New York Yankees

Following a win in the opening game of this four-game set, the New York Yankees aim to turn it into sustained success as they play the Minnesota Twins yet again.

  • New York Yankees: (32-34)
  • Minnesota Twins: (20-46)
  • American League, 8:10 PM ET, YES Network
  • Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Following a disappointing let-down in Colorado for the New York Yankees earlier in the week, they answered back and just defeated a team they were supposed to mop the floor with. Today, they aim to turn that into a winning streak as they square off against the Minnesota Twins, who have lost 10 of their last 17 games, for game two.

New York will send Masahiro Tanaka to the hill as he looks to bounce back from losing his four-game quality start streak at four after being tapped for five runs against the Detroit Tigers.

The interesting thing to note here is, Tanaka is pitching on five days rest for the eighth time this season and the split stats certainly demonstrate how dominant Tanaka Time is when he has an extra day. The Yankees’ ace has 1.26 ERA with an extra day this year compared to a 4.70 ERA on regular rest.

In his career against the Twins, Tanaka is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA featuring 7.2 K/9 in two starts.

Opposing him will be the left-handed Pat Dean who is coming off a solid start as he restricted the Boston Red Sox to one lone run on three hits in 6.1 innings or work on Sunday.

This will only be Dean’s twelve start of his major league career and his first against the Yankees.

Player To Watch: 

Didi Gregorius 

Didi Gregorius is coming off a game in which he clubbed a go-ahead three-run jack of lefty Fernando Abad to ignite the Yankees towards a victory last night.

The keyword is lefty. Didi is ranked ninth among all hitters in terms if hitting southpaws and owns the highest batting average when it comes to lefty-vs-lefty. Facing off against another one tonight? Look for a big game from Sir Didi.

Not at 100%?

After returning to the lineup from missing the series in Colorado with a swollen left knee, Carlos Beltran admitted he was not at 100% following New York’s win on Thursday.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m the best player out there, but sometimes I feel like maybe 80 percent of me could be enough to help the team,” Beltran told NJ Media. “So I just feel that right now the way I feel … I told Joe put me in.”

The Yankees, who only won last night because of a clutch home run by Gregorius, could use his bat at full potential especially against this stretch of beatable opponents.

Bold Prediction:

Tanaka dazzles again on five days rest and Aaron Hicks records an RBI hit while the Yankees take tonight’s contest in extras.

NEXT: Is CC Sabathia All-Star Game Worthy? 

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