Face the Yankees in a two-game set as Stanton returns, while Judge’s field time remains in question. Rays staff will aim to exploit any offensive volatility from New York while adapting to the Yankees’ depth. The series sits in a critical stretch for both teams as the Rays chase a playoff berth, with Yankees trying to solidify wild-card positioning.

The Rays face a Yankees lineup with Judge limited to hitting and Stanton in RF, testing their pitching depth. The looming series is a chance to exploit any Yankees defensive gaps while Judge heals, with Rays’ pitchers aiming to maximize attack while avoiding Judge’s bat when possible.

Baz has a 4.93 ERA with August struggles, facing a Yankees lineup that leads MLB in OPS. His performance will shape Rays’ chances to stay relevant in the wild-card race and influence fantasy projections for Rays hitters and the team in this series.

Rays have fallen out of the playoff chase post-deadline, signaling a reset and a shift away from an all-in push. They’ll lean on Baz in a key series with the Yankees, and their left-right split context against Rodón will shape both the baseball and fantasy narrative.

Rays’ future location is central to the timing of any expansion, with ownership and market considerations tied to Tampa alignment. The Rays’ situation illustrates expansion risk and relocation uncertainty; this has direct fantasy implications as teams’ stability and schedules influence asset valuation and scheduling strategies.