‘They don’t like us, we don’t like them’

SAN DIEGO — After losing eight of 10 games in a contentious regular-season series, the New York Yankees just can’t shake the AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays.

Not only will the Bronx Bombers face the Rays in the AL Division Series at Petco Park in one of MLB’s bubbles, but the teams that have a recent history of throwing at each others’ hitters are sharing the same resort hotel in northern San Diego County.

Outfielder Brett Gardner said he’s cordial when he passes Rays players at the hotel.

“Obviously it’s not ideal but it’s the cards that we’ve been dealt and I feel we’ve got a group of guys that’s very professional and just business as usual.”

Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier minced no words when he said: “They don’t like us, we don’t like them, and it’s going to continue to stay that way.”

Responded Gardner: “I think the feeling’s probably mutual.”

Game 1 is Monday night, when Yankees ace Gerrit Cole — a Southern California native — opposes Blake Snell, the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner.

“They got the best of us this year, arguably the best team in baseball,” Gardner said of the Rays, the AL’s top seed. “They had a really good season, ran away with the division. Obviously it’s up to us to come out and play better against these guys.”

Snell said he’s not concentrating on the hard feelings between these teams in recent seasons.

“I just know they’re a very talented team that I’m looking forward to facing,” Snell said.

Hard feelings between the teams hit a peak on Sept. 1 when Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph pitch near Mike Brosseau’s head. That led Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash to say, “I’ve got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 miles an hour,” and the Rays began wearing blue T-shirts with four horses lined up behind a fence.

Chapman earned a threegame suspension that remains under appeal. Both managers were suspended for one game apiece.

The next day, New York reliever Ben Heller was tossed for hitting Hunter Renfroe, then Brosseau hit two home runs.

TODAY ON TV

2 p.m. TBS — American League Division Series: Houston vs. Oakland, Game 1, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

6 p.m. TBS — American League Division Series: N.Y. Yankees vs. Tampa Bay, Game 1, Petco Park, San Diego