Rays out to push Yankees further down in AL East

While the Tampa Bay Rays hope their recent rut is ending, the New York Yankees are trying to build some momentum with the return of Aaron Judge.

The Rays look to widen their lead in the American League wild-card race and push the host Yankees further back in the standings Monday night when the division rivals open a three-game series in New York.

The Rays won four of seven meetings over the first two weekends in May, taking two of three at home before splitting a four-game series in the Bronx. Those games were part of Tampa Bay's spectacular start that kept them in first place through mid-July.

Tampa Bay heads to New York with just seven wins in its past 23 games after ending June at 57-28 with a 6 1/2-game lead. Since following up a seven-game skid with a three-game winning streak, the Rays are 4-9 in their past 13 games.

The Rays took two of three in Houston and bounced back from a 17-4 loss on Saturday with an 8-2 win Sunday. Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer and Josh Lowe capped a four-run first inning with a bases-clearing double.

"I think everybody realizes that we're kind of coming out of this little rut that we've been in," said right fielder Josh Lowe, who is 11-for-57 (.193) this month. "Just got to keep building on it."

New York is 7-12 over its past 19 games and is 3 1/2 games behind the final wild-card spot.

Judge returned on Friday after missing 42 games with a torn ligament in his right toe, and he homered in Saturday's 8-3 win at Baltimore. A night later, he was rested as the Yankees struck out a season-high 18 times in a 9-3 loss.

Five of those strikeouts were by Anthony Rizzo, who is in a 2-for-21 slide since going 4-for-4 against Kansas City on July 23.

"This is a tough one, but nothing stops," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Sunday's game. "We got to get back on the horse. Obviously, Tampa's coming in. We got to be ready to go, obviously with the urgency where we're at."

Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.36 ERA), who pitched a season-high seven innings in each of his past two starts, both at home, opens the series for the Rays. Glasnow allowed three runs (two earned) in a no-decision at home against the Baltimore Orioles on July 20 and then gave up one run in a 4-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees. He last faced them June 1, 2021, when he allowed three runs in seven innings at Yankee Stadium.

Domingo German (5-7, 4.77), who could be pitching for his rotation spot because of the impending return of Nestor Cortes, goes for the Yankees.

German is 0-2 with a 5.64 ERA in four starts since tossing the 24th perfect game in baseball history June 28 in Oakland. In those starts, German has 32 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.

He last pitched Tuesday in a 9-3 loss to the Mets when he allowed six runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out nine but also allowed three homers, and it marked the fourth time in seven starts German yielded at least five runs.

German is 3-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 13 career appearances (11 starts) against the Rays. In back-to-back starts against Tampa Bay on May 6 and 11, German allowed four runs in 10 2/3 innings.