Yanks @ Pirates Series Preview

Yankees - Pirates
@ PNC Park
(3 games)

After facing the Reds at Yankee Stadium for the first time since the 1976 World Series the Yankees will now face the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh for the first time since another horrible World Series, the 1960 Fall Classic. Bill Mazeroski walk-off homer ended that series, and he will be throwing out the first pitch before tomorrow night's game.

Both teams did meet last season and in 2005 - both times at Yankee Stadium - with the Yankees winning all six.

The Yankees are coming off of a disappointing series against the Reds where they dropped two out of three, but overall they have played much better winning 9 of their last 12. They're currently 41 - 35 and are 4.5 games behind first place Boston in the AL East, and 3.5 games behind the Rays in the Wild Card Race.

Pittsburgh comes into the series losers of 6 of their last 9, but they did take two out of three from the Blue Jays over the weekend. They're 36-40 on the year, and 12 games behind the first place Cubs in the NL Central.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: MY9, Radio: WCBS 880
Darrell Rasner RHP (4-4, 3.64) vs. Tom Gorzelanny LHP (5-6, 6.59)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES, Radio: WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (0-0, 2.36) vs. Zach Duke LHP (4-4, 3.91)

Game 3 - Thursday @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES, Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina RHP (10-5, 3.93) vs. Paul Maholm LHP (5-5, 4.41)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Derek Jeter: Although his season numbers are not that impressive the Captain has hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games, and is currently on an 11-game hitting streak. In six games against the Pirates Jeter has hit .360 (9-for-25) with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and an OPS of .924.

Jeter vs. Gorzelanny: 1-for-2, RBI, BB
Jeter vs. Duke: NR
Jeter vs. Maholm: 1-for-2, 2B, BB

Pirates - Nate McLouth: The center fielder leads the team in HR (15), RBI (51), H (86), 2B (24), BB (32), R (58), SB (9), and OPS (.920), and he's second in batting average (.292), pretty impressive. He has played one game in his career against the Yanks and went 1-for-4 with 2 stolen bases.

McLouth vs Rasner: NR
McLouth vs. Joba: NR
McLouth vs. Mussina: NR

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Chien-Ming Wang is out till at least September with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon.
- Ian Kennedy is on the 15-day DL with with a strained right lat muscle and bursitis under the right shoulder blade. He made a rehab start yesterday with the GCL Yankees (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K).
- Phil Hughes is out till at least August with a stress fracture of the rib.
- Brian Bruney is out with an injured foot, but could return after the All Star Game.
- Jonathan Albaladejo is out for the year with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
- Chris Britton is on the 15-day DL with a pulled right ribcage.

Pirates:
- Xavier Nady is day-to-day with a bruised left shoulder.
- Phil Dumatrait is on the 15-day DL with bursitis in his rotator cuff.
- Ian Snell might be headed to the DL with "golfer's elbow."
- Ryan Doumit is day-to-day after suffering a concussion.