July 9, 2026 5:15 am EDT Updated
Junior Caminero and Ben Rice face off in a battle between top-10 sluggers when the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees play on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. ET. Caminero has 26 home runs (fourth in league) for the Rays, and Rice is fourth with 26 long balls for the Yankees. The Rays are 54-36 this season, first in the AL East. The Yankees are 50-42, second in the AL East. Neither team has named a starter.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay RaysYankees vs. Rays odds
Injury reportsRays
Jake Fraley: 10 Day IL (Groin), Jesse Scholtens: 15 Day IL (Wrist), Steven Matz: 15 Day IL (Ankle), Manuel Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Steven Wilson: 60 Day IL (Back), Ryan Pepiot: 60 Day IL (Hip), Gavin Lux: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jon Heasley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Edwin Uceta: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)
Yankees
Giancarlo Stanton: 10 Day IL (Leg), Aaron Judge: 10 Day IL (Rib), Carlos Rodon: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Max Fried: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Clarke Schmidt: 60 Day IL (Elbow)
Stats to know
Tampa Bay’s Caminero is slashing .278/.366/.541 this season with 26 home runs (4th in MLB), 56 RBIs and an OPS of .907 (11th in MLB). He has an 18.6% strikeout rate and a 12.5% walk rate in 393 plate appearances, and he has scored 57 total runs.
In 376 plate appearances, Yandy Diaz has slashed .327/.407/.502 this season. He has hit 13 long balls and driven in 55 runs with a strikeout rate of 13.8% and a walk rate of 9.8%. He has come around to score 48 times.
Rice has hit 26 home runs this season, which ranks 4th in MLB. He has also tallied 60 RBIs (15th in MLB) and has scored 60 runs. In 372 plate appearances, he has recorded a .272 BA, .363 OBP and .573 SLG with an 11.8% walk rate and a 23.4% strikeout rate.
In 386 plate appearances, Cody Bellinger has posted a 15.5% strikeout rate and a 13% walk rate while slashing .245/.339/.414 with 11 home runs, 50 RBIs and 46 runs scored. He has stolen 10 bases on 14 attempts.
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Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images
Jul 9, 2026
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