Rays vs. Yankees ALDS Game 3 preview: Tampa Bay one win from the ALCS, Max Fried starts in the Bronx

The Tampa Bay Rays can eliminate the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is at 8 p.m. ET on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. Tampa Bay leads the best-of-five series 2-0 after winning 1-0 and 5-2 at Tropicana Field, and New York has scored two runs in 18 innings without Aaron Judge, who was left off the ALDS roster with a right calf strain.

How did the Rays win Games 1 and 2?

In Game 1 on Saturday, Drew Rasmussen pitched eight innings, according to MLB.com, and Tampa Bay won 1-0. Game 2 on Monday turned on a four-run fifth inning and a sloppy Yankees defense. ESPN's game story counted four New York errors. Jonathan Aranda singled, Junior Caminero doubled and Liam Hicks drove in the go-ahead run with a slow roller to second. A misplayed grounder by shortstop George Lombard Jr. made it 3-1, another wide throw by Lombard extended the inning, and Richie Palacios lined a two-run single to center for a 5-1 lead.

That inning ended the night for Cam Schlittler, who went 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA in the regular season. Ben Rice homered twice for the Yankees in the 5-2 loss.

Who is pitching Game 3?

Tampa Bay starts right-hander Nick Martinez, who logged 180 innings with a 3.10 ERA in the regular season and was 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 16 road starts, per MLB.com. The Rays went 22-9 in his starts. Behind him is a rested bullpen: MLB.com noted that Tampa Bay's traditional relievers have recorded only seven of the 54 outs in the series, six by closer Bryan Baker and one by Cam Booser.

New York turns to left-hander Max Fried, whose career record against Tampa Bay is 5-1, with a 1.81 ERA across seven starts. He held Boston to one run over six innings in the decisive Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. Fried also faced the Rays on Sept. 22 in the Bronx and took the loss as Tampa Bay clinched the AL East there.

What has gone wrong for the Yankees' lineup?

Rice is 7-for-15 with four home runs this postseason and catcher Austin Wells is 5-for-12. MLB.com reported that the rest of the Yankees are a combined 1-for-46 in the ALDS. Manager Aaron Boone said before Game 2 he was considering changes, including Anthony Volpe at third base, with Jose Caballero and Paul Goldschmidt also options.

The Rays, AL East champions at 98-64, are expected to lean on right-handed bats against Fried. Caminero led the team with 42 home runs in the regular season, according to ESPN.

What is at stake?

A Rays win sends Tampa Bay to the AL Championship Series. A Yankees loss would end their season and extend their World Series drought to 17 seasons, as ESPN noted. Boone said after Game 2 that the team had answered adversity all year and needed to do it again. If New York wins, Game 4 would also be played at Yankee Stadium.