Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Oliver Drake was supplanted on the AL Division Series list by right-hander Trevor Richards only hours before the New York Yankees’ 5-1 dominate in Match 4 Thursday night at Petco Park.
The Yankees leveled the best-of-five series at 2-2 to set up Friday’s decisive final game.
The list trade must be affirmed by the commissioner’s office.
Drake would be ineligible to return if the Rays advance to the ALCS however would be qualified to return in the event that they arrive at the World Series.
Manager Kevin Cash said Drake has what seems, by all accounts, to be a flexor strain. Drake contributed Game 1 on Monday night, a 7-4 misfortune, and tossed as an afterthought the following day. Cash said Drake told the group he didn’t feel he could contribute Game 2.
“It is frustrating and disappointing for Ollie,” Cash said. “As much as anybody, he wants to pitch and believe me, if he could pitch through it, he would. This was something that we didn’t feel comfortable doing.”
