ground In Playoff Race

The Tampa Bay Rays took Game 1 of their three game series with the New York Yankees, 6-4, and they look to keep things rolling in Game 2. Currently three games behind the Yankees and one back of the AL Wild Card, they're not out of either race. Winning those races, though, would take a nearly flawless effort. They turn to James Shields (14-8, 3.71 ERA) on the mound, facing off with Ivan Nova (11-7, 4.92 ERA) for New York.

Shields is 3-2 against the Yankees this year, with his most recent outing being a 4-3 win where he went eight innings and struck out 13 while giving up three runs on seven hits. Nova is 2-1 against the Rays, but the last time Tampa Bay saw him they took him for six runs on seven hits over six innings.

Game Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Television Coverage: FOX
Streaming Coverage: MLB.tv

Stick with this StoryStream for game updates, scores and more from the Rays vs. Yankees series. For more insight and analysis, Rays blog DRays Bay has you covered.

Rays Vs. Yankees Final Score: Rays Start Crucial Series With 6-4 Win

The Tampa Bay Rays managed to stay one step ahead of the New York Yankees on Friday night, winning Game 1 of the three game series, 6-4. With the win the Rays pull within three games of the Yankees and one of the AL Wild Card.

David Price put in a strong effort for Tampa Bay, picking up the win in seven innings that saw him give up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. The Yankees got on the board first, but the Rays took a 3-1 lead in the fifth and held on until the end. The offense in the fifth came on RBI singles by Elliot Johnson and Desmond Jennings, and Evan Longoria picked up an RBI while grounding into a double play.

Curtis Granderson made it 3-2 with a home run, but the Rays added two more with an RBI single from Ben Zobrist in the seventh and a solo home run from B.J. Upton in the eighth. That helped the Rays survive the bottom of the eighth, when Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run shot and Fernando Rodney had to work out of a two-on, two-out jam. He did just that, and went on to pick up his 43rd save of the year. The final Rays run came in the top of the ninth when Jennings reached on a single, stole second and scored when Eduardo Nunez made a throwing error on a Longoria grounder.

Game 2 of the series is Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage from the Rays vs. Yankees series. For more insight and analysis, check out Rays blog DRays Bay, and for the perspective from New York check out Yankees blog Pinstripe Bible.

Rays Vs. Yankees: Rays Holding Slim 3-2 Lead Midway Through Six

The Tampa Bay Rays began a crucial series with the New York Yankees on Friday night and they are hanging on to a tight lead midway through Game 1 of the series.

The Rays' bats were quiet until the fifth inning, when Chris Gimenez led off with a double. He advanced to third on a wild pitch from C.C. Sabathia, and Elliot Johnson knocked him home with a single to right. Desmond Jennings followed that with a single to center, and Evan Longoria picked up an RBI on a double-play ground out, leaving the Rays up 3-1.

A solo home run from Curtis Granderson cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, and it looked the Yankees were poised to put up more runs. Eduardo Nunez and Derek Jeter both reached on infield singles, but David Price was able to work his way out of the two-on, one-out jam when he got Nick Swisher to fly out and Alex Rodriguez to on a ground out.

Midway through the sixth inning, the Rays lead, 3-2.

Stick with this StoryStream for game updates, previews and more from the Rays vs. Yankees series. For all things Rays, check out DRays Bay. For the Yankees perspective, check out Pinstripe Bible.

Rays Vs. Yankees Lineups: Desmond Jennings Leading Off For Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays open up a series against the New York Yankees on Friday night. The Rays are currently four games behind the Yankees and Orioles, who are tied for first in the AL East. The full lineups for tonight's game are listed below.

Tampa Bay:

1. Desmond Jennings (R) LF
2. Ben Zobrist (S) SS
3. Evan Longoria (R) DH
4. B.J. Upton (R) CF
5. Jeff Keppinger (R) 3B
6. Ben Francisco (R) RF
7. Chris Gimenez (R) C
8. Carlos Pena (L) 1B
9. Elliot Johnson (S) 2B

Related: Who's Coming Back To Rays In 2013?

New York:

1. Derek Jeter (R) DH
2. Nick Swisher (S) RF
3. Alex Rodriguez (R) 3B
4. Robinson Cano (L) 2B
5. Russell Martin (R) C
6. Andruw Jones (R) LF
7. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
8. Steve Pearce (R) 1B
9. Eduardo Nunez (R) SS

For more on the Rays, check out Rays blog DRaysBay and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay. For the Yankees, head to Yankees blog Pinstriped Bible and SB Nation New York. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit Baseball Nation.

Rays Vs. Yankees Game Preview: David Price Tries To Break Three-Game Slide

The Tampa Bay Rays begin a crucial three-game set with the New York Yankees on Friday night. David Price will be on the mound against C.C. Sabathia.