Series Preview: Yankees @ White Sox

Yankees vs. White Sox

US Cellular Field
(four games)

Once again the Yankees head into a series on a high note. After taking two of three from the Rays for their ninth series win in their last ten, the Yankees head to Chicago for their first meeting with the Chicago Whitesox.

The Yanks enter this series with a 62-and-39 record, 3.5 games ahead of Boston - could be 3 by the time the game starts as the Sox are beating Oakland 8-5 in the 8th. They've also done very well against the central this year, going 19-5.

Chicago starts this series with a 51-and-51 record, 3 games behind the Tigers in the central. They've stumbled a bit lately, losing six out of the last seven games. Offensively they're pretty good. Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, Jim Thome, and Jermaine Dye have all had solid seasons. Konerko leads the team with 68 RBI, Dye leads the team with 23 homers. Rookie Gordon Beckham has been very good over his first 48 games. So far he's hitting .305/.376/.470 with 5 HR and 29 RBI.

On the other side of the ball Mark Buehrle has led the way with an 11-4 record, a 3.45 ERA, and his perfect game agianst the Rays a couple weeks ago. John Danks, Gaivn Floyed and Clayton Richard have also been solid. The pale hosers have a 4.11 team ERA which ranks 9th in baseball.Their bullpen is led by closer Bobby Jenks, and they have a solid pen with guys like Scott Linebrink, Matt Thornton, D.J. Corrasco and Octavio Dotel.

This won't be an easy series for the Yanks, but they should leave with at least a split. Last season the Yankees took five of the seven games against the White Sox.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 8:11 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, MLBN, WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (8-6, 4.67) vs. RHP Gavin Floyd (8-6, 4.24)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 8:11 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Sergio Mitre (1-0, 5.91) vs. LHP Clayton Richard (4-3, 4.65)

Game 3: Saturday @ 4:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: FOX, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-4, 3.53) vs. LHP John Danks (8-7, 3.89)

Game 4: Sunday @ 1:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (10-7, 3.83) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (11-4, 3.45)

Players To Watch

YANKEES: Robinson Cano - Besides his struggles with men is scoring position, Roboinson Cano has had a very good season. He's hitting .308/.344/.502 with 16 HR, 26 doubles, and 56 RBI. He's also been on fire in the month of July, hitting .337/.382/.568 with 4 Hr, 8 doubles, and 14 RBI.

In 26 games against the White Sox Cano is hitting .302/.362/.531, with 3 HR, 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 9 RBI. In Chicago the numbers are similar. In 16 games at US Cellular he's hitting .295/.358/.508 with a homer and 4 RBI.

Cano vs. Floyd: .143/.143/.286, (1-for-7) with a double and a strikeout.
Cano vs. Richard: NR
Cano vs. Danks: 2-for-2, HR, double, 1 RBI.
Cano vs. Buehrle: 2-for-3, with a double.

WHITE SOX: Jermaine Dye - The White Sox right fielder has been one of their MVPs this year. As of today he is hitting .284/.361/.540 with a team-leading 23 homers, he's also driven in the second most runs on the team with 63.

In 79 career games against the Yankees he's hitting .263/.311/.444 with 11 homers and 42 RBI.

Dye vs. Pettitte: .320/.346/.520 (8-for-25) with one RBI.
Dye vs. Mitre: NR.
Dye vs. Burnett: .250/.250/.417 (3-for-12) with an RBI and 2 strikeouts.
Dye vs. Sabathia: .302/.475/.605 (13-for-43) with 4 HR, 9 RBI, 13 BB, and 11 K's.

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL is done for the year. He had arthriscopic surgery on his shoulder and will likely be out well into next season.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Done for year, season-ending Tommy John surgery. 10-12 months to recover.
- Damaso Marte, RP: 15-day DL with a sore shoulder. He's on a rehab assignment with the SWB Yanks and is at least a week away.

WHITE SOX:
- Bartolo Colon, SP: 15-day DL with right elbow inflammation.
- Alexei Ramirez, INF: Day-to-day with a right ankle sprain. He will not play today against the YAnkees.
- Jim Thome, 1B/DH: Day-to-day with a back injury. He thinks he can return to the lineup tonight.