Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays 9/6

The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will finish off their three game set this afternoon inside Yankee Stadium with the pitching match-up that the Yankees should have seen coming. It seems like if the Yankees play a one-game series against their American League East rivals it feels like today's starter Chris Archer would start that game. New York ALWAYS faces Archer, always, and I can't explain it. Anyway the Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound looking to oppose Archer in the finale of the three game set. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and TBS.

• Nova heads into this start this afternoon looking to end a three game personal losing streak. Nova gave up three runs in six innings in his last start against the Boston Red Sox and missed a no-decision by about five feet on the Didi Gregorius deep fly ball in the 9th inning. Nova has faced the Rays once already this season on July 5th and gave up for runs in five innings in a loss for the Yankees. 

• Archer heads into this start after notching his 18th quality start of the season last time out against the Baltimore Orioles. Archer shut out Baltimore for six innings while allowing just four hits and three walks with six K's in his 12th victory of the season. Archer is 3-0 in his career with a 1.54 ERA in five career starts inside Yankee Stadium.

It's Labor Day Eve and it's a day game in the Bronx so the ball may fly in the Bronx like it has a tendency of doing during the day. The Yankees have to be able to hit the ball first and that is no easy task against Archer, especially when the Rays right-handed is arguably having his best season of his young career. Must be the hair. Go Yankees!