Yankees - Red SoxFenway Park
(3 games)
Wouldn't it be great if these game meant something? I know when I first looked at the schedule I thought these final three games at Fenway would be huge. But as we all know that's not the case because the Sox eliminated the Yankees with their victory on Tuesday night.
The Sox are 94-65, and will most likely head into the playoffs as the Wild Card winner and face the Angels in a rematch of last year's ALDS. They've been playing very good baseball this month, winning 15 of their 23 games. And since trading Manny they've gone 33-17.
The Yankees are also 15-8 this month, but their hot streak came way too late to save their season. They are currently 87-72, which isn't bad, but in a division as good as the AL East, it's only good enough for third place.
Boston leads the season series 8-7.
Wouldn't it be great if these game meant something? I know when I first looked at the schedule I thought these final three games at Fenway would be huge. But as we all know that's not the case because the Sox eliminated the Yankees with their victory on Tuesday night.
The Sox are 94-65, and will most likely head into the playoffs as the Wild Card winner and face the Angels in a rematch of last year's ALDS. They've been playing very good baseball this month, winning 15 of their 23 games. And since trading Manny they've gone 33-17.
The Yankees are also 15-8 this month, but their hot streak came way too late to save their season. They are currently 87-72, which isn't bad, but in a division as good as the AL East, it's only good enough for third place.
Boston leads the season series 8-7.
MATCHUPS
Game 1 - Today @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: MY9; Radio: WCBS 880
Alfredo Aceves RHP (1-0, 1.38 ERA) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (18-2, 2.80)
Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 3:55 p.m.
TV: FOX; Radio: WCBS 880
Sidney Ponson RHP (8-5, 5.21) vs. Josh Beckett RHP (12-10, 4.03).
Game 3 - Sunday @ 1:35 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina RHP (19-9, 3.47) vs. Tim Wakefield RHP (10-11, 4.24)
Game 1 - Today @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: MY9; Radio: WCBS 880
Alfredo Aceves RHP (1-0, 1.38 ERA) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (18-2, 2.80)
Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 3:55 p.m.
TV: FOX; Radio: WCBS 880
Sidney Ponson RHP (8-5, 5.21) vs. Josh Beckett RHP (12-10, 4.03).
Game 3 - Sunday @ 1:35 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina RHP (19-9, 3.47) vs. Tim Wakefield RHP (10-11, 4.24)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Yankees - Mike Mussina: Yes, a pitcher. The first pitcher I've chosen to be a player to watch. Moose starts Sunday against Tim Wakefield, and is going for 20 wins for the first time in his career.
He's 20-17 with a 3.71 ERA in 56 starts against the Sox in his career. This season he's 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts this season.
Red Sox - Kevin Youkilis: He currently leads the team with a 28 HR, 113 RBI, and a .960 OPS, and he's second on the team with a .314 batting average. He's clearly been the team's MVP this season.
Youkilis has also hit very well against the Yankees in his career, in 56 games Youkilis is hitting .312/.444/.439, with 3 HR and 39 RBI. This season he's hitting .339/.415/.411, with 7 RBI against them.
Youkilis vs. Aceves: NR
Youkilis vs. Ponson: 4-for-14, 2B, 3 RBI, .286/.333/.357
Youkilis vs. Mussina: 6-for-23, 2B, 2 RBI, .261/.320/.304
He's 20-17 with a 3.71 ERA in 56 starts against the Sox in his career. This season he's 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts this season.
Red Sox - Kevin Youkilis: He currently leads the team with a 28 HR, 113 RBI, and a .960 OPS, and he's second on the team with a .314 batting average. He's clearly been the team's MVP this season.
Youkilis has also hit very well against the Yankees in his career, in 56 games Youkilis is hitting .312/.444/.439, with 3 HR and 39 RBI. This season he's hitting .339/.415/.411, with 7 RBI against them.
Youkilis vs. Aceves: NR
Youkilis vs. Ponson: 4-for-14, 2B, 3 RBI, .286/.333/.357
Youkilis vs. Mussina: 6-for-23, 2B, 2 RBI, .261/.320/.304
INJURY REPORT
Yankees:
- Derek Jeter: day-to-day with a sore hand.
- Mariano Rivera: he's been sent to NY to have an MRI on his shoulder, there is fears that he may need arthroscopic surgery, but even if he does have the surgery he will be ready to go next spring.
- Andy Pettitte: has been shut down due to a sore shoulder, he's done for the year.
- Chien-Ming Wang: 60-day DL, and is done for the year with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon.
- Jonathan Albaladejo: 60-day DL with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
- Hideki Matsui: his knee is still not quite right, he will have one at-bat on Sunday and then have season-ending knee surgery.
- Jorge Posada: 60-day DL, and is out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.
Red Sox:
- Alex Cora: day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game after being hit by a pitch.
- Mike Lowell: day-to-day with a right hip injury.
- Julio Lugo: 60-day DL with a strained left quad.
- Curt Schilling: 60-day DL after having right shoulder surgery.
- Derek Jeter: day-to-day with a sore hand.
- Mariano Rivera: he's been sent to NY to have an MRI on his shoulder, there is fears that he may need arthroscopic surgery, but even if he does have the surgery he will be ready to go next spring.
- Andy Pettitte: has been shut down due to a sore shoulder, he's done for the year.
- Chien-Ming Wang: 60-day DL, and is done for the year with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon.
- Jonathan Albaladejo: 60-day DL with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
- Hideki Matsui: his knee is still not quite right, he will have one at-bat on Sunday and then have season-ending knee surgery.
- Jorge Posada: 60-day DL, and is out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.
Red Sox:
- Alex Cora: day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game after being hit by a pitch.
- Mike Lowell: day-to-day with a right hip injury.
- Julio Lugo: 60-day DL with a strained left quad.
- Curt Schilling: 60-day DL after having right shoulder surgery.
there really goin to start beckett? wouldnt that make him available for game 2 or 3, instead of 1 and 5. whatever, go angels. and im also happy that the twins caught the white sox, i hate chicago, although that means one of Tampa and Minn will be in ALCS. kind of weird.
ReplyDeleteVery weird actually. How much money would you have bet against that in April?
ReplyDeleteWhat I find odd (by the way, long time no speak fellas, hope all is well), is this is the first time we've Dice-K all SEASON... How the hell did that happen?
ReplyDeleteHey Derek, welcome back.
ReplyDeleteThey did face him one time, on April 13th in Fenway. It was a game the Sox won 8-5.