The Series Ahead: Yankees @ A's

Yankees - Athletics
@ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
(three games)

After winning their first four series of the season for the first time since 1926, there is not too much to be concerned about in Yankeeland. They now head out west to start a tough 9-game road trip against the Athletics, Angels, and then back east for the 2-and-12 Orioles. OK, so the first two series should be tough.

Oakland comes into this series in first place in the AL West with a 9-5 record. They've been doing it mostly with pitching, and rank first in the AL with a team ERA of 2.90. All five Oakland starters have begun the year well, and the Yankees will be matched up against three tough ones in Gio Gonzalez, Ben Sheets and Dallas Braden. Oakland also has a solid bullpen, anchored by one of the league's best young closers, Andrew Bailey. Tyson Ross and former Yankee Edwar Ramirez have also pitched very well out of the Oakland pen. The Yanks will counter with the struggling Javier Vazquez, Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia.

Offensively, it's a different story for the A's, who rank 16th in baseball with a team batting average of .252 and 12th in runs score with 62. Minor injuries to Daric Barton and Cliff Pennington can't help, although both should be able to play at some point this series. On the other hand they could get a boost by the return of Mark Ellis, who was hitting .345 before being sidelined with a bad hammy.

We all know about the Yankees offense and what they can do. They come into this series 4th in team BA (.284) and 6th in runs scored (69). The Yanks lead all of baseball with a team OBP of .386 and are second in slugging with a .483 mark, and that's all without Mark Teixeira hitting.

West Coast trips are never easy, but if the Yankees play like they have over the first 12 games of the season they're going to be very tough to beat.

Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 10:05 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS & XM/Sirius 181
RHP Javier Vazquez (0-2, 9.82) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 3.38)

Game 2: Wednesday @ 10:05 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS & XM/Sirius 176
RHP Phil Hughes (1-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Ben Sheets (1-0, 2.65)

Game 3: Thursday @ 3:35 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS & XM/Sirius 176
LHP CC Sabathia (2-0, 2.84) vs. LHP Dallas Braden (2-0, 2.70)

Three Questions

• Can the Yankees batters use their patience to wear down Oakland's starters the way they've done over the first 12 games?

• Will Brett Gardner start against a lefty or with the platoon continue?
  

• Will Javier Vazquez correct his mechanical issues and get his first win as a Yankee?

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- RHP Chan Ho Park is on the 15-day DL with a slightly strained hamstring.
- SS Derek Jeter will likely be in the lineup on Tuesday after missing Sunday's game with a head cold.

ATHLETICS:
- 1B Daric Barton is day-to-day with a deep bruise on his elbow. He should be in the lineup for the A's tonight or tomorrow.
- SS Cliff Pennington is day-to-day after injuring his right wrist on Sunday.
- SP Trevor Cahill is on the 15-day DL with a left scapula stress reaction.

- OF Coco Crisp is on the 15-day DL with a fractured left pinky finger.
- RP Joey Devine is on the 15-day DL as he recovers from right elbow surgery.
- RP John Meloan is on 60-day DL and done for the year after having right elbow surgery.
- SP Josh Outman is on the 60-day DL as he recovers from left elbow surgery.
- RP Michael Wuertz is on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis.