Yankees vs. Indians @ New Yankee Stadium
(4 games)
A new era in Yankees history begins as the Yankees open up their brand new $1.5 billion new home with a four game series against the Cleveland Indians. The Yanks head into this series on a high note after taking two of three from the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. Their record currently sits at 5-4 after their longest road trip to open a season in franchise history. Not a bad start if you ask this Yankees fan.
The Indians have not gotten off to the start they expected. They opened the season by getting swept by the Texas Rangers, they then lost two of three to the Blue Jays and Royals. They head into this series at 2-6 and in last place in the AL Central. Sunday should be very interesting as Carl Pavano and his 16.71 ERA returns to the Bronx to take on the team he robbed $40 million from.
Last season Cleveland took the season series four games to three.
Matchups
Game 1: Today @ 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES/MLBN, WCBS 880
C.C. Sabathia LHP (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee LHP (0-2, 9.90 ERA)
Game 2: Tomorrow @ 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Anthony Reyes RHP (1-0, 6.00 ERA)
Game 3: Saturday @ 3:40 p.m. | TV/Radio: FOX, WCBS 880
Chien-Ming Wang RHP (0-2, 28.93 ERA) vs. Fausto Carmona RHP (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Game 4: Sunday @ 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES/TBS, WCBS 880
A.J. Burnett RHP (2-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Carl Pavano RHP (0-2, 16.71 ERA)
Players to Watch
C.C. Sabathia LHP (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee LHP (0-2, 9.90 ERA)
Game 2: Tomorrow @ 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Anthony Reyes RHP (1-0, 6.00 ERA)
Game 3: Saturday @ 3:40 p.m. | TV/Radio: FOX, WCBS 880
Chien-Ming Wang RHP (0-2, 28.93 ERA) vs. Fausto Carmona RHP (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Game 4: Sunday @ 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES/TBS, WCBS 880
A.J. Burnett RHP (2-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Carl Pavano RHP (0-2, 16.71 ERA)
Players to Watch
YANKEES - Hideki Matsui: I know, I know, he looks completely lost at the plate and why would I ever chose him, right? Well, I figure with Xavier Nady headed to the DL Matsui is going to become a very important part of this team. He also had a very good year against Indians' pitching last year hitting .421/.450/.632 with a homer and three RBI in five games. In his career he's hit .290/.327/.449 with 3 homers and 13 RBI in 28 games against the Tribe.
Matsui vs. Lee: .333/.385/.500 (4-for-12), 2 2B
Matsui vs. Reyes: NR
Matsui vs. Carmona: .600/.667/.600 (3-for-5)
Matsui vs. Pavano: NR
INDIANS - Travis Hafner: I know the easy pick here is Grady Sizemore, or maybe even Victor Martinez, but Pronk has had a bit of a resurgence so far this season. After struggling badly last year he's shown some signs of a turn around, hitting .283/.412/.714 with 3 homers and 7 RBI so far this year. The Yankees handled him pretty well last year (.176/.318/.176), but then again so did everyone, but in his career he's mashed Yankees pitching, hitting .307/.429/.495 with 3 homers and 20 RBI in 30 games. At the old stadium he hit .286/.387/.413 with a homer and 12 RBI.
er vs. Sabathia: NR
Hafner vs. Chamberlain: 0-for-2, 2K
Hafner vs. Wang: .125/.417/.125 (1-for-8), 4 BB
Hafner vs. Burnett: .364/.462/.727 (4-for-11), 2B, HR, 5 RBI,
YANKEES
- Alex Rodriguez, 3B: 15-day DL with a torn labrum in right hip. He is headed to Tampa today to continue his rehab at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa. He's expected back in mid May.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Hurt his elbow and may be headed for season-ending surgery.
INDIANS
- Matt LaPorta, LF: Day-to-Day with a strained right ribcage.
- Scott Lewis, RP: 15-day DL with a left elbow strain, he's out 2-4 weeks.
- Jamey Carroll, 2B: 15-day DL with a broken left hand.
- David Dellucci, LF: 15-day DL with a strained left calf.
- Jake Westbrook, SP: 60-day DL right elbow surgery.
Matsui vs. Lee: .333/.385/.500 (4-for-12), 2 2B
Matsui vs. Reyes: NR
Matsui vs. Carmona: .600/.667/.600 (3-for-5)
Matsui vs. Pavano: NR
INDIANS - Travis Hafner: I know the easy pick here is Grady Sizemore, or maybe even Victor Martinez, but Pronk has had a bit of a resurgence so far this season. After struggling badly last year he's shown some signs of a turn around, hitting .283/.412/.714 with 3 homers and 7 RBI so far this year. The Yankees handled him pretty well last year (.176/.318/.176), but then again so did everyone, but in his career he's mashed Yankees pitching, hitting .307/.429/.495 with 3 homers and 20 RBI in 30 games. At the old stadium he hit .286/.387/.413 with a homer and 12 RBI.
er vs. Sabathia: NR
Hafner vs. Chamberlain: 0-for-2, 2K
Hafner vs. Wang: .125/.417/.125 (1-for-8), 4 BB
Hafner vs. Burnett: .364/.462/.727 (4-for-11), 2B, HR, 5 RBI,
Injury Report
YANKEES
- Alex Rodriguez, 3B: 15-day DL with a torn labrum in right hip. He is headed to Tampa today to continue his rehab at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa. He's expected back in mid May.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Hurt his elbow and may be headed for season-ending surgery.
INDIANS
- Matt LaPorta, LF: Day-to-Day with a strained right ribcage.
- Scott Lewis, RP: 15-day DL with a left elbow strain, he's out 2-4 weeks.
- Jamey Carroll, 2B: 15-day DL with a broken left hand.
- David Dellucci, LF: 15-day DL with a strained left calf.
- Jake Westbrook, SP: 60-day DL right elbow surgery.
6 Comments:
Refresh me, isn't Nady in the last year of his deal? Could he be done with us? I'm still hoping it's not TJ surgery but it looks bad. Opening Day '09 Corner OF: Damon & Nady. Opening Day '10 Corner OF: Swish & Holiday.
yeah Nady is a FA after this year.. he's probably done as a Yankee.. are they gonna sign another $18+ million dollar player in Holliday. They have what $94 mill or something invested in 4 players. Yes they do have Matsui and Damon coming off the books after this year, but Id be suprised if they signed Holliday. I think the Sox will go hard after him. I do however think we can possibly go after Bay.. unless he signs an extension by the end of this year.
and I want 3 out of 4 and nothing less this series.
I think if we don't at least play in the World Series all bets are off. I know Cash would probably prefer to get younger, maybe A. Jackson, but we all know its Hank and Hal that really matter. I think Holiday is going to be 30 so I'm all for finding young talent. 3 of 4, I agree. Hopefully Chin gets it together.
I'm intrigued by your choice of Matsui as "Player to Watch." I hope you're right, because if I was Girardi, I would have left Matsui in Tampa with A-Rod.
I hope you're right!
I like Matsui, and I would like him to give the Yanks a reason to keep him around after the season.
Right now, he's not.
"The Indians have not gotten off to the start they expected. They opened the season by getting swept by the Texas Rangers, they then lost two of three to the Blue Jays and Royals."
rofl---great series preview!
I doubt you will need it, but, good luck in the series.
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