Yankees vs. Royals Series Preview

Yankees - Royals

@ Yankee Stadium
(3 games)

After losing two of three to the Twins the Yankees head home for a three game series with the Kansas City Royals. The Yankees have lost 12 of 18 since winning 8 in a row after the All-Star break, and have seen their postseaon hopes begin to fade. They are currently 9.5 games behind the first place Rays in the division, and 6.5 games behind the Red Sox in the Wild Card.

Kansas City enters this series losers of 7 of their last 8. They're currently in last place in the AL Central, 14.5 games behind the first place White Sox.

The Royals are winning the season-series with the Yankees four games to three, and this will be the last time these two teams meet in 2008.

With just 42 games remaining on the schedule the Yanks are running out of time. To make the playoffs the Yankees will basically have to win or sweep every remaining series.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: My9; Radio: WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (12-9, 4.32) vs. Gil Meche RHP (10-9, 4.24)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 1:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Sidney Ponson RHP (7-3, 4.27) vs. Zack Greinke RHP (9-8, 4.09)

Game 3 - Wednesday @ 1:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina RHP (15-7, 3.30) vs. Brian Bannister RHP (7-11, 5.36)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Johnny Damon: Damon is currently 1 percentage point behind AL batting leader Dustin Pedroia, and has been one of the Yankees more consistent hitters. His numbers with runners in scoring position are - unlike most of his teammates - very good (.370).

He's also done very well against the Royals this season, although a lot of the damage came in his 6-for-6 game against the Royals in June. For the year Damon is hitting .387 against KC, with 2 2B, 5 RBI, and an .893 OPS.

In his career against the Royals he's a .324 hitter, with 7 HR, 40 RBI, and an OPS Of .890.

Damon vs. Meche: .125 (3-for-24), .317 OPS
Damon vs. Greinke: .357 (5-for-14), 2B, 2 RBI, 1.043 OPS
Damon vs. Bannister: .857 (6-for-7), 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2.317 OPS

Royals - Jose Guillen: The Royals outfielder is having a decent year, so far he's hitting .256 with 16 HR, 76 RBI and an OPS of .729, but against the Yankees he's been a beast. In 7 games this season against the Yanks, Guillen is hitting .379 with 4 HR, 12 RBI, and an OPS of 1.276. He's done most of his damage at Yankee Stadium, where he's hitting .563 with 4 HR and 10 RBI this season.

He's always done well against the Yankees, in 51 career games against the Yanks he's a .291 hitter with 9 HR, 27 RBI and an .884 OPS. At The Stadium he's a .378 hitter with 8 HR, 20 RBI, and a 1.209 OPS, in 25 games.

Guillen vs. Pettitte: .308 (8-for-26), 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .962 OPS
Guillen vs. Ponson: .229 (8-for-35), 1 RBI, .479 OPS
Guillen vs. Moose: .318 (7-for-22), 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, .893 OPS

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Dan Giese is on the 15-day DL with rotator cuff tendinitis.
- Joba Chamberlain has rotator cuff tendinitis, and is on the 15-day DL. He will be re-evaluated in a week. He could begin a throwing program as early as today.
- Chien-Ming Wang is out until at least early October with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon. It looks more and more likely that he is done for the year.
- Phil Hughes is off the DL and making rehab starts in the minors. He will make one more start with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before returning to the Bronx.
- 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 will begin playing in rehab games tonight with the Tampa Yankees.
- Jorge Posada is out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.

Royals:
- Mark Grudzielanek is on the 15-day DL with a sprained right ankle.
- David DeJesus is day-to-day with a sore lower back.
- Joey Gathright is on the 15-day DL with a bruised right shoulder.
- Jimmy Gobble is on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back.
- Ryan Braun is on the 60-day DL recovering from right elbow surgery.
- Alberto Callaspo is on the 15-day DL with an unspecified medical condition.
- John Bale is on the 60-day DL with left shoulder tightness.
- Luke Hudson is on the 60-day DL recovering from right shoulder surgery.