The Series Ahead: Yankees Vs Red Sox

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Yankee Stadium

(2 Game Set)

The Yankees rebounded from a poor series in Detroit by taking 2 out of 3 games from the Twins. In the third game of the set they were in position to sweep the series until both their lock down arms could not seal the deal. Those are the losses you learn to deal with because they are few and far between, and ultimately Mariano will literally SAVE (not the baseball definition) more games than he blows. So now the Yankees are set to face the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx for the first time this season. The Yankees who own baseballs best home record at a stellar 12-3 will try to keep pace with the Rays and leave the Red Sox further behind.

The Red Sox seem to be a team that just cannot put it all together. When they hit, they cannot pitch, and when they pitch they cannot hit. Factor in a few key injuries to Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury coupled with the steady decline of the once feared David Ortiz and you make for a somewhat Mediocre ball club (so far). However the Red Sox when healthy have all the tools to be a contending club. They need to acquire a bat, but if they could play to their potential they will most certainly be causing problems for the the Yankees and Rays down the line and perhaps starting with this series. Boston currently sits in 4th place in the AL East with a .500 mark at 19-19 and are one game below .500 on the road.

Forget all the numbers, this is Yankees Vs Red Sox and at the end of the day these series almost always never go as planned. Each game, and every at-bat should be a battle. The dreaded two game set may render the series pointless or a huge success for on of the clubs as their can only be a split or a sweep. With the Rays and Mets looming the Yankees need to take each game one at a time and just play good solid baseball.

The key to this series may rest on the bicep of Nick Swisher. He is hitting .345 with 2 HR and 9 RBI in 6 games against the Red Sox this season. A fan favorite Swisher is currently day to day with a strained bicep. The word is Nick feels pain only when hitting lefty and with two right hander's going for the Sox Swisher's availability is unknown. Without him in the lineup the Yankee offense becomes very top heavy with little bottom production. If Swisher cannot go Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez need to stay hot, Derek Jeter needs to continue to climb out of his slump and the bottom of the order needs to be productive in any way possible.

Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 p.m. | TV: YES & ESPN | Radio: WCBS
RHP Phil Hughes (5-0, 1.38) vs. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 6.35)

Game 2: Tuesday @ 7:05 p.m. | TV: MY9 | Radio: WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (4-2, 3.71) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (1-1, 7.46)

Three Questions

• Can the Yankees offense hold up with all the injuries?
  
• How long can Phil Hughes be this outstanding?
  
• How much of Nick Swisher's will we see this series?

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- RHP Chan Ho Park is on the 15-day DL with a slightly strained hamstring. Expected to be activated tonight.
- CF Curtis Granderson is on the 15-day DL with a grade 2 strain of his left groin and is expected to be out 2-4 weeks.
- OF Nick Swisher felt a strain in his bicep. He is day-to-day and may be a game time decision.
- DH/1B Nick Johnson is on the 15-day DL with an inflamed tendon in the wrist. Surgery may be looming.
- RHP Alfredo Aceves is on the 15-day DL with lower back discomfort.

Red Sox:
- RHP Josh Beckett miss his last scheduled start with back spasms. May be something to watch.
- CF Mike Cameron is on the 15-day DL with an abdominal strain . Will return for Tuesday's game.
- OF Jacoby Ellsbury is on the 15-day DL with fractured Ribs.
- RHP Boof Bonser is on the 15-day DL with a right groin strain.
- SS Jed Lowrie went on the 60-day DL with a case of Mononucleosis.
- RHP Junichi Tazawa is out for the season with Sprain of ulnar collateral ligament in right elbow
- C Jason Varitek is day-to-day with a bruised left forearm.