Rays vs. Yankees July 28, 2025: Key Matchup Without Aaron Judge and What It Means

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The highly anticipated MLB game on July 28, 2025, between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees is drawing intense attention as these two American League East rivals face off at Yankee Stadium. With the Yankees holding a 57-48 record and the Rays standing at 53-53, this matchup carries significant weight in the division race and playoff positioning.

A major storyline for this July 28th game is the absence of Aaron Judge for the Yankees. As their slugger and offensive cornerstone, Judge’s unavailability presents both challenges and opportunities. The Yankees will rely on other lineup players to step up offensively without their star presence[1][3].

The pitching matchup features Drew Rasmussen for the Rays, boasting a commendable 7-5 record with a 2.93 ERA and a WHIP of 1.03, striking out 82 batters over 95.1 innings. The Yankees will counter with Cam Schlittler, who has a limited MLB sample but is stepping into a tough role with a 1.55 WHIP and a 4.36 ERA over 10.1 innings. Rasmussen’s consistency versus Schlittler’s fresh energy adds an intriguing layer to this duel[1].

Both clubs have experienced uneven stretches:

Despite recent struggles, the Yankees aim to leverage home-field advantage and their deeper roster depth to exploit Tampa Bay’s pitching vulnerabilities, especially with their struggling pitching staff that has allowed 32 runs in the last four games[1][4].

• How the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen controls the Yankees’ lineup sans Aaron Judge.
• Whether the Yankees’ hitters compensate for Judge’s absence with timely hitting.
• If the Yankees’ pitching staff can contain Tampa Bay’s offense to sustain a win.
• The potential stakes in the AL East standings as both teams vie for playoff positioning.

The game kicks off at 7:05 PM ET at Yankee Stadium, with coverage available on YES Network and live streaming options provided by MLB broadcasters[1][3].