Yankees Game Today: Start Time, Channel, Pitching Matchup & How to Watch Live

The Yankees game today delivered early fireworks in the Bronx before Mother Nature stepped in. New York led the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 when heavy rain forced a delay in the bottom of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. While grounds-crew tarps replaced basepaths, fans and fantasy-baseball managers kept one eye on the radar and the other on a box score that featured plenty of action. Hot-start offense powers early 7-run burst • Rookie catcher Ben Rice ignited the Yankees’ lineup, launching a three-run homer to straightaway center in the second inning—his 16th of an impressive debut season. • Giancarlo Stanton followed with a towering two-run shot into the left-center bleachers, giving New York back-to-back innings with long balls and a quick 6-0 cushion. • Anthony Volpe chipped in a run-scoring single, extending his on-base streak to 21 games. Marcus Stroman settles in after rocky first Ace right-hander Marcus Stroman surrendered two early singles but escaped the first unscathed, then cruised through four frames on just 57 pitches. He recorded five ground-ball outs and struck out four Rays, lowering his season ERA to 3.11 while improving his league-best ground-ball rate. Rays respond behind Randy Arozarena Tampa Bay clawed back with a four-spot in the fifth. Randy Arozarena ripped a two-run double off the left-field wall, and Yandy Díaz plated two more on a bloop single to center. Reliever Caleb Ferguson replaced Stroman and induced a double play to limit further damage, keeping the Yankees in front 7-4. Rain delay leaves key questions • Will the game be suspended or resumed? Umpires halted play at 2:40 p.m. ET with one out and runners on the corners for New York. Under MLB rules, because five innings have not yet been completed with the Yankees as the home team batting, the contest must resume—either tonight or during a future mutual off day—if weather allows. • Bullpen chess match: Aaron Boone avoided using closer Clay Holmes or setup man Luke Weaver before the tarp. If the game restarts, look for both to be available for the late innings. AL East implications The Yankees (59-49) entered the afternoon trailing the first-place Red Sox by one game and leading the Rays (54-55) by five in the Wild Card race. A completed victory would move New York into a virtual tie atop the division and push Tampa Bay six games back with two months to play. What’s next for the Yankees • Probable pitchers: Cody Poteet is slated to face Baltimore tomorrow, opening a crucial three-game weekend set. Carlos Rodón and Luis Gil follow in the rotation order. • Trade-deadline watch: Sources indicate GM Brian Cashman is still monitoring bullpen arms and a right-handed bench bat; Friday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline looms. • Injury updates: Center fielder Jasson Domínguez (oblique) began a rehab assignment Tuesday and could rejoin the team next week; ace Gerrit Cole (elbow) has started a light-throwing program. How to follow the Yankees game today Fans can stream the resumption on the YES Network app or MLB.TV once an official restart time is announced. Radio coverage continues on WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM. Live pitch-by-pitch updates and the final score will be posted here as soon as the game goes final, so bookmark this page and refresh for the latest Yankees vs Rays news, highlights, and post-game analysis. Bottom line The Yankees game today has everything a mid-summer pennant chase promises: booming home runs, clutch comebacks, high-stakes standings drama—and now a weather twist. Whether the tarp stays on or play resumes under clearing skies, this matchup’s outcome could ripple through the AL East race deep into September.