Yankees reveal starting pitcher for crucial Game 162 vs. Rays

The Yankees will start righty Jameson Taillon vs. the Rays on Sunday, though he's dealing with an injured right ankle.
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NEW YORK — Jameson Taillon, despite an injured ankle, will start Game 162 for the Yankees vs. the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

They announced the decision following Saturday’s awful 12-2 loss to Tampa Bay.

Taillon, dealing with a right ankle tendon tear, pulled himself out of his most recent start after just 3 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Wednesday. But the 29-year-old righty had a successful bullpen session on Friday and played catch on Saturday without any issues.

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It’s unclear how much length Taillon could give the Yankees, who badly need to win.

If they win Sunday, they will secure a spot in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday. If they lose, they could wind up in a Game 163 tiebreaker to get into the wild-card on Monday.

It sets up ace Gerrit Cole to start a potential tiebreaker Game 163 on regular rest on Monday if necessary. But if the Yankees win Sunday, they would secure a spot in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, and Cole would pitch with an extra day’s rest.

The Yankees played their way into this position by losing on Friday and Saturday to the Rays, who technically have nothing to play for other than spoiling pinstriped dreams. Tampa Bay clinched the best record in the American League and the AL East well in advance of the weekend.

From the Yankees following Saturday’s loss:

• The Yankees have lost the first two games of their three-game set vs. the Rays in the final homestand of the season…have still won eight of their last 11 games, 12 of their last 18 and 13 of their last 20.

• Yankees pitchers allowed a season-high 19H and 5HR today, their most in a game since 8/15/19 vs. Cleveland (24H, 7HR).

• Surrendered 3HR to Brandon Lowe (three-run HR in the first inning, three-run HR in the third and solo HR in the seventh)…marks the second time this season the Yankees have surrendered 3HR in a game to one player (also 3HR by the Mets’ Francisco Lindor on 9/12 at Citi Field).

• LHP Jordan Montgomery (2.2IP, 6H, 7ER, 3BB, 3K, 3HR) recorded his seventh loss of the season…allowed a career-high-tying 7R (all earned) for the second time this season (also 7R/5ER on 9/10/21 at New York-NL).

• Surrendered a career-high 3HR, including a three-run HR to Brandon Lowe in the first inning and a three-run HR in the third and a solo HR to Mike Zunino in the third.

• Had allowed a combined 3ER over his previous three starts from 9/16-26.

• Yankees batters have homered in 21 of their last 23 games.

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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com.

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