Yankees vs. Rays: Live Stream, Injuries, Pitching Matchups and Fantasy Preview

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will probably be neck and neck in the race for the American League East several months from now. But on Friday, both teams will merely be trying to start the season 1-0.

The Yankees are coming off a typical Yankees season. They won 97 games and captured the AL East for the second time in three years. They'll look to do the same this year, and as always their eyes are fixed on yet another World Series championship.

The Rays have the pitching to win the East this year, and it will make them deadly in the postseason if they get that far. They are also a threat to win the World Series.

It all starts on Friday. Here's a full preview of tomorrow's action.

When: Friday, April 6th at 3:10 p.m. ET

Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Watch: YES Network for Yankees, Sun Sports for Rays; streaming live online via MLB.TV (minimum $19.99 payment).

Injury Report

The Yankees' official website has the latest on all the team's injuries. Austin Romine (back), Michael Pineda (shoulder), Joba Chamberlain (ankle) and Cesar Cabral (elbow) are all starting the season on the 15-day DL. Boone Logan has a bad back, but he has so far managed to avoid a trip to the DL.

The Rays' official website reports that Robinson Chirinos (concussion), Sam Fuld (wrist) and B.J. Upton (back) have all been placed on the 15-day DL. Kyle Farnsworth is day-to-day with a right elbow strain, but has managed to avoid the disabled list.

Yankees Starting Pitcher: CC Sabathia

The Yankees are paying CC Sabathia a ton of money, but he's proven in his first three seasons with the club that he's worth every penny. He's won 59 games in pinstripes with an ERA of 3.18. He's pitched 705 innings.

Sabathia handled Tampa Bay pretty well last season. He went the distance in two of his four starts against them and had a 2.51 ERA. However, his record was a mere 1-2.

Sabathia will need to be careful with Evan Longoria on Friday. Longoria has 10 hits off Sabathia in 30 at-bats, with four home runs and seven doubles.

Rays Starting Pitcher: James Shields

James Shields could do little wrong last season. He went the distance in 11 of his 33 starts with four complete-game shutouts. He pitched a career-high 249.1 innings and had a career-low 2.82 ERA.

Shields made five starts against the Yankees last year, going the distance in one of them. The Yankees beat him three times, however, despite the fact that Shields had a 2.33 ERA against them.

Shields' biggest Yankee nemesis is Robinson Cano. In 57 at-bats against Shields, Cano has 22 hits for a .386 batting average. Of his 22 hits, four are home runs, five are doubles and two are triples.

Yankees' Fantasy Studs

Robinson Cano, Second Base

Given his history against Shields, it's a good bet Robinson Cano will start his season off with a bang on Friday. That's good news for fantasy owners who used high draft picks on Cano, who is easily the best fantasy second baseman in the major leagues.

Cano is coming off a season in which he hit .302 with 28 home runs and 118 RBI.

Curtis Granderson, Center Field

Curtis Granderson started blasting balls out of the park on a regular basis late in the 2010 season, and he didn't let up once the 2011 season got underway. He ended the season with a career-high 41 home runs and 119 RBI, and he also added 25 stolen bases.

However, Granderson has just three hits in 43 at-bats against Shields, with no homers.

Brett Gardner, Left Field

With Gardner, it's all about speed. He stole 47 bases in 2010, and 49 in 2011. He doesn't bring much else to the table, but his abilities on the basepaths make him a legit fantasy starter.

Gardner has seven hits in 28 at-bats against Shields.

Mark Teixeira, First Base

Mark Teixeira is declining as a hitter, but he still has tons of pop. He's coming off a season in which he hit 39 home runs, 25 of which came before the All-Star break. He has a reputation of being a slow starter, but he reversed the trend last year.

Teixeira has six hits in 41 at-bats against Shields.

Mariano Rivera, Closer

What is there to say about Mariano Rivera? He's baseball's all-time saves leader, and age has done nothing to slow him down. He had 44 saves last year, and he should approach or go over the 40-save mark again this year. If the Yankees give him a lead, he'll nail it down.

Rays' Fantasy Studs

Evan Longoria, Third Base

Evan Longoria struggled to make consistent contact in 2011, ultimately finishing with a career-low .244 batting average. Despite that, he still managed to finish with 31 home runs and 99 RBI in just 133 games. If he's healthier and more consistent this year, he'll have an MVP-caliber season.

Desmond Jennings, Left Field

Desmond Jennings has the makings of a fantasy superstar. In just 63 games last year, Jennings hit 10 home runs and stole 20 bases. Over a full season, he could very well hit 20 home runs with upwards of 40 stolen bases. He's only going to get better as he continues to mature.

Jennings has two hits in eight at-bats against Sabathia.

Ben Zobrist, Outfield/Infield

Ben Zobrist is the best utility player in fantasy baseball. He can play anywhere on the diamond, and he's one of the more underrated hitters in the game. He hit 27 home runs a couple years ago, and last year he hit 20 homers and stole 19 bases. His numbers and his versatility make him a huge asset for both the Rays and fantasy owners.

Zobrist has 10 hits in 40 at-bats.

Carlos Pena, First Base

If you have Carlos Pena on your fantasy team, you're going to have to live with a low batting average. Over the last three seasons he's batted .216 with 482 strikeouts. What makes him worth the trouble is his power, as Pena has hit 95 home runs over the same period despite his struggles.

Pena has four hits and two home runs in 35 at-bats against Sabathia.

Prediction: Rays 6, Yankees 2

It's not unheard of for Sabathia to struggle on Opening Day. He bombed against the Orioles on Opening Day in 2009 and again against the Red Sox in 2010. There will be nothing to worry about if he does bomb, but it will put the Yankees at a disadvantage against Shields. I'm looking for him to start strong.