The New York Yankees face elimination in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, with Max Fried taking the mound to try to keep the Bronx Bombers’ season alive. The Yankees trail 2-0 in the best-of-five series after back-to-back losses at Tropicana Field, where they managed just two runs and committed four errors in Monday’s 5-2 defeat.
Fried, who finished the regular season 5-5 with a 2.80 ERA, is tasked with reversing the Yankees’ fortunes. His track record against Tampa Bay is strong, boasting a 5-1 record and a 1.81 ERA in seven career starts, including a 3-0 mark with a 0.84 ERA in three starts during the 2025 season. However, his postseason performances have been less consistent, holding a 3-6 record with a 5.03 ERA over 23 appearances. Fried was solid in his last outing, allowing one run and three hits over six innings in a win against the Boston Red Sox.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated he is considering lineup changes to spark the offense, which has been held to just five hits and two walks combined through the first two games. The team struck out 17 times and had only one hit outside Ben Rice’s two solo home runs. Rice’s power has been a rare bright spot, making him the first Yankees player with two multi-homer games in a single postseason and placing second in franchise history with five homers in his first 10 playoff games.
Boone hinted that Anthony Volpe and recent trade acquisition Heliot Ramos could see action in Game 3 as the Yankees seek fresh energy. The team's struggles at Tropicana Field, where they are 2-7 this year including the playoffs, add to the urgency of a strong showing back home.
On the mound for the Rays is Nick Martinez, a 36-year-old journeyman who earned his first All-Star selection this season. Martinez’s regular-season numbers away from Tropicana Field were solid, with a 7-3 record and a 2.38 ERA in 16 road starts. However, he has yet to notch a win against the Yankees in three starts despite a respectable 2.16 ERA. Martinez’s playoff experience is limited to relief appearances, going 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA in eight career outings.
The Rays have relied heavily on only two traditional relievers through the first two games—Cam Booser and closer Bryan Baker—leaving their bullpen fresh. Tampa Bay’s style, emphasizing bunts, steals, and station-to-station baseball, has pressured the Yankees’ defense and pitching, but the team’s five games above .500 away from home contrasts with their dominant 57-26 record at Tropicana Field.
Boone acknowledged the Rays' disciplined approach: “This is not a team that gives you a lot of free passes. They’re as good as anyone in the sport at limiting walks. So you’ve got to do it in different ways. Whatever presents itself. Some nights, it’s going to be, yeah, a walk gets things going. Some nights it’s putting the ball into play. Sometimes it’s putting the ball in the seats.”
The conditions for Game 3 are expected to favor pitchers, with temperatures in the low 60s and winds at 5-10 mph moving sideways. The Yankees are favored around -160 at DraftKings, where 72% of the handle and 68% of bets back New York. The Rays hold a commanding -750 edge on the series line after their 2-0 lead.
Historically, teams up 2-0 in a best-of-five series have won 89% of the time, with only four teams rallying from such a deficit since 2017, including the Yankees themselves in that year’s ALDS. The Yankees have a 5-10 record under Boone when facing elimination, but they did win a Game 3 in the same ALDS scenario last year before ultimately exiting in four games.
Max Fried has confirmed he will pitch regardless of personal distractions, with reports that his girlfriend is expecting their first child. “It’s not going to affect what happens,” he said.
The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Fried going 5.8 innings, striking out 5.5 batters, allowing 4.7 hits and 1.8 earned runs. It projects a tight contest, with a slight edge to the Yankees by 3.9 to 3.7 runs.
Game 3 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on TBS, with the Yankees aiming to avoid an early exit and force a Game 4 at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
According to CBS.
