Yankees vs. Red SoxNew Yankee Stadium
(four games)
Tonight the Yankees will begin a huge 4-game set against the Red Sox at the new Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are currently 0-8 against the Red Sox this year, and that winless streak needs to, and will, end tonight. In fact, the Yankees have a better shot to win the entire series than Boston does to split it.
First off, the Red Sox have been struggling of late. They haven't had a good 2nd half so far, and they just got swept by the Rays. Their addition of Victor Martinez have made them better, but not by a lot. It mainly just added depth. They have a struggling, aging pitcher starting tonight in John Smoltz, opposing a red-hot Joba Chamberlain. For the rest of the series, the Red Sox, besides tomorrow night, don't have a good shot to win because of pitching matchups way in the Yankees favor. Also, tonight and tomorrow they also won't have their A lineup.
Next, the Yankees are coming off a 5-4 road trip and are currently 65-42, 2.5 games up in the AL East. The Yanks have their 4 best pitchers going in the series - Joba Chamberlain (tonight), A.J. Burnett (tomorrow), CC Sabathia (Saturday), and Andy Pettitte (Sunday). Burnett may get outduled by Josh Beckett tomorrow, but otherwise CC, Joba, and Andy should dominate in their starts. Finally, the Yankees offense has been on fire of late, scoring 14 runs in their last 2 games. They should be able to pummel John Smotlz tonight and Clay Buchholz on Saturday. Maybe they'll also be able to score 3 or 4 runs off Jon Lester on Sunday.
Pitching Matchups
RHP Joba Chamberlain (7-2, 3.58) vs. RHP John Smoltz (2-4, 7.12)
Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:05 | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27)
Game 3: Saturday @ 4:10 p.m. | TV/Radio: FOX, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (11-7, 3.95) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (1-1, 6.05)
Game 4: Sunday @ 8:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: ESPN, WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (9-6, 4.35) vs. LHP Jon Lester (9-7, 3.79)
Players to Watch
YANKEES: Alex Rodriguez - The Yankees third baseman has played much better than I had expected coming into this season knowing the injury he had and how quickly he returned from it. That said, the guy was viturally invisible in the three games he's played against Boston this year and for the Yanks to be successful this weekend that must change.In those three games he's 1-for-10 with a dboule and 2 RBI.
In 180 career games against Boston he's a .281/.376/.505 hitter with 39 HR and 109 RBI. If he could play like that this weekend they'll be fine.
A-Rod vs. Smoltz: 1-for-5 with an RBI
A-Rod vs. Beckett: .306/.390/.472 (11-for-36), with a homer, 7 RBI, and 8 K's
A-Rod vs. Buchholz: 2-for-5, with a homer and an RBI
A-Rod vs. Lester: .091/.167/.182 (1-for-11) with a double and 3 strikeouts
RED SOX: Kevin Youkilis - The guy is probably the most dangerous Red Sox right now, and for the Yanks to have a good weekend, holding him in check will be a key. This year he's hitting .312/.422/.580 with 20 HR and 66 RBI.
In seven games against the Yankees this season he's hitting .375/.531/.667 with 2 HR and 3 RBI. His career numbers against the Bombers are also pretty impressive; .315/.448/.470 with 6 HR and 35 RBI in 65 games.
His numbers in the Bronx are pretty similar. He has hit .312/.437/.468 in 31 games in the Bronx.
Youkilis vs. Chamberlain: .333/.636/.333 (2-for-6) with 5 RBI
Youkilis vs. Burnett: .261/.346/.261 (6-for-23), with 2 RBI
Youkilis vs. Sabathia: .333/.400/.333 (3-for-9)
Youkilis vs. Pettitte: .409/.567/.682 (9-for-22) with a homer and 3 RBI
Injury Report
YANKEES:
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL is done for the year after arthriscopic surgery on his shoulder. He will likely be out for 12 months.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Done for year, season-ending Tommy John surgery. 10-12 months to recover.
- Damaso Marte, RP: 15-day DL with a sore shoulder. He's on a rehab assignment with the SWB Yanks and is at least a week away or more.
RED SOX:
- Jason Bay, LF: Day-to-day with a strained hamstring. Will likely miss at least the first two games of the series.
- George Kottaras, C: 15-day DL with a lower back strain
- Tim Wakefield, SP: 15-day DL with a lower back strain
- Jeff Bailey, 1B/LF: 15-day DL with a high left ankle sprain
- Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP: 60-day DL with a mild right shoulder strain
- Miguel González, RP: 60-day DL as he recovers from right elbow surgery
2 Comments:
Alright I'm heading out of the house for a camp show. Hope when I get back the Yanks have the lead.
See ya guys. GO YANKS!!
For once, I actually like the pitching matchups coming into a Red Sox series. If we play well (as in not making stupid mistakes in the field, on the bases), then I honestly think we could take three of four. I'd be happy with a split, though.
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