Yankees' Cam Schlittler Shades Rays, Tropicana Field Atmosphere Ahead of ALDS Game 1

New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler may have provided the Tampa Bay Rays with some bulletin-board material prior to Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday.

When asked about playing at the Rays' home ballpark, Tropicana Field, Schlittler told reporters, "I wouldn't say there's really too much of an away crowd here. I expect there to be a lot of Yankees fans. In some ways, you are, to an extent, kind of playing at home. I feel like the guys are excited to have that atmosphere here."

As the American League East champions and the top seed in the AL, the Rays will host the Yankees for the first two games of the ALDS on Saturday and Monday before the series shifts to Yankee Stadium for Game 3.

For the majority of their existence, the Rays have not been known to have the biggest home-field advantage, particularly when it comes to crowd support.

On top of that, Tropicana Field has often been the butt of jokes among baseball fans since it began hosting Rays games in 1998.

However, the Rays are in the midst of a great season and are legitimate World Series contenders after posting a 98-64 record, which was the best mark in the AL and the third-best mark in baseball.

That suggests that The Trop could be bumping on Saturday evening, although it isn't likely to be filled entirely with Rays fans.

The Yankees are among the most popular teams in sports, and their fans travel well. On top of that, Florida has its fair share of transplants who are originally from the northeast.

Additionally, the Tampa area feels like a second home for the Yankees in many respects, as their spring training facility, George M. Steinbrenner Field, is located in Tampa.

If Schlittler's comments provide the Rays with some added motivation, it is Gerrit Cole who will primarily have to contend with it since he is getting the start against Drew Rasmussen in Game 1.

Schlittler is lined up to start Game 2 after shutting down the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.

The heavy favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award after going 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts over 193.2 innings pitched during the regular season, Schlittler held the Red Sox to two hits and no runs, while striking out 10 over 6.1 innings in the Yanks' 9-0 win on Tuesday.

Schlittler may face the wrath of Rays fans in attendance for Game 2 of the ALDS on Monday, although there figures to be plenty of Yankees fans on hand to cheer him on as well.