This week, expect a Tampa-NY series of the three true outcomes:

Strikeout. Walk. Homer. 

This week, between the Yanks and Rays, expect a lot of slow marches back to the dugout or short jogs to first.

In a normal game, based on 2020 stats, the two teams will send 75 batters to the plate (the Yankees this season averaged 37; the Rays, 38.)

Of those 75 plate appearances, 18 will be strikeouts, eight batters will walk, and three will whack homers. Slightly more than half the balls will be put into play. 

Factor in Gerrit Cole and Blake Snell each pitching twice - games one and five - and you can add a few strikeouts. (Add even more due to the late-afternoon shadows.) If you consider the big game pressure, you could rationalize adding a few walks. Either way, at times, it will seem as if we are watching a chess match more than a sports contest.

Check out the 2020 batting stats.

Strikeouts: Despite our complaints, Yankee batters ranked 23rd in MLB, with 480 Ks; the Rays ranked first, with 607. They are a free-swinging team. 

Walks: Yankee batters led all of MLB with 251. The Rays finished second, with 243. Both teams feature finicky hitters.

Home runs: Yankee batters ranked fifth, with 94; the Rays 17th, with 80. (Considering that Judge, Stanton, Gleyber and LeMahiue missed much of that season, and they are now healthy, we should have a power advantage.)

We ranked 17th in runs scored, beating Tampa by three. We hit into a lot more DPs, ranking third, with 51. The Rays were 20th, with 38. 

In a nail-biter, say, with the tying run on base, forget laying one down. This season, the Yankees produced 1 - yes, one! - sac bunt. And get this: The Rays were worse: They never did it once, NOT ONCE, ranking dead last. 

So much for old school, eh?

So, the 2020 pitching numbers?

Strikeouts: The Yankees finished 11th, with 528. The Rays were 6th, with 552. For all the talk about our fearsome bullpen, they have a more potent collection of strikeout arms. 

Walks: Both teams seldom issue free passes. They tied for 26th, with 168.

Home runs: The Yankees were 5th (with 83), the Rays 19th, (70). 

Make no mistake: When the ninth man up is a Brett Gardner/Clint Frazier meld, you have a fearsome lineup. The Yankees should do damage. But good pitching always dominates good hitting, and you know what? That's all I know.