The New York Yankees hope to forget their mortifying road trip as they welcome the Boston Red Sox into the Bronx for a three-game set.
By Christian Kouroupakis
They are coming off a road trip in which they went 2-7, scored an average of 2.9 runs per game, and were outscored 39-23. While the Bombers dropped seven of its last eight, 14 of their 20 runs in that span came between two of those games.
More importantly, they find themselves at the bottom of the lowly American League East by three games (seven games out of first).
The Boston Red Sox, a team that swept the Yankees a week ago and outscored them 20-9, come pay them a visit at Yankee Stadium.
Their arch rival is 17-11, in first place, and coming off a series in which they took two of the last three against the Chicago White Sox.
The Yankees are trying to get on track, the Red Sox are trying to stay on the track as the rivalry renews this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know prior to the first pitch tonight.
Pitching Matchups:
Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.76 ERA) vs Michael Pineda (1-3, 6.33 ERA)
Starting in game one will be the mind boggler himself, Michael Pineda. He’ll get another chance to shut down the Red Sox lineup that tapped him for two runs on five hits on April 30 at Fenway. On the season, Big Mike is 1-3 with a 6.33 ERA and is currently experiencing a four-start winless streak.
Opposing him for Boston is Rick Porcello who owns a 1.33 ERA in his last three starts including 13.1 straight innings without giving up a single earned run. Against the Yankees last Saturday, Porcello pitched seven shutout innings.
David Price (4-0, 6.14 ERA) vs Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 5.46 ERA)
Nasty Nate takes the mound in game two of this series after getting lit up for six runs on 10 hits over five innings the start following an outing in which he flirted with a no-hitter.
On Sunday night, the Price was wrong for David as his inconsitency has given the idea that maybe his $217-million contract was a little much.
Anyway, despite his 6.14 ERA the left-hander has been worth the big bucks on the road. He owns a 2-0 record with a 2.57 ERA while striking out 24 over 14 innings of work outside the friendly confines of Fenway Park.
Steven Wright (2-3, 1.67 ERA) vs Luis Severino (0-4, 6.31)
The Yankees discussed a break or demotion for the struggling youngster who owns a 0-4 record with a 6.31 ERA in five starts.
It also seems as though the struggles on the mound have found their way into Severino’s head, especially after dropping two soft tosses from the Yankees’ baseman Mark Teixeira leading to a run scored in Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss in Baltimore.
The outing did have some promise to it, though, as Sevy only allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings. He is still, in my mind, one bad start away from a demotion.
Opposing him is 31-year old knuckleballer, Steven Wright. The right-hander has gone at least six innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer in all five of his starts this season. Opposing batters are hitting .188 against him.
Key To A Series Win:
Eliminate The Mistakes:
The margin for error has been so slim thanks to the anemic offense, therefore playing tight-knit baseball gives the New York Yankees the best, or only, chance to win.
In Thursday night’s 1-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, Starlin Castro represented the go-ahead run with Brian McCann at the dish and the Yankee second baseman committed one of the most frustrating baserunning blunders.
After McCann swung and missed on a Zach Britton fastball, Matt Wieters unloaded a pickoff attempt and nabbed Castro at second base to end the threat.
This is just one of the examples on how this team struggles with the most basic, fundamental baseball. And it’s beyond frustrating to watch.
It’s not fair to call out Castro, though. Severino’s two errors on Tuesday night cost the Yankees a run and ran his pitch count up and again, it can’t happen especially if the offense continues to dissapoint.
Players To Watch:
Dustin Pedroia:
Boston’s second baseman is red hot as he’s coming off a three-hit performance with a solo homer in a 7-3 win over the White Sox on Thursday. In the past two weeks, he is hitting .369.
Not only are his numbers against the Yankees impressive (.303/.366/.432) but he absolutley tears it up when the bright lights of New York are shining.
In 49 games at the New Yankee Stadium, Pedroia owns a .279/.358/.392 slash line with three home runs and 18 RBI and is 4-for-10 in his last two games in the Bronx. On Sunday against the Bombers, the laser show went 3-for-5 with a run scored.
Jacoby Ellsbury:
Ellsbury had two doubles out of his three hits versus the team he used to suit up for in last weekend’s series. In his last seven games, Jacoby is 7-for-21 (.333) with three doubles, three runs scored, and four walks.
Against Saturday’s pitcher (Price) he owns a career .348 batting average including one home run, two triples, and six doubles.
Brock Holt:
Although he doesn’t particularly hit the Yankees well, in last weekend’s series in Beantown, Holt went 4-for-10 with four runs scored and two RBIs.
Game Times:
- Game 1: Friday, 7:05 PM ET, YES/MLB Network
- Game 2: Saturday, 1:05 PM ET, YES Network
- Game 3: Sunday, 8:05 PM ET, ESPN
Injury Notes:
Boston:
- Hanley Ramierez (illness): Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports that he is is feeling better and will play.
- Eduardo Rodriguez (knee): will make a rehabilitation start pn Sunday for Triple-A Pawtucket, the Providence Journal reports. The left-hander threw 84 pitches in a rehab start Tuesday and is slated for 100 pitches Sunday.
- Pablo Sandoval (shoulder): underwent surgery on Tuesday. Will miss the remainder of the 2016 season.
New York:
- Alex Rodriguez (hamstring): placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.
- Brett Garnder (arm): X-rays taken on Gardner’s right arm came back negative. Did not start on Thursday.
Bold Predicion:
Seveirno will throw another quality start, Brian McCann hits a home run, David Ortiz does too, and the Yankees score more than ten runs at least once this series.