Jazz is back, Caballero at short Yankees' Monday lineup at Tampa Bay

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Welcome to the most critical Yankees' regular season series to date in 2026.

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Under the newly refurbished, tilted dome at Tropicana Field, with its crazy catwalks (and plenty of Yankees rooters in the seats), it's the opener of a four-game set between the first-place Rays and the reeling Yanks.

The last time the Yanks were here, they were swept three games - April 10-12 - by the narrowest of margins; two one-run games, one in extra innings, and a two-run game.

Aaron Boone's club arrives in its worst stretch of the season, having lost nine of their last 10 games, and 11 of their last 14.

They've shut down as an offense, they've made too many poor decisions on the bases, and their inconsistent defense hasn't helped a rotation that is in its shakiest period, after being a signature strength into June.

And of course, the last time the Yanks were in St. Pete, they had Aaron Judge (rib fracture) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain) in the lineup.

On Monday night, newly minted AL All-Star Cam Schlittler (8-5, 2.08) will try to bounce back from his worst start of the year, a six-run, four-inning, four-homer mess in a 9-3 loss to the Tigers last Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Leading the Yankees by four games in the AL East, the Rays - coming off two straight losses at Houston, after winning nine straight - will counter with Griffin Jax (4-5, 3.45) who went six innings (3 ER) at Kansas City in his last start, June 30.

Of note, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is in the Yanks' lineup at second base, batting sixth. He exited Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Twins due to right big toe discomfort, but X-rays were negative.

Here is the Yankees' lineup on Monday night:

  1. Trent Grisham, CF
  2. Ben Rice, DH
  3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
  4. Cody Bellinger, LF
  5. Jasson Dominguez, RF
  6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
  7. Jose Caballero, SS
  8. Ryan McMahon, 3B
  9. Austin Wells, C

And here is the Rays' lineup:

  1. Yandy Diaz, DH
  2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
  3. Junior Caminero, 3B
  4. Cedric Mullins, CF
  5. Jonny DeLuca, RF
  6. Chandler Simpson, LF
  7. Nick Fortes, C
  8. Richie Palacios, 2B
  9. Taylor Walls, SS

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Jazz is back, Caballero at short Yankees' Monday lineup at Tampa Bay

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