It is once again time to embark on another 72-hour craze over the legitimacy of the Yankees’ bats and how they are changing the sport.

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are playing a two-game series this week at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.

Shane Baz allows three consecutive homers in the first inning and five total, Ian Seymour gives up three and Mason Montgomery another.

No, the Rays players did not need to pack a Costco-sized cache of unmentionables for their two-week journey on the West Coast. Management showed the traveling party some mercy halfway through the rare 12-game trip by footing the hotel-laundry bill for everyone’s personal clothing.

Currently, the Yankees (68-57) lead the race, leaving no doubt that the Rays will heavily rely on Rasmussen to dominate on Wednesday when he faces New York right-hander Cam Schlittler (1-2, 3.94 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET.

Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, giving the New York Yankees a 3-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The tarp at Steinbrenner Field was rolled out about eight minutes before the 7:35 p.m. scheduled start time between the Yankees and Rays.

Notes | The outfielder, sidelined by oblique issues over the weekend in San Francisco, says he is “good to go.” The Rays' Josh Lowe has been plagued by oblique issues this season and last, recently missing two games in San Francisco. [ FRANK FRANKLIN ...