Yankees - Rangers Series Preview

Yankees - Rangers

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
(4 games)

After starting their last home stand 1-4 the Yankees turned things around by taking the final two games with the league's best Angels. They now hope to carry that momentum with them on a very important 10 game road trip. The first stop on the trip in steamy Texas to take on the Rangers in a four game series. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits all week.

The Rangers took two out of three at The Stadium the first time these two teams met this year. They're 58-54, and are in second place in the AL West, 11.5 games behind the first place Angels, and they trail Boston by 6 in the Wild Card.

With every passing day the games become more and more important for the Yanks. Having a good road trip here would be huge for this team, and having a bad one could crush their season. They are currently 61-50, and trailed the Rays by 5.5 games in the AL East and the Red Sox by 2.5 in the Wild Card.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 8:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (4-3, 2.24) vs. Vicente Padilla RHP (12-5, 4.52)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 8:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (12-8, 4.18) vs. Matt Harrison LHP (2-2, 7.40)

Game 3 - Wednsday @ 8:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Sidney Ponson RHP (6-2, 4.23) vs. Tommy Hunter RHP (0-0, 10.80)

Game 4 - Thursday @ 8:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina RHP (14-7, 3.44) vs. Scott Feldman RHP (4-4, 4.97)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Xavier Nady: After starting off slow as a Yankees Nady has really started to crush the ball. After going 1 for his first 11, he's gone 9-for-16 with 2 HR and 9 RBI. Overall this season he's putting up fantastic numbers, hitting .334 with 16 HR, 67 RBI, and an OPS of .948. He's also hitting .316 with runners in scoring position.

He's only played three games against the Rangers in his career and he went 3-for-10, with a homer and 2 RBI.

Nady vs. Padilla: NR
Nady vs. Harrison: NR
Nady vs. Hunter: NR
Nady vs. Feldman: NR

Rangers - Josh Hamilton: Who else? Hamilton is still putting up MVP numbers, at the moment he's hitting .308 with 26 HR, a major league leading 106 RBI, and a .929 OPS. After struggling a bit after the break, he's really turned it on in the last 7 days hitting .417 with 2 HR, and 3 RBI.

In three games against the Yankees this season Hamilton is just 2-for-10 (.200) with 0 HR and 3 RBI, but he did have a .429 OBP in those games.

Hamilton vs. Joba: 0-for-1, K
Hamilton vs Pettitte: NR
Hamilton vs. Ponson: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, BB
Hamiton vs. Mussina: 1-for-2, RBI, BB

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.
- Phil Hughes is out till at least August, most likely September, with a stress fracture of the rib. He has made two appearances in the minors and had been very good. I still suspect he's a month away from returning.
- Jonathan Albaladejo is out for the year with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
- Hideki Matsui is on the 15-day DL with an inflamed left knee. He is trying to get back in two weeks, and right now he is in Tampa rehabbing his knee.
- Jorge Posada is out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.

Rangers:
- Milton Bradley is day-to-day with a strained left quad.
- Ramon Vazquez is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
- Nelson Cruz is day-to-day, and will probably miss a week with a strained quad.
- Eric Hurley is on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation.
- Hank Blalock is on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation.
- Kevin Millwood is on the 15-day DL with a strained right quad.
- Joaquin Bennoit is on the 15-day DL with a sore right shoulder.
- Kason Gabbard is on the 60-day DL with left elbow inflammation.
- Doug Mathis is on the 60-day DL with right shoulder inflammation.
- A.J. Murray is on the 15-day DL with a strained left rotator cuff.
- Jason Jennings is out for the year after having right elbow surgery.
- John Rheinecker is on the 60-day DL with thoracic outlet syndrome.
Brandon McCarthy is on the 60-day DL with severe inflammation of the right forearm.