GAMEDAY: Mets at Yankees 7:05pm

Johan Santana (4-2, 3.10 ERA) vs. Darrell Rasner (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

Bullpen:

Available: Mo, Joba, Farnsworth, Ohlendorf, Britton
Likely: Hawkins, Ramirez, Veras

Verdict: Good job by the "other" arms in the bullpen. If a team isn't winning, the least the bullpen can do is keep the game close. This time, Hawkins, Ramirez, and Veras put up 3 scoreless frames and gave the Yankees a chance to come back. As little as a year ago, a 5-run lead wasn't always enough for the Rays' bullpen to hold. But with the Yankees' offense being the way it is, the much-improved Rays bullpen managed to escape with a comfortable 5-2 victory.

It's good to see that Girardi hasn't turned to LaTroy Hawkins for any crucial innings in the past few weeks. It was such a Torre thing to defer to a pitcher simply because he's a veteran. Clearly Girardi is going on results, and if a member of the 'pen performs, he will be rewarded with a more prominent role. Farnsworth and Ohlendorf (and before their injuries, Bruney and Albaladejo) are proof that it's possible to rise in the bullpen pecking order if you pitch well. Hawkins has pitched much better of late (an ERA in the low 3's ever since his 6-run collapse in early April) and could see more important innings in the near future. But it'll take sustained dominance, in addition to a Farnsworth or Ohlendorf collapse, to put him near the 7th inning with a lead.