Ryan McMahon spent Friday night getting a lift from Baltimore to New York following a trade from the Colorado Rockies.
The third baseman spent the next two days acclimating to a new set of teammates and making a positive contribution to the New York Yankees.
The Yankees hope to see more from McMahon and others Monday night when they host the struggling Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a four-game series.
New York is 4-7 over its past 11 games after a five-game winning streak July 6-11. The Yankees avoided a sweep and ended a four-game home losing streak Sunday by earning a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
McMahon is 3-for-6 in two games after hitting .217 for the Rockies, who dealt him to New York for two minor league pitchers Friday.
“He looks great so far,” New York closer Devin Williams said. “Hopefully he continues it. I’ve obviously played against him in the past and he was a good player and I’m happy to have him here.”
On Sunday, McMahon keyed a four-run second inning by delivering a tying two-run double off Zack Wheeler. He also made three plays in the field, including a sliding stop on Trea Turner and a leaping catch on a line drive by Bryce Harper.
“Honestly just excited to do something to help the team,” said McMahon, who is batting .342 (13-for-38) with four homers and 11 RBIs over his past 11 games. “Wins are important right now. I’m happy to do some solid stuff out there and get ready for the next one.”
Tampa Bay took two of three in New York May 2-4 and then went 25-9 from May 20-June 26. Since then, the Rays are a measly 7-18 in their past 25, and they sit at .500 for the first time since they were 27-27 on May 27.
Their performance in New York may impact how they approach Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Rays finished with three hits in Sunday’s 2-1 loss at the Cincinnati Reds. It was the 11th time Tampa Bay was held to three hits or fewer. The Rays mustered only a homer by Taylor Walls while striking out 10 times, giving them 43 in the past four games.
Tampa Bay also is 1-6 in seven games since putting Brandon Lowe on the 10-day injured list a week ago with left foot and ankle tendinitis.
“We’re missing Brandon Lowe,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He knows that more than anybody. I know that. It’s a different lineup when he’s in it and how other guys are pitched. We have enough offense here that can work around that.”
New York’s Cam Schlittler (1-0, 4.35 ERA) will make his third career start, and it could be an audition for a potential trade. Schlitter allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his major league debut against the Seattle Mariners on July 9 and allowed two runs in five innings in a no-decision at Toronto on Tuesday, when the Yankees earned a 5-4 win.
Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.93), who turned 30 on Sunday, starts for Tampa Bay and is 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in his past 12 starts. Rasmussen is coming off four straight no-decisions and allowed two runs on three hits in four innings in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Rasmussen is 2-1 with a 0.34 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Yankees and has not allowed a run in 13 innings during his two previous appearances in New York.
–Field Level Media
