Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

The dish

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 4:10 today; Yankee Stadium, New York

TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers:

Rays: RH Jeff Niemann (7-2, 2.77)

Yankees: RH A.J. Burnett (7-7, 4.75)

Watch for

Standing tall: Niemann, fifth in the American League in ERA, is the Rays' most consistent starter, allowing three runs or fewer in 16 of his 18 starts. He was 1-0, 2.93 in three starts against the Yankees last year.

Burnin' desire: After a brutal June (0-5, 11.35), Burnett appeared back on track with seven solid innings against Oakland on July 7. He is 12-5, 2.98 overall against the Rays, who roughed him up May 19.

Key matchups

Yankees vs. Niemann

Curtis Granderson 1-for-8

Derek Jeter 4-for-5

Mark Teixeira 1-for-9

Rays vs. Burnett

Carl Crawford 17-for-50, HR

Carlos Peña 3-for-33, HR,

13 Ks

B.J. Upton 7-for-35, 15 Ks

On deck

Sunday: at Yankees, 1:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (12-4, 2.42); Yankees — Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.70)

Monday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (6-9, 4.69); Orioles — Chris Tillman (1-3, 5.64)

Tuesday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Garza (10-5, 4.05); Orioles — Jake Arrieta (3-2, 4.38)

Wednesday: at Orioles, 12:35, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (7-9, 4.86); Orioles — Brad Bergesen (3-7, 6.37)

Stat of the day

LF Carl Crawford, left, is the first player to get to the All-Star break with 50 RBIs and 30 steals in 23 years, since Cincinnati's Eric Davis in 1987, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Number of the day

39 Games, among the Rays' final 74, against teams with winning records.

Quote of the day

"I never realized the scope of the Tampa-New York thing until I got there — kind of interesting."

Manager Joe Maddon on the rivalry