Yankees: Marcus Stroman (2-2, 6.09 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 23 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The New York Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays with a 2-1 series lead. New York has a 33-22 record in home games and a 59-49 record overall.

Its Thursday, July 31 and the Rays (54-55) are in Bronx to wrap up their series against the Yankees (59-49). Ryan Pepiot is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Marcus Stroman for New York.

Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice homered in the first two innings and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 in a game delayed by rain for nearly three hours Thursday. The Yankees highlighted a busy trade-deadline day by agreeing to acquire reliever David Bednar from Pittsburgh in a deal they were working to finalize.