New York Yankees

The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox will square off in the middle game of this three game set today in the Bronx.

  • Chicago White Sox (24-12)
  • New York Yankees (14-20)
  • American League, 1:05 PM ET, YES Network
  • Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Following a lethargic 7-1 loss to Chris Sale and the White Sox last night, the Yankees will look to promptly put it in their rearview mirror. Doing so would be essential given that this Yankee team, constantly facing an uphill climb, needs to continue racking up series wins.

Winning this series makes it a 7-3 home stand; losing this series makes it a 6-4 home stand. The former sounds far better, especially after starting it 5-2. It is the job of Ivan Nova to make sure the Yanks at least get a chance of accomplishing that.

Last time out, Nova’s first start of 2016 replacing the injured CC Sabathia, he tossed 4 2/3 innings of one run ball on a pitch limit against KC. Nova possesses a 3-1 record with a 2.54 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox. However, these are not the same White Sox he had to face in those six starts and Nova’s opposition will be no easy task for the Bronx Bombers.

Left-hander Jose Quintana, once a Yankee farmhand, is putting together a gem of a 2016 campaign. Quintana is 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA over seven starts and 45 2/3 innings. Opponents have only hit .217 against him and his WHIP is a spectacular 0.99.

In his last three starts, including his latest seven inning win over Minnesota, the southpaw is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and has fanned 20 opposing batters. For a Yankee team that has struggled mightily against lefties all season, facing Quintana the day after getting silenced by Sale may not be the greatest of match-ups.

With that being said, the Yankees own a .321/.361/.518 slash in the three games they have faced Quintana. Despite winning two of those three starts, he has pitched to a subpar 5.27 ERA against New York. Given the numbers, one side will give today. Whether it is the left-handers superb 2016 numbers or his career numbers.

Here are the lineups for this afternoon’s ballgame as put together by Joe Girardi and Robin Ventura.

No surprises in the Yankee lineup other than Austin Romine being the designated hitter rather than Gary Sanchez, who was sent back to AAA (see below). In 14 games, Romine has slashed .300/.323/.400 with three RBIs in a limited backup catching role. The Yankees clearly trust what has been a surprising bat.

For the White Sox and their old school manager, you will rarely see shifts in the lineup. At this point, why would they? They possess the best record in the American League (24-12). The only change is Dioner Navarro behind the plate and in the number eight spot rather than Alex Avila, who sits day game after night game.

Roster Moves

Gary Sanchez had a short-lived stint in the Bronx, although it is near certain that we will see him again. The 23-year-old catcher was sent back down to the minors after one day as the Yankee DH, going 0-4 against Chris Sale.

Luis Severino was placed on the 15-day disabled list with his right triceps strain that he sustained last night, making way for two call-ups to fit an area of need.

Conor Mullee and Chad Green were summoned from Triple-A Scranton and due to the bullpen shortage, there may be a chance that we see them. Both right-handers have pitched to a sub-two ERA in AAA this season.

Bryan Mitchell and Greg Bird were transferred to the 60-day DL.

This day in Yankees history

On May 14, 1996, exactly two decades ago, Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden entered the record books and Yankee lore. He tossed a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners on 134 pitches.

It was a historic start that lifted a struggling Gooden and the Yanks, who went on to win the Fall Classic.

The Yankees can only hope they get a fraction of that from Ivan Nova today as they look to even up this three game set. Actual first pitch will be right around 1:08 pm ET from Yankee Stadium. The game can be seen on the YES Network and heard on WFAN 660/101.9 FM.

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