Zell's Pinstriped Blog, A New York Yankees Fan Blog

Tampa Bay Rays (54-35) at New York Yankees (57-32)

Pitching Matchup:

RHP Jeff Niemann (7-2, 2.77 ERA) vs RHP A.J. Burnett (7-7, 4.75 ERA)

Lineup:

Game Notes (via MLB.com and FOX Sports):

*Today is Old-Timer’s Day. For a schedule of festivities, you can see this post.

*The Yankees, at 57-32, own the best record in MLB. It is their best start since 2004. The Yankees are 23-10 in their last 33 games, a .697 winning percentage and they are now a season-high 25 games over .500.

*The Yankees 3 game lead in the AL East matches their season high. They have held first place since June 20.

*Mariano Rivera‘s pick-off of BJ Upton in the 9^th inning yesterday marked Mo’s first pick-off since May 21, 2003 and only the 5^th of his career.

*The Yankees are 29-13 (.690) at home this season, marking the second-best record in the AL and the third-best in the Majors behind Atlanta (31-11, .738) and Detroit (32-13, .711)…have gone 86-37 (.699) since moving into the current Yankee Stadium at the start of the 2009 season, marking the most home wins and best home winning percentage in the Majors.

*The Yankees own 28 come-from-behind victories this season, marking the most such wins in the Majors this season…the Yankees led the Majors with 51 come-from-behind wins in 2009.

*Yankees starting RHP AJ Burnett is 12-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 23 starts against Tampa Bay.

*Yankees RHP Sergio Mitre is expected to throw a side session today, prior to the team making a decision about his return to the active roster.

*Rays OF Carl Crawford totaled 50 RBI and 31 SB before the All-Star break, the first player to reach 50 and 30 before the break since CIN OF Eric Davis in 1987 (Elias). His 70 runs before the break are a Rays club record, and his .321 avg. is 3rd best in club history before the break.

*Rays 1B Carlos Pena 17 home runs (175-AB) vs. NYY are the most in the majors since 2007. No other player has more than 10.

The game takes place at Yankee Stadium, 161^st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx, New York. First pitch is slated for 4:10pm EDT. The game will be nationally televised on FOX (channel 5 in metro NYC) and the radio broadcast is on WCBS 880AM. Enjoy the game and… GO YANKEES!