.@IvanNova47 is taking the hill right now against the @Rockies on @yesnetwork ? pic.twitter.com/lytGhSvE3L
— Yankees On Demand (@YankeesonDemand) June 21, 2016
After taking a series against the worst team in the American League, the New York Yankees shift focus to the most prominent team in the Texas Rangers.
- Texas Rangers (49-27)
- New York Yankees (37-37)
- American League, 7:05 PM ET, YES Network
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Yes, it included a disappointing ending, but the New York Yankees took the three-game set with the Minnesota Twins and will now play host to the Texas Rangers in what will be a tough four-game series in the Bronx.
The Bombers have been dancing the tango with the .500 plateau and will do anything to remain above the mark but Sunday’s loss against the Twins pushed them back to an even record.
The Yankees have never been further than two games over .500 since they were 4-2 April 12. They have gone over twice since then and each time they have fallen back to .500, where they have fallen back to a total of six times here in 2016.
As they attempt to earn a winning record again, they have a tough task ahead of them as they play one of the best team’s in all of baseball.
Just an FYI, the Yankees own a 12-19 record against teams above .500 and the Rangers? Well, they have won 18 of their last 24 games to improve their overall record to 49-27.
New York will send right-hander Ivan Nova to the hill as he looks to recapture that lightning trapped in a bottle from his first three starts back in the rotation (1.65 ERA).
Over his last six starts, “Not-So-Super Nova” has accumulated a 6.88 ERA and authorized a .932 OPS. Despite the rise of Luis Severino, he is not in danger of losing his rotation spot but after giving up six runs to the Colorado Rockies his last time out, the question exists.
Chi Chi Gonzalez will be summoned from Triple-A to make his season debut at Yankee Stadium. Through 10 starts and 14 appearances during his rookie campaign a year ago, he had a 3.90 ERA but didn’t strike out a ton of batters (4.0 K/9) and owned a 4-6 record. This will also be his first career start against the Yankees.
Check out today’s pitching matchup, between Texas’s Chi Chi Gonzalez and Ivan Nova! https://t.co/wRDKXGDZYTpic.twitter.com/IOEUCXOOii
— Bronx Bombers (@BronxBomberBlog) June 27, 2016
Lineups:
Yankees vs. Rangers tonight at 7:05pm on @YESNetwork and @WFAN660 pic.twitter.com/D6lsPIREJ4
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) June 27, 2016
Players To Watch:
Mark Teixeira:
Yesterday, Mark Teixeira connected for his first home run since April 13 and he plans on bringing a dominant bat back into his team’s lineup.
In the season’s first meeting against his former team, Teixeira went 4-for-11 (.364) with a double and two RBI in the three-game series. I can’t think of a better series to jump start his season again like the one he’s about to play in this week.
RECAP: @teixeiramark25 goes deep in #Yankees’ loss to Twins. https://t.co/tgL4jJVytShttps://t.co/SLoV80s8Lj
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 26, 2016
Prince Fielder
The dimensions of Yankee Stadium and the bat of Prince Fielder is one healthy relationship. In 12 games at the New Yankee Stadium, Fielder has maintained a .354/.426/.646 along with four home runs to coincide with 14 RBI and six extra base-hits.
Since June 8, he has turned his season around by batting .283 with four homers and his team has enjoyed it as they own a 12-5 record since then. Watch for Fielder to have one hell of a night in the Bronx.
.@RealPFielder28 is heating up! He launches a 2-run shot and we lead 5-1 now in the 6th! #LetsGoRangers pic.twitter.com/lHMoP5p4GI
— #VoteRangers (@Rangers) June 26, 2016
Bold Prediction:
Gonzalez dazzles in his season debut despite one mishap (another Teixeira home run). The Rangers tattoo Nova for six runs featuring three long balls as Texas takes game one and sends New York one game under .500.
