Preview: Yankees at Rays, Saturday, April 11, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The New York Yankees look to even their series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at George Steinbrenner Field after dropping the opener.

First pitch is scheduled for 79 degrees under clear skies.

The Yankees (8-5) fell 5-3 on Friday night, their third straight loss. The Rays (6-7) have won two of their last three.

New York will send left-hander Max Fried (2-0) to the mound. Tampa Bay counters with right-hander Nick Martinez (0-0).

A key player to watch for the Yankees is reliever Ryan Yarbrough, who has not allowed an earned run in 4 2/3 innings over his last three appearances, including two scoreless frames against Miami on Sunday and another two innings in Friday’s loss.

For the Rays, reliever Steven Matz has been sharp, earning wins in his last three outings. He pitched five innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts in a victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

In Friday’s game, the Rays were led by Yandy Díaz, who went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. The Yankees’ Ben Rice hit a pinch-hit home run.

According to Interstat, the Yankees are projected to win with a 59% probability. The game simulator predicts a 6-5 New York victory. The Yankees are favored at -1.5, with an over/under of 7.5 runs.

Following Saturday’s contest, the series concludes Sunday before the Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels for a four-game set starting Monday. The Rays will embark on a six-game road trip to Chicago and Pittsburgh beginning Tuesday.