Yankees vs. White Sox Series Preview

Yankees vs. White Sox

Yankee Stadium
(4 games)

After taking two out of three from one first place team, the Yanks get to take on another. This time a four game set with the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox. The Sox are currently 83-65 and lead the Twins by 1.5 games. They've struggled a bit since they've been hit by several key injuries (Quentin, Konerko, Crede), losing 4 of their last 7, and 9 of their last 16.

The Yanks aren't officially out of it yet, but E-day is getting closer and closer. They are 79-70, 10 games out of first, and 9 games out of the Wild Card lead. They also are still in fourth place in the AL East, a half game behind the Blue Jays.

These team have met only once this season, for three games in Chicago, and the Yanks took two out of three.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Alfredo Aceves RHP (1-0, 1.29) vs. Mark Buehrle LHP (13-11, 3.88)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (13-13, 4.52) vs. Gavin Floyd RHP (15-7, 3.77)

Game 3 - Wednesday @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: MY9; Radio: WCBS 880
Phil Hughes RHP (0-4, 9.00) vs. TBA

Game 4 - Thursday @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880

Mike Mussina RHP (17-9, 3.63) vs. TBA

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Jason Giambi: Giambi has had an up and down season, his power numbers are good but he's been very streaky, and he's been awful with runners in scoring position. On the year he's hitting .248/.374/.511, with 30 HR and 92 RBI.

He had a very good series against the Sox earlier in the season, hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a homer, a double, three walks, and an RBI. In his career against the White Sox he's hitting .263/.369/.455, with 15 HR and 61 RBI.

He has very good numbers against both scheduled Sox starters.

Giambi vs. Buehrle: 7-for-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .368/.500/.789
Giambi vs. Floyd: 2-for-3, 2B

White Sox - Jermain Dye: With Carlos Quentin out with a broken wrist, Dye is by far the Sox biggest offense threat. On the season Dye is hitting .295/.348/.555 with 32 HR and 88 RBI.

He hasn't done that great against the Yanks in his career, in 75 games he's hitting .268/.313/.457, with 11 HR, 41 RBI. This year he's been terrible against them, hitting just .167/.167/.250 with no homers, and just 1 RBI.

In his career at Yankee Stadium he's hitting .267/.323/.452 with 6 HR, 15 RBI.

Dye vs. Aceves: NR
Dye vs. Pettitte: 7-for-22, 5 2B, RBI, .318/.348/.545
Dye vs. Hughes: 0-for-1
Dye vs. Mussina: 20-for-56, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .357/.368/.536

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Chien-Ming Wang is out for the year with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon.
- Jonathan Albaladejo is pitching in minor league games, and could get called up after the minor league playoffs have ended.
- Jorge Posada is out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.

White Sox:
- Carlos Quentin is most likely out for the rest of the season after having surgery on his broken wrist.
- Joe Crede is day-to-day with back problems. He's scheduled to get his "second opinion" this week. He is not expected to play again this season.
- Paul Konerko is day-to-day with a knee injury. He took BP on Saturday.
- José Contreras is on the 60-day DL with a ruptured left Achilles tendon.
- Andrew Sisco is on the 60-day DL after having left elbow surgery, he's out for season.