How the Yankees fared in regular season against ALDS foe Rays

Here are five things to know about the regular-season series between the Yankees and Rays, which saw Tampa Bay win seven of 13 games, as they meet in the ALDS:  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.If Ben Rice becomes the centerpiece of the lineup again in the ALDS, depending on the status of Aaron Judge, the Yankees might find some extra comfort in that.

Rice absolutely crushed the Rays during the regular season.Among teams Rice played at least five times, he recorded his third-highest OPS (1.320) against Tampa Bay.

He finished with seven homers and 12 RBIs, too, and was perhaps the Yankees’ most consistent hitter against the Rays outside of José Caballero (eight RBIs in 13 games) and Ryan McMahon (seven RBIs, eight hits in 10 games). Junior Caminero became the youngest player since at least 1900 to homer in six straight games this year, and he finished his second full MLB season with 42 home runs.But against the Yankees, he managed just one homer and 10 hits, striking out 10 times and cobbling together a .565 OPS. The Yankees went 2-5 at Tropicana Field this season, including a sweep back in April, and will need to win at least one game at the climate-controlled stadium to advance.

They were outscored by a combined nine runs in those games, but it underscored an inability to win at the venue — a 79-95 record since the start of the 2006 season — that must change at least once.  Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! The Yankees received strong starting pitching against Tampa Bay this year, at least with rotation names — so excluding Luis Gil, Ryan Weathers and Paul Blackburn — who will get the ball to start an ALDS gam...